The 75^th annual Pearl River County Fair and Rodeo will feature new music, more vendors and extra rodeo entertainment.

The fair begins Saturday with a horse show at the Pearl River County Fairgrounds at the intersection of Highway 26 and Highway 11 in Poplarville and will be held until Saturday, Sept. 14.

The event will now feature added performances from local musicians, including Reanna Creel and Phillip Drake on Tuesday, Mike and The Old Dogs on Wednesday and a performance by Tony Poole on Thursday, said county fair manager Dr. Eddie Smith.

Along with the musical performances, organizers added a musical competition this year, Smith said. Pearl River County residents who play ukulele or fiddle can compete for cash prizes Thursday night in the free contest, Smith said. Separate categories will be held for youth and adult contestants. Registration will begin at 5 p.m. and the contest will be held at 6.

The rodeo will also include new entertainment, Smith said. Live monkeys will perform during the rodeo.

“We’re always looking for different types of entertainment to add to give people something new, and this (is something) we thought people, especially the kids, would enjoy,” Smith said.

The rodeo will be Friday, Sept. 13 and Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. Ticket sales for the rodeo begin at 4 p.m. and audience members are encouraged to show up early for seats because the rodeo typically draws a full crowd.

The event is a Professional Cowboy Association rodeo, which will include people from all over the region, Smith said. The rodeo and the concession stand will accept cash only, Smith said.

Fair organizers have added outdoor vendors, because last year the fair was at maximum capacity with its indoor vendors, Smith said. Vendors typically sell items like arts, crafts and baked goods and most vendors are from Mississippi or Louisiana, Smith said.

The deadline to enter livestock, which includes beef, dairy, goats, sheep and swine, has already passed, but kids who want to show their poultry and rabbits can still enter the fair on Monday and Tuesday from 3 to 6 p.m. Animals entered in the fair must be fed and watered daily and are not released until Saturday, Sept. 14^th at 4 p.m., Smith said.

Any Pearl River County resident can enter a fair exhibit Monday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon.

There is no fee to enter an exhibit, and first, second and third place winners will receive a cash prize, Smith said. Categories include photography, painting, quilting, woodcarving, ceramics, canned goods, plants, agricultural crops and baked goods. The full list of categories is available in the exhibit book, which can be found on the Fair’s Facebook page or at the Poplarville Extension Office, Smith said.

Exhibits will be judged Wednesday. The exhibit building will be opened to the public Wednesday at 2 p.m. and will be open during the day Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Carnival rides will be operating Tuesday through Saturday. Armband night for carnival rides will be Wednesday from 6 to 10 p.m. Armbands will be $17. Armband day will also be held that Friday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and armbands will be $20.

Parking and entrance to the fair are both free, Smith said. Parking is available on the fairgrounds.