EEK! It’s my favorite time of year – the State Fair of Texas opens Friday, September 28! I feel like I can write this blog post in my sleep. If you’ve spent a nanosecond on this site, you know how much I LOVE this annual 3 week extravaganza featuring rides, food, concerts, animals and of course BIG TEX! Let me show you how to navigate the 2018 State Fair of Texas.
Confession: These pictures are from last year. Because of my travel schedule, I will visit the fair in October. Lucky for me, it runs through Sunday, October 21. This years theme is Celebrating Texas Innovation. Pete and I go to the fair an average of 4-5 times in the 3 week run. We love sampling fair food and enjoying a Fletcher’s Corn Dog, visiting the petting zoo, checking out the new cars and riding a few rides. We’ve taken our kids to the State Fair of Texas every year and now that they are adults, they continue to go. I’m going to call that a Texas Tradition!
I have a few helpful hints on how to navigate the State Fair of Texas. Whether this is your first time or you are a seasoned fair goer, it’s important to have a plan before you head out.
- Go on opening day! Friday, September 28 is a great day to enjoy the fair because it’s not very crowded. These pictures were shot on opening day last year (it was really cold that day). This is my theory: The food is fresh and the fair employees are happy to welcome you.
- The State Fair of Texas opens at 10:00 AM daily and closes at 9:00 PM on weekdays and 10:00 PM on Friday & Saturday. Parking and Ticket Booths open at 7:00 AM daily. Crowds are smaller in the morning!
- Attendance is the highest on college game day Saturdays (hello Texas vs. OU weekend) and closing weekend. Avoid these days if you don’t want to deal with huge crowds.
- There are lots of ways to SAVE. All fair discounts are listed here.
- Look at the daily schedule on their site for special performances, appearances and concerts. You don’t want to miss anything!
- In case you need more information, their website is excellent. Be sure to visit the FAQ section.
Plan ahead, go often and have a corny dog for me. Howdy Folks! xoxo – Tanya
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photo: Audrie Dollins
Tags: Big Tex, Dallas, State Fair of Texas, Texas
