Tips For A Fun Visit to the Texas State Fair
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The Texas State Fair which started in 1886 is the largest state fair in the United States that attracts 2.5 million visitors annually. It is held at the Fair Park, a National Historic Landmark in Dallas. This grand state fair provides people an opportunity to learn and discover the proud history and unique culture of the lone star state.
Here you can find rides, art exhibits, agricultural showcases, science and culture museums, food vendors, football games, and automobile displays among many other attractions situated in the sprawling Fair Park.
Tips for the Family When Visiting the Fair
We all know that a trip to the Texas State Fair is a wholesome family affair that adults and children will surely enjoy. A few years ago, we went to Dallas for the fair. I came with my wife and our two children, also coming along was my cousin, his wife, and their three kids. It was super fun and the kids had a really great time (the family is planning for another Texas State Fair trip). Here in this article, I’ll provide you with some tips that will come handy if your family decides to visit the Texas State Fair.
Tip 1: Plan the Trip
The first order of business is to know what's in store for this year’s state fair. You can do that by visiting their official website www.bigtex.com.
The website is very helpful as it contains comprehensive information about this year's state fair. This includes ticket prices, attractions, events, food, schedules, and a fairground map. You can also buy tickets and passes online at the website.
A tour around the State Fair would be around 4 to 6 hours depending on how much of the fair you would want to see, how many rides you and your companions would take, or how many shows they would want to watch. It will also depend much on your stamina and how large are the crowds on the day of your visit.
To give you an idea of how popular the Texas State Fair is and how large the crowds are— in 2021, the 24-day fair had 2.2 million visitors. Peak days would be Saturdays when visitor numbers would range from 100,000 to 200,000. Mondays and Tuesdays are slow days. Lines would be shorter during the afternoon from 3 pm to 4 pm.
Tip 2: Budgeting
For a visit, you could budget $300 to $400 for a group comprised of two parents and two children. To stretch the budget you can visit the free attractions at the fair.
There are many family-friendly exhibits whose admission is included in your ticket. Among these include:
All-Star Stunt Dog Show
World of Birds Show Presents: Soar
Big Tex’s Farmyard
Oncor Petting Zoo
Pig Races
Mattress Firm Illumination Sensation
Peewee Stampede and Rodeo
World of Magic
State Fair of Texas Rodeo
And many many more…
For more family-friendly destinations at the State Fair, you can check out this link.
For music events, there is the Chevrolet Main Stage, it's a free concert series that features different acts from rock, R & B, Tejano, and country music.
Entrance to the Texas Auto Show which is popular among adults and also children is free and comes with admission to the fair. The auto show is contained in three areas— the Centennial Building, Automobile Building, and the Truck Zone. If you want to see the latest models of pickup trucks and SUVs, the Texas Auto Show is the best place to visit.
On certain days of the week, the fair offers price promotions. Most rides in the fair are offered at reduced prices on Tuesdays, while on Thursdays, participating food vendors would offer their signature dishes at reduced prices.
When buying tickets I suggest you go buy Premium Admission Ticket with 2-pack or 4-pack Combo. The combo includes an admission ticket with $50 in food and ride coupons. (if you are with family go for the 4-pack combo).
A premium admission ticket is priced at $24 while a regular admission ticket is at $15-$25 (ticket prices vary every day). You’ll have to select the day in advance if you purchase a daily admission ticket while premium one-day admission tickets are valid on any of the 24 days of the Fair.
Premium tickets work with your schedule and provide the most flexibility; it will allow you to attend any of the 24 days of the fair without having to select the day in advance.
However, if you think that one day is not enough and you would need a couple of days to explore the festival or you are just a super fan of the Texas State Fair you might want to get the Season Pass.
A Season Pass costs around $50 and has the following benefits:
24-day admission
One Free Single-day, Bring-a-Friend ticket (valid Monday to Friday only)
Free headlining concerts on the Chevrolet Main Stage
One Free State Fair reusable bag (available to the first 5,000 season pass holders who redeem)
Buy one bucket, get one bucket free at the Ring Toss Game on the Midway
One $5 Off Coupon for a 2022 State Fair Cookbook
One 10% Off Coupon for State Fair gear at official merchandise stores during the State Fair.
A Season Pass Combo comes with two season passes and a $50 coupon for food and rides. The Season Pass Combo costs $150 and is only available for online purchases.
Fair Fans can also visit any participating North Texas McDonald’s for discount vouchers. Members of the U.S. Military and also First Responders receive daily discounts. Check this link for more information on deals.
More Tips For Your Trip To the. Texas State Fair
Tip 3: Must-Visit Attractions
There are several must-visit destinations at the Fair, you would need to purchase coupons when lining up for these places.
One of the popular attractions at the fair is the Midway which features more than 70 rides. State Fair Food and Ride Coupons are needed to pay for the rides at the Midway. To play games at the Midway you will present a Big Tex Game Card which you can purchase at booths and kiosks near the gaming areas.
The lines are long, but a ride at the 212 feet Texas Star Ferris Wheel is one memorable experience for fair visitors. Located at the Midway the Texas Star takes you on a 12-minute ride which lets you enjoy a panoramic view of the fairgrounds and downtown Dallas.
Another Midway ride is the Top O’Texas which at 500 feet offers visitors with a spectacular view of Dallas and surrounding areas.
I recommend visiting the Creative Arts building which showcases the best of Texan arts, crafts, culinary creations, and talented performing artists.
If you are a football fan, the Fair Time Football held at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium has top college football teams in Texas and nearby states. This year’s Fair Time Football will have two games. The State Fair Classic on October 1 (Saturday) will pit Grambling State University versus Prairie View A & M University. The AT&T Red River Showdown on next Saturday (Oct. 8) will have the University of Texas going up against the University of Oklahoma.
A visit to the state fair is not complete without saying hello to Big Tex, this 17-meter tall cowboy figure serves as the State Fair marketing icon and made its first appearance in the 1952 Texas State Fair. In this age of selfies, the Big Tex is a perfect spot for you and the family to take selfies or photos with the iconic cowboy as the background.
Tip 4: Going to the Fair
If you don’t want to deal with parking you can ride the DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit). Those going to the State Fair can take the DART Rail Green Line to two stations – Fair Park Station, located on Parry Avenue at the entrance to the fairgrounds, and MLK, Jr. Station, located south of R.B. Cullum Blvd. and convenient to the MLK fairground entrance (Gate 6).
Visitors can also ride the Trinity Railway Express from any of the ten stations in Tarrant County or Dallas County to meet up with the DART Rail Green Line in Dallas.
If you are traveling from Denton County take the A-Train and transfer to DART’s Green Line at Trinity Mills. The A-Train does not operate on Sundays.
For those using vehicles you can click this link for driving directions.
There are several options for parking at the State Fair. The most convenient parking lot can be reached by entering at Gate 2. (refer to the link in the preceding paragraph for the location of the parking space).
All State Fair official parking spaces are well-lit and near pedestrian lanes; it costs $20 per space (official parking lot). There are Premium Parking Spaces which cost $40 per space. To use this service enter the Grand Avenue Gate from Cullum Blvd., Parry/Haskell (available Saturday, Sunday).
Bicycle Racks are available on a first-come, first-served basis these racks are located inside Gates 5, 6, and 11.
These are some of the useful tips I have shared to those wanting or have decided to visit the Texas State Fair which is slated from September 30 to October 23 (Gates open daily at 9 am). A trip to the largest state fair in the United States is one unforgettable bonding experience with the family.
