Big Tex. Fried food. And a lineup of Texan music artists. All of this can can only mean one thing: The Texas State Fair returns to Fair Park on Friday, September 27th.
The first state fair was proposed in 1886, and since local leaders couldn’t decide where to hold the event, there were two fairs. The Dallas State Fair was held on 80 acres in Fair Park, and the Texas State Fair & Exposition opened north of the city near North Dallas High School. The two sites were finally merged in 1887, and in 1916 the annual event welcomed a million people for the first time.
Since there are less than 20 days until the start of the fair, we give you an overview of this year’s events in Fair Park. Ride with us.
Opening hours, tickets, parking
- The fair lasts 24 days from Friday, Sept. 27 – Sunday, Oct. 20 and the gates open at 9am
- Tickets + parking permits are available on-lineAdmission costs $5-25.
- Parking is available on-site – it costs $30 in the official fair parking lots. Directions to get to the gates.
- Pro tip: If you arrive after 5 p.m., all guests pay the price of the children’s ticket.
Enjoy live music every day at the fair. | Photo provided
The concerts
Some big names are the headliners of this year’s concert series at the Chevrolet Main Stage, Bud Light StageAnd Yuengling StageMore than 90 artists will be on stage this year – 74 of them come from the Lone Star State. Pro tip: With a trade fair ticket you get free entry to all concerts.
The lineup:
- Croy and the Boys | Fri, Sept 27 | 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. + 5:00 p.m. | Bud Light Stage
- Grace Porter | Sat., Oct. 5 | 8:30 p.m. | Chevrolet Main Stage
- DJ Mark Ridlen | Sat., Oct. 12 | 11:00 a.m. + 1:00 p.m. | Yuengling Stage
Check out the full list of actors.
As far as we know, calories don’t count at the fair.
The fried fairground dishes
As always, expect plenty of fried food along the fairground as well as the winners of this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards. Since 2005, the Big Tex Choice Awards have been inducting new chefs into the exclusive club of fried creations. This year, don’t forget to stop by and try new additions like Russo’s Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick and Texas Sugar Rush Pickles.
There is so much to see at the State Fair of Texas.
The attractions
The fair is known for its exhibitions that cover all kinds of interests. Here are some that excite us:
rodeo | Fair Park Coliseum | From fast-paced bull riding to wild cow milking, you won’t want to miss the action.
In the barns | Livestock Barns| Enjoy the rich agricultural heritage every day with activities and demonstrations such as the Farm and Fork University and the Livestock Birthing Barn.
The Billy Kidd Show | Charismatic charm meets infectious energy in this captivating close-up magic show.
Bryan Berg, the card stacker | The Guinness World Record holder is ready to impress visitors to this year’s State Fair with his incredible deck of cards featuring famous Texas symbols.
Cirque du Soleil: Songblazers | Circus meets country when Cirque du Soleil tells the history of the genre through a theatrical performance. Note: Separate tickets are required for this show.
For a complete overview of daily events, see the attractions of this year.
Make a game plan
Of course, no trade fair is complete without Trips + Gamesand there will be plenty of them at the State Fair of Texas. This daily calendar The list of events will also help you plan your visit. Whatever you do, give yourself plenty of time to explore, bring sunscreen, and wear stretch pants and comfortable shoes.
Psst. Would you like to help the FTWtoday editors plan our trade fair day? vote for what we should eat, drive, play and see.
