Texans love our State Fair and it’s one of the largest in the country. People come from all over to sell their products at our Fair.
If you are a Texan, around August you start preparing for your State Fair plans. It’s a tradition to hit the fair and eat all the fried foods they have to offer, ride everything in the Midway, check out the vendors, and see the car show. This year’s opening day is September 29, 2023, and will run through October 22, 2023.
My grandfather in the 1980’s would drive all the way from Tulsa, Oklahoma to sell his produce at the State Fair and the Dallas Farmers Market. It is a big deal for farmers and those in agriculture. My family brought farming to Oklahoma in the Depression era and my grandfather continued to farm until he died. Part of his success was traveling to DFW to bring his products to market. There are many opportunities to learn about how our food supply functions and the economy that supports it at the State Fair. From learning about dairy cows to how important the right equipment for the job is, there is a place to learn about it at the Fair.
You are going to want to review the schedule of events before making plans
Texas – OU weekend, also known as the Red River Showdown, takes place during the State Fair of Texas every year and it’s one of those weekends that if you aren’t prepared to pay extreme cover charges to go out, then perhaps a weekend at home or out of town would be best. The traffic coming from Austin into DFW, as well as the traffic heading south from Oklahoma into DFW, is out of control. There will be extra police presence as well as an influx in the overall population. Plan for higher charges for anything travel related such as hotels and rental cars. This year it is scheduled for October 7, 2023. It is always at the Cotton Bowl in the middle of the Fair. If you aren’t attending the game and aren’t a fan, I would advise NOT going to the State Fair on this weekend. Parking will be a very long walk from the entrances and expensive, and the lines for food, bathrooms, and activities will all be extremely long. The crowds are intense everywhere you go.
Try to avoid the crowds so you don’t spend all of your time in lines
The best time to go would be during the week as most people are working and children are in school. I plan to pull the kids out of school for the day and use a PTO day at work to attend during the week. You will be able to watch the FFA programs show their animals and auction them.
Creative Arts, Music, Culture – the State Fair has it all to immerse yourself in what Texas represents
There are various live music shows you can plan to attend. The Creative Arts Building has a lot of really neat areas to view and participate in. When I was in elementary school, my mother would enter the arts and crafts we made throughout the year into the contests they had. Every year we would pick a dessert recipe and practice making it until we were ready to enter it into their cooking contest. I have some cool oil paintings I entered that still have my ribbons attached to the back. They hang in both my house and my mother’s house. If you are interested in entering anything, check out their contests and see if you still have time to enter.
Attractions of all types and for all ages – the State Fair has something for everyone
We always plan to see the All-Star iStunt Dog Show and there is usually a pretty cool petting zoo. My children love these. Their attractions are located throughout the fair so you will want to plan to walk the whole way around the Cotton Bowl so you don’t miss anything. You can see the attractions here. I know my kids are going to love to check out the new attractions, Dinosaurs at the Lagoon and Acrobuffos. Elementary-aged boys can’t help but love anything with water balloons. I know I will be buying some in the future so they can play with them at home after seeing this attraction.
Fair Food for All
We cannot forget about the FOOD! Let’s be honest, Fair Food is something we splurge on once a year. We have seen so many fried foods come about throughout the years. You won’t want to miss what is coming this year. I am looking forward to trying the Pork Belly Burnt Ends Pizza and Deep Fried Honey!
Car Exhibit Halls allow you to view multiple brand vehicle lines in one place without the pressure of a salesperson
The exhibit halls are great when you want to cool off in the air conditioning and take a break from the heat. If you are thinking about changing out your vehicle, this is the best opportunity to speak with a knowledgable representative from each brand. They will know each model better than a salesperson at the dealership. You also have the chance to look over several brands in one location instead of having the daunting task of visting multiple dealerships. You never have to give out your phone number, email, or even your name to get inside the cars. You won’t be able to test drive them, but at least you can narrow it down to the ones you are seriously considering.
Transportation and Information to look into before heading to the park
There are several ways to get to the Fair, but I prefer driving and parking at the actual gates. I don’t much care to take the DART Green Rail into Fair Park. Especially if we plan on coming back later in the evening. I am not a big fan of the DART Train for traveling alone or with my children. However, it may be safer with the influx of fair traffic. Definitely should check out their FAQs page to be sure you don’t bring items not allowed and so you are prepared for spending a great day at the Fair. Be sure to wear your comfortable walking shoes and a stroller for small children. You may opt for a wagon to bring a small cooler with bottled water and canned sodas (no alcohol or glass containers allowed) as it will save you from having to purchase drinks all day. Save your money for food and rides and those must-have items vendors are selling. It can be hot, so check the weather beforehand. There will be a lot of outdoor activities!
If you make it out to the fair, let us know what you thought and what you loved. Be sure to get a picture with Big Tex! Everything is bigger in Texas!