Coast Coliseum shakes up spring, summer schedule with new fair, fewer chances to ride
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- Gulf Coast Fair is a 10-day event starting March 26 with 30 rides and circus acts.
- No rides at Crawfish Music Festival and no Summer Fair this year.
- Sam Voisin is new executive director and will oversee upcoming spring events.
The Mississippi Coast Coliseum has a new director and big changes in the schedule for this spring and summer.
Typically, the Coliseum grounds are filled with rides during the Crawfish Festival in April and again during the warm nights at the Summer Fair in June.
This year the only chance for kids, teens and adults to ride will be at the new Gulf Coast Fair from March 26 to April 1, the coliseum website says.
There won’t be rides at the Crawfish Music Festival that starts a couple of weeks later on April 17 and there won’t be a Summer Fair this year.
Instead, the 10-day Gulf Coast Fair will bring a circus tent featuring trapeze performances and other high-flying entertainment, along with games and carnival food.
Kissel Entertainment will set up 30 rides at the fair, with more deal days and additional savings available by following the company online. An armband for rides is $35 most nights starting at 5 p.m., and weekend afternoons starting at 1 p.m. Discounted rates are:
- $30 on opening night, Thursday, March 26,
- $25 on Thursday, April 2
- $30 with a buy one, get one free offer on Wednesday, April 1.
Admission to the fair is $10 per person. than ever before for the community and reduced admission costs discounts
Sam Voisin, the new executive director of the Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, has taken over for long-time director Matt McDonnell, who has retired.
Vosin will start his tenure overseeing several big events over the next few weeks, including the Celebration of Hope Festival with Will Graham March 21-22, Crawfish Music Festival featuring Bush and The Outlaws April 17-19, the CPR Fest with Stained May 9.
This story was originally published March 17, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
