The 150th Mississippi State Fair is staying open an extra day, and organizers are hoping that forecasts of clear skies will help improve attendance.

State Agriculture Commissioner Lester Spell announced Friday that instead of shutting down Sunday, the fair will operate through Monday.

The fair opened Oct. 7 near downtown Jackson, and rain fell for each of the first 10 days.

The Clarion-Ledger reports that attendance on Oct. 9, the first Friday, was about 35,000 people, compared to more than 65,000 the year before. About 65,000 turned out Oct. 10, compared to nearly 90,000 for the first Saturday last year.

On the Net:

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce: http://www.mdac.state.ms.us