Close your eyes, breathe deep and let Big Tex guide you…

DH
Dec 28, 2018
5 min read

The Texas State Fair is a magical place. Young students, actually, receive free tickets each year (and those tickets are valuable!). Visitors go to sample strange, award winning concoctions and enjoy a day of carnival games and sweets. Prepare to go home satisfied and smelling like turkey legs.

When:

Late September to late October each year

How to get in?:

Adults tickets are $18. Kids and Senior citizens are $14. Kids under 2 years old are free. There are discounts throughout the weeks that make the tickets affordable. Options I've gotten/seen:

Buy online – save $2
Bring a specific brand of soda bottle on certain days and get $6 off
Find discount tickets on select McDonald's trays (seriously)
Appreciation Days for First Responders, Military

Go to Texas State Fair website for specifics. Click on Plan Your Visit. Scroll all the way down to discount tickets. You will find a full list of options for discounted tickets.

How does it work?:

Tickets and game cards. Prepare to buy a whole lot of tickets. No cash is exchanged at vendor booths for your food, drink, or game purchases.

Tickets are used for rides, food and drinks.
You must purchase and use game cards for games.
Unless you have children with you or are itching to win that human-sized Pikachu, I would skip the games. It is just an additional expense.

Tickets cost .50 cents each. They are sold as packages, mostly. To enjoy yourself, prepare to spend about $60 USD per person.

Eat:

Get the map and plan your route. You will not be able to eat everything you put on that list (at least in 1 visit). Look, you go to the fair to eat. Don’t be ashamed. Be efficient.

Tip: The fair has offered Thrifty Thursdays where certain foods are sold at a discount. Always review the site for deals and updates.

Don’t miss out on these tasty options:

Eat a turkey leg…it will change your life. There will be a point where you will rip that turkey leg apart like your ancient ancestors feasting over a fire. Find a good place to sit and enjoy it.

They are sold all over the fair
To save a few tickets, try the turkey leg vendors toward the back border of the fairgrounds. They are a smidge cheaper but just as delicious

Fletcher’s corny dogs are legendary. They’ve been featured on the Travel Channel and in several newspapers – so you know it’s good. There will be a very long line for Fletcher’s in the main walkway. Find the smaller booths at the south entrance and skip the wait.

In the Texas heat, you need refreshing treats. The pineapple whip – think pineapple fro-yo – is one of those refreshing sweets. Besides, it’s practically guilt free! It has less calories and fat than ice cream. Go ‘head. Treat yo’self!

I do not frequent the beer garden nor the wine garden, but they are there and very popular! You can get a variety of wine flights and beers.

The wine popsicles and mimosa popsicles are more my speed. You get all the cool, refreshing benefits of a cold popsicle on a hot day and a pleasant buzz. #winning

Tip: Remember to check the list of food and drink offerings each year. These popsicles were very popular, but can be here today – gone next year.

Adventure:

Get on the rides! Relive your childhood. There are rides designed to make you scream with delight, some will make you dizzy and queasy, others will have you way above the crowds. All of them will make you laugh at yourself and your friends. Rides start at around 10 tickets.

I recommend you take a ride on the ferris wheel. It is huge (you can see it from the freeway) and a true classic. Warning – if you have less than 4 people in your group, you must share your passenger car. I know, right?

Also, keep your health in mind while selecting rides. Avoid rides with sudden drops if you have heart failure, for instance.

Visiting Big Tex is as much a Texas tradition as is taking pictures with bluebonnets. You will find dozens of families and couples surrounding the animatronic, denim-clad legend and taking selfies. Go ‘head, you should do it, too. He speaks every few minutes and welcomes you to fair. He moves and waves. It’s simple but marvelous.

Tip: you can create an itinerary and print it from the state fair’s daily schedule. You can filter by interest.

After a day of walking in the late summer heat, you’ll need a break. Take the skywalk to transport yourself a few hundred feet. The passenger car is air conditioned, big and sturdy and you don’t have to share it with strangers. Once in the air, you can see most of the fairground and the Dallas skyline. The fairgrounds are covered with huge green trees. There is so much life beneath you. Unexpected beauty and tranquility. One-way costs around 12 tickets and there is a discount for round trips.

The museums on the fairgrounds are open and some offer free exhibits. Topics range and interests vary. In 2016, there was a free Taylor Swift exhibit. Museums include: Dallas Children’s Aquarium, African American Museum, Texas Discovery Gardens, Texas Vietnam Memorial.

Street performers are also part of the fun. Check your Texas State Fair guide for the list of entertainers. There are dancers, acrobats, magicians…take a seat and be entertained.

FREE CONCERTS! For 24 days, you get to enjoy a wide array of musicians. Concerts are free with your state fair ticket. Performers from all musical genres grace the stage. Big names who have performed include Garth Brooks, Selena, Nelly, Fantasia, Kacey Musgraves, AB Quintanilla, Alan Jackson, Kool & the Gang, Destiny’s Child, Tim McGraw and the immortal Willie Nelson.

State fairs began in the US in 1841, per TIME , and the “biggest pumpkin” contest was probably judged soon after (not fact - probably). Judging food and livestock, as well as butter sculptures, is a huge part of this state fair.

Livestock exhibits, showcases, contests and auctions take place. You’ll be fascinated by how much a black angus cow is worth…
Seeing a life-size butter sculpture of a cow will change your life. Read the stats on the side of case and be amazed. Make the rounds and make your own judgments.

You will also find farming equipment on display and huge car shows. Go check out the latest tech on four wheels in top brands.

What would Texas be without a stampede or a little rodeo action? You don't have to worry about figuring that out because the State Fair also offers this experience. You must check out the stampede. It is unexpectedly exciting and snap-worthy. The announcer provides you with some nice history factoids and rallies the audience.

Overall: The Texas State Fair is one of the best places for foodies and carnival lovers alike. You will not leave disappointed. You will definitely not leave hungry!