Hattiesburg, MS- The gates opened again Friday at the Multi-Purpose Center in Hattiesburg Mississippi and people came from near and far to visit The Pine Belt Fair, the 1st major attraction in over a half a year. Saturday and Sunday are the last two days.

This isn't your ordinary fair neither are these ordinary times. The long for fun, excitement, and thrills seem to outweigh the later, although safety is key. Everyone must have their temperature checked before entering the fair grounds and everyone must wear a mask.

Along with Forrest County Sheriff's Department as security, those are just a few precautions the staff has taken to make sure everyone is safe so everyone can enjoy themselves. Hattiesburg Fire Department is also on hand for any medical or hazardous reasons.

This was an event in which many attended just to get out of the house or in some cases, out of their dorms, such as chemistry major Kenkedric Mallet, 18, University of Southern Mississippi, architect major Jordan Lighter, 18, University of Southern Mississippi, and english major Marcus Shoulders, 18, University of Southern Mississippi.

As many college students are already experiencing stressful times making adjustments for campus life, Mallet said it's "just fun to get out and hang around some friends." Shoulders was excited to "finally enjoy something fun to do" while Lighter was more excited about "seeing so many pretty girls!" hoping to get a chance to meet some new friends, the typical college student.

Then it's off to the fun. And fun it is. Yes there is a small fee for parking but the highest priced admission is $10. Youth, seniors, and military are just $5. Then of course there's the tickets for rides but you save a bundle by buying the wrist band to ride every ride in the park as many times as your stomach can take the thrills.

What is different however is what you don't pay for. Included in your admission are free shows. There's a jaw dropping magic show, the Fearless Flores family ride their motorcycles' together in a very small steel 'Globe of Death' at extremely fast speeds, and then there's Lady Houdini The Escape Artist who literally will have your heart pumping as 100's watched her try to escape death, in which everyone thought she was going to die, including some staff. It was a thrilling and quiet moment for sure. The very diverse crowd erupted in cheers and gasps as many were relieved she's still alive.

Four year old Avyn Mclin looks with excitement, fear and amazement as she just experienced one of the big white tigers roaring and walking right in front of her. Naturally, she takes a few steps back to stand closer and safely next her loving dad, Demetrius McClin, 25, who drove his daughter down from Columbia, Mississippi. He said they both really "enjoyed" the experience.

Outside of the shows which are all free, is a petting zoo where kids can feed farm animals including bulls and camels. However, if that's not exotic enough, you can also feed some roaring white tigers who look extremely hungry not to mention powerful and dangerous.

For many fairgoers like Blake Hoyt, 21, Bogalusa, Louisiana, Makayla Hunt, 18, Foxworth, Mississippi, Javana Hunt, 18, Foxworth, Mississippi, and Greyson Embrey,18, Covington, Louisiana, the main attraction isn't the rides, it's the food. These four friends all drove hours from different cities to have a double date, experiencing their very first Mississippi fair. The famous funnel cakes and handmade lemonades always draw major crowds from near and far. From chicken-on-the-sticks to huge mouthwatering turkey legs to very big juicy tender pork-chops-on-a-stick, and all in between, there's nothing short of delicious excitement on a food fun run to the fair.

There were plenty of games for toddlers, babies, and kids to enjoy including a chance to win some cool prizes including live hamsters, live beautiful fish that come with a free fish tank, and stuff toys and inflatables. Hattiesburg resident, James Fenton, Pastor of Wayside Prophetic Pentecostal Church, is trying to win a big stuffed animal for his son who stands-by hoping with anticipation his dad can have the kind of faith he preaches about on Sundays to get the ball in the hoop to win him his next favorite toy. Unfortunately, not even a miracle could have made the ball go in. Pastor says he will "stick to preaching" and not basketball.

Then there are the rides for dare devils and adults. So much fun that people were seen throwing up repeatedly. Others were known to have pissed on themselves. There's of couse the screamers, the crybabies of all ages including adults, and occasionally those who realized they weren't as bold and fearless as they'd thought they were.

The most famous of them all is the headliner in every fair, the Farris Wheel. It can be both relaxing, romantic, but also a bit scary and dangerous, especially if you're at the top looking over the city. It always has a long line.

Some dare devils waited in long lines to get a chance to push their limits. But for D'Vohn Green, 19, University of Southern Mississippi, Aiden Weber, 18, University of Southern Mississippi, and Spencer Jordan, 18, McNeese University, that chance didn't come for at least one ride. It was temporary closed for cleaning. Why? "Someone threw-up all over the ride!" Green explained. But they vowed to find more excitement, such as a ride similar to the famous "Death Drop" that's featured in Six Flags Over Georgia. This is the ride that seats like a rollercoaster, takes you up slowly high above the sky, holds you there dangling your feet above the city, and without warning, drops you extremely fast right before slowly lowering you to safety.

If that's not thrilling enough, there are other rides that swings you side to side and at times it appears almost so high up sideways you are bound to fall over from 100's of feet in the air and although it's not likely to happen, try explaining that to your heart racing 100 miles per hour.

That's only the beginning. The fair is filled with rides so thrilling, so fun, so fast, so daunting that you once you rode every ride at least once, you would be begging your mother to meet you at the front gate with the car, according to one fan who considered themselves a dare devil up until tonight.

"This is the best!" according to Renea Windham, 31, owner of Creative Drip, who is pictured left getting some famous Lemonade along with her friend, Keyshia Edwards, 25, both from Lumberton, Mississippi. Perhaps it's the only attraction this year as festivals and other major outdoor attractions have been cancelled or postponed until next year. It's safe and friendly for all ages and groups. You can find more information by visiting their website. www.pinebeltfair.com.