If you're in Dallas this weekend or next month, then you might be heading to the State Fair of Texas, an annual event that shows off the best that Texas has to offer from food and music to arts and animals.
T+G's good friend and contributor, Sedona, has braved “Big Tex” (the fair's iconic giant cowboy statue) with two little kids and is now sharing her tips on what to know before you go. As with any other big attraction, we highly recommend visiting the fair's FAQ page for the most up-to-date info. Yee-haw!
We know you’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating: yes, everything is bigger in Texas, including the almighty STATE FAIR OF TEXAS. This is not your average parking lot carnival-slash-hokey county fair. This is the real thing, people.
The State Fair of Texas has been produced for over 100 years and runs for three weeks every autumn from the end of September to the middle of October (and rakes in over $42 million in revenue, woah). When given the opportunity to experience it firsthand the other year with our kids, we jumped on it.
THE GOOD
There’s something for every age. Our girls were on the younger side, so we took advantage of the fair’s awesome livestock building, (where they pet and fed goats, piglets, a Texas longhorn, and gawked at a 1,273-pound boar), and all of the fun kiddie rides and games on the smaller midway.
But there were tons of attractions for older kids too including faster, scarier rides, the Oddity Show (two-headed turtles will delight any tween), games, and live music. Gear head family members (and little boys!) will love the car buildings (essentially giant car showrooms), which allow visitors to climb into just about any new model car out there and feign driving it to their heart’s content.
The food, like Texas, is never ending. From Fletcher’s corn dogs (Texans call them “corny dogs”) to the Frito pie, to state fair staples like BBQ, candy apples, Mexican corn, and fried anything (this includes Coke, butter, Oreos, cupcakes, sweet tea, and even “breakfast for dinner”), there is something for every member of the family to eat. Our daughters tried the deep fried PB&J sandwich and both loved it. For mom and dad there are the beer and wine gardens too.
Family-friendly touches are everywhere. Over three million people visit the fair each year, most of them families. There are thoughtful details everywhere for moms, dads, and kids. We didn’t ever have to venture far to find a bathroom, and if the line was too long, there was another one nearby that was always less crowded. There are rental strollers (singles or doubles) for use on the fair grounds, which start at $12 a day.
Upon entering the fair, our kids were handed stick-on ID bracelets where we could include our names and cell phone numbers in case we were ever separated unexpectedly. We passed by multiple (Huggies-sponsored) baby care centers on the fairgrounds which included changing rooms with changing tables and Diaper Genies, as well as breastfeeding stations complete with comfy rocking chairs.
It’s authentic. Sure, parts of the Texas State Fair are heavily commercialized (it has over 60 commercial sponsors), but dig deeper and don’t miss the smaller exhibits, which showcase local artists and locally made and grown products. Our kids were blown away by the massive butter sculpture, handmade dolls and quilts, and Texas-grown pickle and dairy (free) samples. We even wandered into the “competition kitchen” where an old-fashioned, mouth-watering cookie bakeoff was happening.
THE BAD
Expect massive crowds. It’s the state fair, and people come from all over and pack the place. We went on a Sunday and won’t make that mistake again. Weekends are to be avoided if you can. Also, get there when things get going, at 10am daily. You can still get in most of the hits before you have to duck out for naps. Bring your stroller or a leash for your child as letting them walk around even ten feet from you will ensure you lose them!
Be strategic about parking. If you go with little ones, spend the $20 and park in a private lot closest to the fair grounds. Prices for parking seem to escalate as the day progresses, so this is another great reason to arrive early. If you have older kids and don’t mind a train trip, you can park and then ride the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) train green line to two different stations located at the fair grounds.
Bring your wallet. This is not a trip to your local church carnival, so budget accordingly. Daily fair admission for adults is $18 and for kids $14 (children under two are free). But this does not include any rides or food, which you need to purchase separate tickets for once you arrive. These tickets are 50 cents each and sold in sheets of twenty. A short kiddie ride ran about $4 in tickets and food anywhere from $5 upwards. It is easy to burn through money fast using tickets.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The State Fair of Texas is an iconic, unforgettable event every family should hit up once in their lifetime. Take a picture with the booming Big Tex (the 55-foot talking statue who welcomes fair visitors), savor a deep fried Texas bluebonnet, ride the massive ferris wheel, or take in a pig race. “The Great Texas Tradition” may become one for your family too.
The 2019 State Fair of Texas is scheduled to take place from September 27 – October 20.
[PHOTOS: Kevin Brown/State Fair of Texas]
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