A First-Timer’s Guide to the Texas State Fair

For almost 140 years, the State Fair of Texas has brought millions of fair fans to Dallas for agricultural competitions, cattle sales, baking and cooking contests, farm machinery displays, concerts, midway games and rides, and deep-fried everything. The Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game joined the festivities in 1929, and Big Tex appeared in the ’50s. Today, the State Fair of Texas sees over 2 million people through its gates during its annual 24-day autumnal run, and fans from across the state, country, and around the world head to Fair Park for the newest food crazes to hit the scene each year.

Experiencing the Fair is a Texan rite of passage, and something everyone should do at least once. From events to food to logistics, here’s what you need to know for this year’s State Fair of Texas, which runs from Sept. 26-Oct. 19.

Pro Tips

Know Before You Go

What to Bring

As of this year, the State Fair is implementing a clear bag policy upon entry. Exceptions are made for medical bags, parenting bags, and soft-shell coolers after inspection. Clear bags and soft-shell coolers that are 9 x 10 x 12 inches or smaller are allowed, and small clutch bags or purses don’t have to be clear but cannot be larger than 4.5 x 6.5 inches. It’s worth noting that loose ice is not allowed, so if you’re using a cooler, reusable ice packs are recommended. Alcohol, glass containers, and metal knives and forks are prohibited. There are no lockers at the Fair, so if you bring in a prohibited item, you have to discard it or take it back to your car. Security cannot hold items.

Comfort is key when it comes to the Fair, so wear comfortable walking shoes and breathable clothing. Sunscreen is recommended, as is a refillable water bottle that you can fill inside at water stations.

Best Times to Go

Crowds are largest on weekends, closing weekend, during major concerts, and, of course, during Red River Rivalry weekend, when the University of Texas at Austin plays the University of Oklahoma. Weekday mornings and evenings offer a more relaxed experience, with shorter lines and easier parking. “I recommend visiting on opening weekend through the first week of the Fair,” says Pulfer. “Historically, these days are some of the best options if you’re looking to attend when fewer people do.”

Looking for a discount? Go on Wednesdays, when each person who brings five canned food items to donate to North Texas Food Bank receives $7 admission instead of the $15 adult ticket price. There’s also an after-5 p.m. discount that allows adults to receive children’s ticket pricing.

For those with sensitivity to light and sounds, Sensory Friendly Mornings are a great way to experience the Fair in a safe yet fun way. On Sensory Friendly Mornings (every Wednesday, Oct.1, 8, and 15 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.), adjustments are made at the Fair to accommodate sensory-related concerns, and a special guided itinerary with a list of activities and exhibits that are lighter on eyes and ears is provided. Enjoy the Midway without the usual lights and sounds from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on these days in the Fair’s Quiet Zones, where families can go to find moments of calm.

CURRENCY

Getting There

Transportation and Parking

The State Fair of Texas is located at Fair Park in Dallas, a National Historic Landmark east of downtown. There are numerous official State Fair lots surrounding the grounds, or you can take the DART, which drops you off at the Fair gates.

If you’re driving, arrive early and note where you parked by snapping a quick photo at one of the giant icons at each gate, such as Penny the Cowgirl, Amy the Armadillo, or Champ the Steer. The easiest and most convenient parking lot is at Gate 2 at 925 S. Haskell in Dallas. In all official Fair lots, parking is $30 per space.

Rideshare and taxi services are staged at Haskell to 4206 Gurley Ave. in Dallas. This is for drop-off and pickup only. You can get rideshare from any gate at the fairgrounds, but using this address is the most efficient and helps with traffic flow.

On the Schedule

The Main Events

The biggest State Fair of Texas event is the annual Red River Rivalry football game between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Last year, the Fair saw more than 211,000 fairgoers that day. It’s a neutral-ground showdown that brings in hordes of people not only to the Fair, but to bars and restaurants around Fair Park.

Other big events include the Drive Like a Texan Starlight Parade, a nightly parade with life-size puppets and vibrant floats that light up the sky, and the Fiestas de Marionetas, where over 85 marionettes come to life.

The new State Fair Clásico, an international soccer match between Dallas Trinity FC and Club América Femenil, debuts this year at Cotton Bowl Stadium as the Dallas-Fort Worth soccer fan base continues to grow. And in addition to livestock shows and Fair exhibits, there’s also an extensive live music lineup with more than 90 acts across three stages every day of the Fair. Headliners this year include Paul Wall, TLC, The Band Perry, Hawthorne Heights, and Hoobastank.

Two new rides enter the Midway for 2025, including Thunderbird, the tallest portable swing tower in North America, and the Defender, a fast-moving propeller ride and LED light show.

Snack Time

Fair Food

The best thing about the State Fair of Texas is arguably the food, which gets more creative every year. “The State Fair of Texas attracts millions of people from all over the globe each year, many making a special trip just to try the food,” says Taylor Pulfer, the director of communications for the State Fair of Texas. “Our hope is that by continuing to add new flavors to the Fair that fairgoers will be introduced to new cuisines that they may not have otherwise tried.”

NEW ON THE MENU

New foods this year include Cajun-stuffed seashells—jumbo pasta shells stuffed with shrimp, andouille sausage, rice, cheese, a secret sauce and cornbread stuffing—from Gulf Coast Grill on First Avenue; a churro cheesecake jalapeño popper—a cheesecake-stuffed jalapeño pepper that’s covered in churro batter, deep fried, and dusted with cinnamon sugar—from Velasquez Catering and Concessions Inc. on Funway an MLK Boulevard; and El Cono Loco—creamy Tex-Mex chicken spaghetti inside of a freshly baked garlic parmesan bread cone—located at Cone’d in Cotton Bowl Plaza. There’s also chicharrones and guacamole, oxtail cornbread sliders, and a Pop Rocks margarita, among numerous other finds.

BIG TEX CHOICE AWARDS

Be sure to check out the Big Tex Choice Award winners as well. Each year, concessionaires create new food items in hopes of becoming a finalist for the Big Tex Choice Awards. Fifteen finalists are chosen across four categories: Best Taste—Savory, Best Taste—Sweet, Best Taste—Sipper, and Most Creative. A panel of judges tallies the scores to determine winners. This year, Best Taste—Savory goes to the crab and mozzarella arancini by Stefan T. Nedwetzky, Best Taste—Sweet is the Chill and Thrill delight (a Colombian fruit cocktail) by Tony and Terry Bednar, Best Taste—Sipper is Cookie Chaos (a decadent cookie butter milkshake) by Brad Weiss, and Most Creative goes to Kendall Williams’ wagyu bacon cheeseburger deviled egg sliders.

THE CLASSIC

Of course, a classic Fair item is a Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog, which are found at numerous stands across the Fair. More than half a million corny dogs are sold each year across the 24 days of the State Fair of Texas. And the correct condiment? The Fletcher family says mustard. If you want to try something different, get the jalapeno-cheese corny dog. “It’s my personal favorite and has been a fan favorite for over 20 years,” says Amber Fletcher, co-owner of Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs. “It’s got a nice, warm flavor with chopped jalapeños mixed with cheese without being overly spicy.”