Tips on how to make the most of your trip to the annual State Fair of Texas – THE MERCURY

Paola Martinez | Life and Art Editor

Big Tex smiles and welcomes visitors with open arms in his full cowboy outfit – boots, hat, ascot. “Howdy, folks!” he says in his signature Texas accent. The State Fair of Texas at Fair Park, an unmissable cultural landmark in Dallas, opens its doors September 27 through October 20, offering its 2.3 million annual visitors attractions, events and creative food that can seem almost intimidating. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your experience.

Founded in 1886 and held for 24 consecutive days each year, the Texas State Fair has a 132-year history of offering fried foods, parades, petting zoos, live music and rides on the Fair Park grounds in southeast Dallas. Not to mention Big Tex – the 52-foot tall cowboy who greets all fairgoers as they enter the gates. With all of its traditions and cultural history, the fair is a great event for UTD’s international student community and newcomers from other parts of the country who want to enjoy the heart of Texas culture.

Like an amusement park or day trip, the State Fair is an all-day event that requires preparation. Before entering the gates of Fair Park, visitors must arrange transportation and parking. The fairgrounds are accessible by car and have parking, but parking in the fair’s parking lots costs $30. Several other temporary parking spots in open lots are available starting at $5, but they are mostly located several blocks from the fairgrounds, requiring visitors to walk. The best way to get right to the gates is to ride the DART. If you’re a Comet with a DART pass, which you can get for free from UTD, this transportation option is a no-brainer. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at bigtex.com or at the entrance. Cash is always preferable, as cash is exchanged for ticket stubs. The stubs are used as currency to pay for food, rides and attractions.

The State Fair is known for its crazy, wacky, fun, and most importantly, fried food – from fried Oreos to funnel cakes to turkey legs, the State Fair has it all. Since 2005, fair vendors have competed to create unique treats for the Big Tex Choice Awards, and the winners, chosen by a panel of judges, are available for fairgoers to enjoy. This year, “Dominican Fritura Dog,” a double-fried fritura with cheese and Dominican salami by Justin Martinez, won the award for “Best Taste – Savory.” “Rousso’s Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick,” a thick 12-inch strip of bacon with cotton candy by Isaac Rousso, won “Best Taste – Sweet.” and Texas Sugar Rush Pickles, cotton candy-flavored pickle slices covered in Lucky Charms, Froot Loops and Cap’n Crunch, layered with cotton candy, cotton candy sugar crystals, powdered sugar and drizzled with a strawberry sundae syrup created by Heather Perkins, won the award for Most Creative.

The State Fair is also known for its weekly rodeo shows. The rodeo events are different every weekend, giving fairgoers a new experience each time they visit, including bull riding, barrel racing, calf catching, and horse sledding. The rodeos are free with a general admission ticket and take place in the Fair Park Colosseum on the fairgrounds. The rodeo isn’t the only place fairgoers can see livestock; there are various petting zoos available throughout the fairgrounds for a ticketed entrance fee. These petting zoos include miniature horses, pigs, sheep, rabbits, and even llamas.

The State Fair features events such as the Starlight Parade, live music, the Texas Auto Show, and rides and games. A daily schedule is available for download on the bigtex.com website so fairgoers can get a taste of what’s to come and choose which days they want to attend based on the events scheduled.

The State Fair is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. General admission tickets range from $15 to $25.