State fair of Texas

Post AUTHOR: GRACE

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Autumn and the State Fair of Texas! If you have never been, you truly are missing out.

What could be better than a trip home to Dallas during October to enjoy family AND an afternoon at the fair?

Rach and I were both in town for my baby shower, the weather finally cleared up (it’s been raining for weeks in Texas!) and so it was the perfect day for strolling around the fair.

There is SO much to see and do! From the farm animals, to the shows, to the food, to the rides...you really can't go wrong. There is definitely something for everyone, young and old! And, did you know, it’s the longest running fair in the nation as well as one of the largest? Everything’s bigger in Texas!

Our first stop was to get a Fletcher's Corny Dog. It’s a once a year treat and, you guys, this is hands down my favorite food at the fair. It is SO good! Pregnant Grace was in absolute heaven. I paired that with fresh squeezed lemonade (also a must) and it was pure bliss.

There are some wild food and drink choices at the fair. The 2018 Big Tex Choice Award winners were Fernie’s Hoppin’ John Cake with Jackpot Sauce, Arroz con Leche (Sweet Crispy Rice) and Cotton Candy Taco. New drinks to try this year were Corn Dog Ale, Orange Julia’s Beermosa, Frosty’s Frozen Hot Chocolate, Cherish Erbert Champagne and Kool-Aid Pickle-Dilly Sangria.

For me, I’ll stick with the tried and true favorites!

It's always a blast to try your hand at the various games on the midway and they have SO many to choose from. I don’t even need to play, I have as much fun watching other people spend a ton of tickets just to try their luck at winning an oversized teddy bear. And sometimes, they do!

Your day at the fair will NOT be complete if you don't treat yourself to a good old fashioned funnel cake! I could eat an entire one by myself, but since fried food doesn't always make me feel great after, we all decided to share one. It was perfect! They are so light and delicious, I have to have one at least once a year!

The barns! One of my favorite places to stop. From the farm animals, to the crunch of the of hay underfoot, to the pride on the 4-H kids’ faces as they show off their livestock. I love it!

We couldn't get over the size of the cattle. They were HUGE! And they cannot be bothered, trust me, I tried to pet them. Not my best idea. 😉

There are multiple stages around the fairgrounds with live music everyday - something for everyone. There’s also hundreds of daily activities, exhibits and shows for the whole family.

I love getting to be with family as much as possible, so this was a special day for me. My feet may have been killing me by the end of the day, but my heart and belly were full of good food and wonderful family memories made!

If you have never been to the State Fair of Texas, mark your calendar now and plan a weekend trip to Dallas next year.

The fair runs for just over 3 weeks (usually opens the last Friday of September) and is open 7 days a week from 10 am to 9 pm Sunday thru Thursday and 10 am to 10 pm Friday and Saturday.

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Some interesting things to now before you head out to the fairgrounds -

* Children under age 3 are free

* Admission for children under 48” is $14

* Admission for seniors (60+) is $14

* There are various discounts available for general admission, so check online before you go

* Strollers are available for rent

​* You can bring wagons, coolers and food

* State Fair coupons are $.50 each and can be used for midway rides and food

* Coupons can be purchased at the coupon booths throughout the fairgrounds

* The Red River Showdown football game between the University Of Oklahoma Sooners and the University of Texas Longhorns takes place at the Cotton Bowl Stadium at Fair Park during this time - a ticket to the game includes admission to the fair, making it an exceptionally busy day at the fairgrounds!


Be sure to mark your calendar for next year so you can join the fun and spend a day exploring the great State Fair of Texas!