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State Fair of Texas
Category: Arts & Entertainment Festivals Festivals
3921 Martin Luther King Jr BlvdDallas, TX 75210
Neighborhood: Fair Park
(972) 263-8374
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
123 reviews for State Fair of Texas
123 reviews in English
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Review from Leigh P.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
My sister is in love with the state fair, so we are forced to go yearly. I dig the fair, only it's more of a "I'll make out with you" sort of love. Not the "I wanna jump your bones, marry you and love you forever" sort of love she has for it. You get it.
The past few years, the corny dogs have sucked. Mr. Fletcher definitely fell down on his corny dog duty. Not salty enough, sometimes undercooked, sometimes overcooked. In the past, my fair experiences usually consist of going with way too many people and I am slung multiple times from one end of the fair to the other on the whim of somebody (carefully going out like spokes of a bicycle from the cheap ticket beer place of course).
This year, I think I figured it out.
For Megan's birthday, a couple of us decided to play hookie from work and go. We got there when we wanted, we stayed as long as we wanted. We ate what we wanted, we drank as much as we wanted. We serindipitously ran into people we knew who were there with their kids. Even the corndogs we ate were perfectly seasoned and cooked to crispy. We rode rides, we squealed and giggled. We posed for old timey photos with corsets on and did the shocker for the mouse rollercoaster camera. The weather was perfect. Sigh! Enough about my perfect day.
In summary, things to do to get it right: 1) Fletchers Corn Dog (get the ones at the entrance. yeah, there are other booths in the fair but this location is the original and better in my brain). 2) Cheap ticket beer is in the food court (the buildng with the big gold tipped spire thing). 3) The pig races/dog show is fun. 4) The petting zoo will make you feel like a kid again. 5) Ride as many rides as you can. 6) The ferris wheel is fun but if you don't have a full car worth of folk to sit with they put you with a stranger and that sucks. 7) You can buy tickets with your debit/credit card so no need to worry about having the cashola. 8) Go into the food and fiber building to see the canned shit, butter sculpture and quilts people made for the fair. It's cool. 9) Don't go with too many people! Too many agendas usually mean somebody gets pissed.
Things to skip: 1) Meh, I'm over the car show. Unless you want to see two huge buildings of only domestic trucks, it's boring as hell. 2) I rarely stay into the night, I'm a "go to the fair for lunch" sorta girl. 3) Riding the train TO the fair is fun. Riding the train HOME from the fair is an asswhipper. Don't say I didn't warn you.
So, you've missed it for this year, the fair's 125th anniversary. Sorry 'bout cha. But next if you're reading this in 2012 maybe it's prepared you a bit more. Now, go and have fun! -
Review from Ashley C.
Austin, TX
11/19/2011 3 photos
The Texas State Fair was a fun experience and the first time I have been to Dallas. Though my boyfriend warned me that it may take forever to arrive due to traffic and parking issues, the parking management around the fair (he noticed) had vastly improved since he had last been 2 years ago. We found very close parking without much driving around at all.
Once at the fair, we found our way towards a large viewing area to watch a college football game and then made our way to the games and food:
Pros:
- I'm a very picky meat eater and would have never expect how amazing the turkey legs here were! ...We actually fed some to some turtles who went crazy for it too!
Cons:
- The prices are outrageous. I guess this is to be expected...but still.
- I couldn't really enjoy the games, as they were so obviously rigged.
- Being from El Paso, my boyfriend kept persuading me to try the churros. For me, as a first time taster, and (for him) as a veteran churro taster, both of us were disappointed. -
Review from Zeke T.
Dallas, TX
11/2/2011
I just move to Dallas several months ago and it seems since I've relocated the most anticipated event from the locals and my new friends has been this fair. After all the hype, I admit I was looking forward to this event myself!
The first time I realized how big this fair really is was when I first arrived and had to drive through rows and rows of of vehicles to find a parking lot. But in all honesty, it really didn't take that long to find one. As soon as I walk through the ticket booth I stood jaw-dropped at what was getting thrown at me. At the time I was starving and was really craving some exotic friend food I have heard so much while my girlfriend was tugging my arm in the directions of the rides. While deciding we realized we were in front of the Cirque Shanghi stage which was very interesting and fun to watch!
The rides where a bit pricey, but you can expect that from a fair and the food was actually surprisingly good! The most exciting part in my opinion was just the atmosphere. It brought something new to the table which I enjoyed, -
Review from Heather F.
Austin, TX
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
The largest State Fair in the United States. This not Charlotte's Web sort of fair. Somebody said something about it being an institution and that is definitely a way to describe it.
For those of us who are Native Texans the State Fair is something of folk lore, including Big Tex himself. For some, Big Tex is the equivalent of Jesus and by the hoards of people taking pictures around his base any given time of day during the fair you yourself may just become a believer.
My 91 year old grandmother tells stories of getting up at 4AM to fry chickens to pack in coolers for lunches for my mom and aunt and uncle as they drove for 2 hours to the fair in their station wagon. Some of my mother's earliest memories were as a child in the 1950's coming here. I myself have early memories of coming here when I was about 3-4 years old and playing in the fun house of mirrors and getting a pink lace umbrella with my name painted on it.
The State Fair of Texas has something for everybody, literally. Gone are the days of my mom's childhood when the fair was mostly an agricultural focus. Yes, the agriculture stuff is still here but it has been dwarfed by the gobs of other events. This past weekend of Texas/OU's legendary Red River Shoot out at the Cotton Bowl set a record of most visitors. If you go on a weekend be prepared to not be able to walk with all of the thousands of people, strollers, and wheelchairs. It can be a little frustrating but still a good time.
Some of the highlights:
Food and Fiber pavilion: Here you will find tons of samples, recipe cards, propaganda from the Dairy and Agricultural departments, and best of all lots of homemade goodies to take home like pepper sauce, jams and toffee. Here you can also meet the real, live Elsie the cow from Borden's milk and see cooking demo's from the kitchen.
State Fair Auto Show: this takes up two massive buildings showcasing all of the up-and-coming concept cars and new models being released. This year included a preview of the new, larger Toyota Prius. Chevy also has a test track where you can take a spin in some of their new up-and-coming vehicles.
Midway: The best carnival I have ever experienced. Play games or ride the huge ferris wheel that gives great views of the Dallas skyline. The midway has a haunted house and is most fun late at night.
Food: There is more food you could eat in a lifetime. Besides all the favorites like cotton candy, funnel cakes and twisted potatoes they also have fair favorites like Fried Butter, Fried Beer, Fried Salsa, and Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana sandwich (aka, The Elvis). My grandmother hasn't been able to travel in over 10 years but if anybody goes to the fair she still asks about the Fletcher's corn dogs which are world famous. Be prepared to wait in line for your food on the weekend.
Live Entertainment: BMX stunt shows, various street entertainers, world famous USMC band (from Washington, DC) daily performance, pig races, puppet shows, dog stunt shows, Chinese acrobats, ect.
College football games: every Saturday at the Cotton Bowl which is a part of Fair Park.
Competitions: look for the gorgeous hand-made quilts and see who took home the blue ribbons for various homemade recipes in the Creative Arts building. Here you can buy Texas State Fair cookbook for $25 that includes last year's award winning recipes.
There is a ton of live music by famous bands and performances which is one of the biggest draws IMHO besides the food. The state fair is huge for the kids as they have petting zoo's, pumpkin painting and a smaller, kid friendly midway area.
Several year-round museums are located on the fair grounds and are open for business during the fair and some have special exhibits going on too. These museums are the Women's Museum, African American museum, Children's Aquarium, Texas Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Museum of Nature and Science, D.A.R House, and Texas Discovery Gardens.
Lastly, the beer gardens! Pop a squat on one of the many umbrella tables and chairs after purchasing tickets to buy beer on tap from around the world. They have misters which are nice.
Tip: the fair has a ton of tents with various vendors from companies selling kitchen items, clothing, jewelry, heaters and other house appliances and those types of places accept cash and credit; however for most food and beer you have to buy the state fair coupons including the midway. If you are going during the day be sure to wear a hat as there isn't a ton of shade.
Entry is $16 as of 2011 though there are ways to get in cheaper so keep your eyes peeled for specials like the nights you can bring a can of Dr. Pepper and get in for $5. My mom is a teacher and she gets free tickets (thanks, mom!). Parking is $15 with free trams for the remote parking.
Snobs may turn their nose up at the idea of a fair but I promise you the Texas State Fair is like nothing you've ever experienced and is always a really great time.Listed in: Experience Life With All Your…
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Review from Christine A.
Austin, TX
10/13/2011
Fletcher's jalapeno cheese corny dog
Parking on the grounds, ftw
The new car show
The African American Museum.
Funny fried food (turkey testicles and bubble gum, to name two I will never try)
Big Tex
The Midway and the barkers
Haunted House
The Garden Show
Texas Night Sky Talk
Livestock Show
Pumpkin Painting
A bearded lady
Texas Wine Tasting (after the bearded lady)
Free concerts
And, let's add the Texas/OU game when Texas wins.Listed in: BIG D little a Double…
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Review from Alexander W.
Houston, TX
10/25/2011 8 photos
My rating for the State Fair will fluctuate between one star and five star depending on how my Texas Longhorns do in the Red River Shootout.
However, the foods at the State Fair of Texas will always be five star and the price will always be one star. Parking sucks. Crowd and weather is manageable when you go in the evening. Bring a Dr. Pepper can after 5pm for a discount on your admission. I usually don't bother with games or rides just stuff I can put into my mouth. *Pause*
I should've started reviewing all the foods 10 years ago because new fried concoctions are invented every year by the wizards of the booths. I plan to update this review every year. For my initial review I will try to remember all the items I have tried and try my best to beat down those high-caloric and artery clogging cravings.
Fletcher's Corndog's (5/5) - The staple of any fair. The breading is what sets this apart.
Turkey Leg (5/5) - A giant drumstick in your hand. Juicy meat never ending.
Fried Cheesecake (5/5) - This is one of the few foods I have to get every year. Sweet tooth satisfied.
Fried Beer (1/5) - Stay away, unless you like flat lukewarm beer in a ravioli.
Fried Butter (3/5) - Probably the most hyped fried item to date. It is pretty much like a fried hot roll infused with butter with your choice of honey cinnamon, gariic, and other toppings. Try this once in your shortened life.
Fried Coke (2/5) - A soggy mess. Frozen coca-cola flavored batter which is deep-fried and then topped with syrup, whipped cream, cinnamon sugar, and a cherry. Better than it sounds.
Chicken Fried Bacon (4/5) - If you love bacon and your chicken fried like Zac Brown Band you will love this.
Deep Fried Latte (2/5) - I don't remember this much, showing how MEH, it was.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls (4/5) - This fried and sweet fruit had me doing loops.
Lemonade (varies) - some taste like water and others like pure sugar.
Fried chicken skins (3/5) - similar to chicken fried bacon but a little lighter. But that is like comparing the weight of a hippo to an elephant.
If I missed anything I have eaten in the past it will go on the 2012 list!
2011 - This was a disappointing year for the new fried foods.
Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack (2/5) - Buffalo chicken in pancake batter wrapped in jalapeno bread crumbs and a side of syrup. If they were trying to make chicken and waffles on a stick, they failed.
Fried Bubble Gum (1/5) - Creative, but who wants to eat bubble gum flavored melted marshmallow? But way too expensive.
Deep Fried Pineapple Upside Down Cake (4/5) - This had my mind upside down for awhile, in a good way.
Fried Autumn Pie (3/5) - Like a fried pumpkin pie, the price for this had me wishing it was bigger.. and wishing for cooler weather.
I also have a list of things I want to try in the future and they include but are not limited to Fried pizza, fried biscuits and gravy, fried twinkies, fried frito pie, fried oreo, fried queso, fried smores. -
Review from Kate R.
10/30/2011
To me, the Fair is always 5 stars. It's a family tradition. I've gone here with my dad (and my grandmother several times, when she was still with us) every year since I was born, except the year in high school when I broke my knee.
To be fair, (ha ha) we've been coming here so long, we kind of have it down to a science. We know what we want to eat and see and we do that, people watch, and get outta there.
The first thing we always always do when we get here is get some Fletcher's corny dogs and Jack's french fries. Gotta be Fletcher's and gotta be Jack's. Don't let any other corn dog stand fool you. If it doesn't say FLETCHER'S CORNY DOG, don't do it.
As usual, the corny dogs were delicious and fresh. Greasy, hot, covered in ketchup (me) or mustard (dad). Fries were excellent... salted and peppered, with a small cup of ketchup on the side for dipping. Got a nice seat right in front of the Cotton Bowl!
After gorging on fried foods and guzzling Lemonade, we'll walk off some of the calories. Car show, arts and crafts, food building (we rarely get anything in there, though), sales pavilions, Women's museum, and that new greenhouse thing.
Of course, we stop to see Big Tex talk, and boy am I glad he's not wearing that awful yellow shirt again this year!
Then we'll usually grab another round of food. Sometimes a 2nd corny dog, sometimes roasted corn (btw: the best corn is on the far ass side of the Fair... Walk past the livestock buildings, keep going past the fried butter, see the sales pavilions? see the famous taffy stand that pulls the taffy right in front of you? head down that walk way towards the red tent. That's the only ROASTED corn at the Fair. The rest is all just plain boiled and buttered corn), sometimes a funnel cake, sometimes ice cream if it's 1000 degrees outside.
We'll wander around some more, people watch for a bit, grab some more lemonade, and head for the Turkey legs. We always get a turkey leg or two on the way out of the Fair. If you ask, they'll usually wrap them up for you in foil and put them in a bag. I eat mine over the next day or so... Dad has a couple bites of his and then uses the rest to make beans.
This year, we accidentally came on Senior Citizen day and it was PERFECT. The weather was nice and cool, and since it was Senior Citizen day (and you know, a Thursday) it wasn't super duper crowded with screaming children and stuff.
The Fair is a different experience for me now than it was when I was a kid: I don't want to play all of the Midway games (I never win anything) and I don't want to ride all of the carnival rides (I will throw up now), but it's still something magical.
This year, we did something a little new: we tried a 'new' fried food item. We diverged from our usual plan. In addition to corny dogs, french fries, lemonade, and a turkey leg... we also got an order of Fried Frito Pie and split it. I like this new idea and we'll probably do it next year. We'll agree on a new fried thing to try and split it.
There were a lot of fried things I wanted to try but didn't get to because I wasn't there with friends (read below!). But I'm sure I'll get to try them next year instead.
For people who complain about it being expensive: duh. Come on a day when they do a Coke can discount or a Dickey's discount or something. Carpool with as many people as will fit in your car and split the cost of parking. Go in with friends to split food (I did that last year when I went with friends-- we all bought one fried food item, and between the 6 of us, we split them up and got a little sample of everything and didn't have to wait in 6 lines each. I think we each bought 2 things by the time the day was over and I got to try a TON of things. Then I bought a corny dog for myself and some lemonade. Wound up being a pretty cheap day!). There ARE ways to save money, you just have to plan a bit. Go with buddies, split costs, don't spend all of your cash on beer. Problems solved!
HAPPY 125TH BIRTHDAY, STATE FAIR OF TEXAS!!
See you next year for more fried deliciousness. -
Review from Paul H.
Highlights of the State Fair:
-Bring unopened coke 20oz for reduced fare ($5)
-Free toothpaste (Proenamel and Sensodyne) and toothbrushes
-Free 5-hour energy
-Fried s'mores was very rich
-Fletcher's Corny Dog had a crunchy, delicious batter. Must have!
-Lemonade was a hit or miss
-Fried pineapple upside cake was okay
-Fried butter with honey cinnamon reduced my lifespan by 4 years
-Fried pumpkin pie was crispy and flavorful.
-Piglet racing was cute
-Tater twisters were great and you get your money's worth
-Fried biscuit and gravy had seasoned batter which made it a must try
-Lots of Domo and Angry bird prizes
-Giant Ferris wheel was a great first experience -
Review from Tiffany R.
Dallas, TX
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
Update on discounts for 2011 Season
Any Day: McDonald's offers $4 off General Admission with one of their State Fair coupons (available on tray liner or bag stuffer) any day of the Fair. A free child ticket (with purchase of general admission) coupon is also distributed by McDonald's. Offer may not be combined with any other offer.
Dr Pepper $5 after 5: Any day after 5 p.m. Bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $5 after 5 p.m.
Dr Pepper $4 Tuesdays: Every Tuesday during the 2011 season, bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $4. Most rides (excluding the Thrillway and the Texas Star) are 5 coupons.
Kroger $2/Can Food Drive Wednesdays: Any Wednesday admission is $2 for each visitor bringing 3 cans of food for area food banks.
Coke $5 Thursday: Bring an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product and enter the Fair for $5 admission.
Cinemark Free Thursday Admission: Bring a Cinemark Theater ticket stub and get free admission on Thursdays.
Seniors Day: Senior citizens (age 60 and over) may enter for free every Thursday during the State Fair of Texas: October 6, 13, and 20, 2011.
Dickies Day: Thursday, October 6, 2011. Anyone wearing a Dickies logo clothing item will receive a free voucher for admission to the Fair on same day.
A season pass is available for purchase at the fair for $29.95 at Kroger. It is $39.95 on the state fair website. It allow for unlimited visits for the pass holder, one buddy pass for one visit Monday thru Friday only and one cinemark movie pass valid Sunday thru Thursday that must be used by October 31st, 2011.
Food and ride coupons are sold in a sheet of 20 for $10. (.50 per cpn) These are discounted at the fair on Tuesday's.
A Dart combo ticket sold at Kroger cost $17. It includes a general admission ticket to the fair and a round trip same day ticket on Dart.
The Fall Garden Getaway price is $19. It includes one general admission ticket for any day to the fair and one ticket to the Dallas Arboretum and Cinderella's Pumpkin Village to be used by November 23rd.
If you buy a ticket to the West Side Story performance at the on-site Music Hall it will include a same-day fair admission. http://www.liveatthemu... 214-565-9931
Parking in an official fair lot is $15. -
Review from Deborah K.
Richardson, TX
10/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I have just returned from seeing big ol' Tex and eating until I could physically feel my arteries clog up.
The list of things I tried:
1) chicken fried bacon- definitely added this to my favorites list. The worst on the list, health wise but who goes to the fair expecting healthy anyway? Crazy...it's basically the same concept as KFC's fried chicken but instead of the chicken, you get bacon! Surprise!! even more of a heart attack, yay!!
2) roasted corn-you MUST put the Cajun and garlic seasoning all over it, oh and don't forget to request it buttered!
3) Fletcher's corndog- go for the original. I think it tastes better than the jalapeño and cheese. Best corndog stand.
4) twisted tators- same Texture as potato chips but fresh of course. They twist the potato with this odd contraption...interesting enough for anyone to try!
5) Belgium waffle- lather it up with their special cream/ strawberries and powdered sugar. Tastes like a softened sugar cone with cream as their ice cream.
6) lemonade- a MUST. NO QUESTIONS.
7) soft served dole pineapple ice cream- my favorite. I would suggest eating this last. After all the fried food, you'll be craving something refreshing. This definitely hit the spot.
8) rootbeer-homemade and tastes so different from typical A&W. Gotta try it.
As for entertainment, make sure to ride the spaceship ride. I can't remember what it was called but to make the description as simple as possible...it's a revolving UFO looking ride with bright lights all around it. BEST ride EVER. It spins so fast it allows you to feel the gravitational pull that astronauts would feel getting shot up into the sky.
Of course the downside is how ridiculously expensive it all is but thankfully it comes around once a year. Next time I'll save enough to spend with no guilt. :)
Go when the weathers nice, makes the experience even better. Car show wasn't bad either this time.
Have fun, be safe, and eat until you can't anymore!
I love you tejas!! Happy dance!! -
Review from Jessica C.
Austin, TX
10/10/2011
I've been here 3 years in a row and I must say that Texas has an awesome state fair. But you better start working out a month in advance to burn off everything you're going to eat in one day!
Top 5 things to get (in no particular order):
1) Fletcher's corny dog - These are the famous corn dogs that Food Network raves about. They're a little small of 9 tickets, but taste better than the foot long corn dogs.
2) Frozen sweet tea - Really good and refreshing, especially after you've been walking around in the heat for hours. They're not at every stand, but keep your eyes open for them!
3) Fried oreos - My favorite fried food!
4) Fried peaches and cream - SO GOOD......seriously! It won 1st place for best taste in 2009 (I think?).
5) Turkey leg - This is a must have! I like it as is, but you can have it fried or dipped in BBQ sauce.
Overrated:
1) Fried butter - Just tastes like an extremely buttery dinner roll. I rather eat something else that's fried in butter.
2) Fried beer - Warm beer is no bueno :(
3) Fried coke - Not as good as I thought it would be. I think frying liquids in general is not a great idea.
If you're going to the state fair during TX-OU weekend, I'd recommending going during the game (usually 11am-2pm) or at night after 5pm (if you bring a can of Dr. Pepper, you can get in for $5!). -
Review from Jen B.
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm new to Dallas, new to Texas...and this fair was not what I was expecting. I felt like I was too excited to experience this and glad that someone gave me a free ticket. Growing up in the midwest I was expecting some dirt roads, agriculture, animals, tractors...this seemed, in a way, nicer than that. It was clean. It was paved and really spread out.
The food vendors were lacking. If you are in the market for something strange all fried up or a "corny" dog...this is the place for you. I will say that I experienced fried oreos for the first time and think everyone should try them. However, I opted out of the fried kool-aid, kool-aid soaked pickles, fried butter, buffalo chicken flapjack, fried chicken skins, and so on. I had a "corny" dog and it was as good as any "corny" dog, french fries that I could have bought from a grocery store freezer section (worst choice), a fried oreo, fountain diet coke, and cotton candy that came with a bug...mmm.
Lastly, the tickets. You buy tickets for food, which is inconvenient...you have to guess what you will need, risking buying too many or having to hunt down a ticket counter in the future if you don't have enough. The tickets don't transfer over to games when you have too many...you have to prepay for that too! I'd rather deal in cash.
I don't know that I will be too excited to go back...this is just comparing it to another fair that I grew up going to....I had high expectations. -
Review from Mary S.
Heydays of Fair leave lifelong memories, My life in 4 hours at the "Texas State Fair" 2011. "It just reminds us all of what makes this state and city so special. Determined to attend the fair even if it meant taking along four kids.
I parked in a $5 lot, paid the older gentleman in his 70's a few extra Washingtons to keep on eye on my baby.
First stop, Beer tent. It's a must stop sit in a shady area with misters spraying planning out your big spectacular day. Then were off , we stop and say hello to big Tex of course. He's looking mighty good for his fine age of 55.
First things first, Lets hit the Midway! full of traditional and transportable rides, a must do. Coupons (cash or credit cards accepted) for rides and food. one is worth 50 cents. A typical ride is 10 coupons (you practice your math skills) so with 4 kids including myself I spent around one Franklin for 5 rides. Goofing off in the fun house, and making funny poses in the Zero Gravity ride taking you back to 1991 is truly worth every penny spent.
The smell of greatness lofting in the air, This is the Holy Grounds for fried anything. Enjoy the food you can always do a 3 day detox starting Monday. So we blow all of our Dough$ We are now forced to check out some more fantastic Fair attractions that are free. We come along a farmers market, pretend of course. Great for toddlers and pre-school, but they let us big kids play too! Children get to feed some chickens with corn pellets, collect eggs, milk a cow plant seeds and then collect produce ride a tractor. After a hards day of a life as a farmer you get rewarded by selling your crops egg and milk and in return you get Farmers cash to buy some real snacks at the General store.
So after we all worked like hell, we skipped on over and took in some great tunes, molded together the sound of multiple genre rock and melodious folk kind of tunes "Celtic Rock" yes please.
Well it's Friday night almost time to get back so we decide we can do one more activity!
is it the pig races? how about cattle auctions (is my freezer big enough) well we all decide "Petting Zoo" Good times, as always. Why not lower your blood pressure. It's pretty high due to the fried foods and fast rides. Animals sure do bring joy and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
Check out my pics, They capture the lure of the Fair and pretty much sums it all up. -
Review from Shae W.
10/24/2011
I LOVE the fair. I love everything about the fair. I HAVE to go every year. There is just so much to do and so much to eat. The eating is, by far, the most important.
Activities to do:
CAR SHOW!!!
African Acrobats
Bird show
Swan paddle boats
Ferris wheel
Greenhouse (if only to see the tree man on stilts and the crazy pumpkin carver)
Food to eat:
Fried butter
Corn Dog
Pork chop on a stick
Turkey leg
Fried pumpkin pie
Fried snickers
Fried cheesecake -
Review from Debbie J.
10/23/2011
If you live in Dallas then it's a must to spend the day with Big Tex! Leave your drab & dull self at home and bring the fun & carefree to the State Fair. Yes, it is full of fried food choices but come on! It's worth a bite of each dish. Fletchers corny dogs are a staple and should not be passed up. We didn't care to much for the fried bubble gum (ewe) but be assured we washed it down with a frozen marg or cold beer.
I agree with another yelp-er ....all the attendees were nice enough to either share coupons or point you in the right direction.
A great & fun family day for sure! See you next year Big Tex! -
Review from Valerie P.
Brooklyn, NY
10/30/2011 1 photo
If you're a sucker for fat-greasy-nasty-tasty huge portions of food type of person then this is the place for you!
Now y'all know in the south it's nothing but fatty-nasty-tasty foods they have. No wonder 95.9% of the population are overweight.
Not only they don't eat healthy but they always have to drive.
I must tell you they have the weirdest types of foods, snacks and beverages.
From fried ice cream, fried butter, fried Oreos to what I'm going to focus on fried alligator-yep you read right! FRIED ALLIGATOR!
Now when my friend mentioned it I had this disgust look on my face but at the same time curious.
Since it was my first time so we got a portion to share in case I might not like it you can say.
It smelled great and looked good, it looks like fried ummm chicken stripes o_O
The taste wasn't bad either but because it was very chewing like steak/calamari I didn't like it-not a fan of anything chewy.
It was spicy (which I liked cause I'm a fan of spicy food), chewing and somewhat a little too salty-I tried it because I like trying new things but I wouldn't have it again.
Mostly because it was very elastic and chewing-now remember one of my reviews on one of the thai restaurant and how I like my calamari? Exactly-CRISPY TO MELT IN MY MOUTH NOT TO CHEW FOREVER!
Im sure for someone who loves steak/calamari or any meat rare or medium rare would love the alligator.
ACITIVITIES TO DO:
* Car show
*African Acrobats
* Birds show
* Swan paddle boats
* Ferris wheel
* Greenhouse
and so many more fun things to get involve in.
Hope when you go enjoy! -
Review from Alexander T.
Houston, TX
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
You will overspend money on fried foods and mediocre rides. And you will love it. My annual trip to the red river shootout is often accompanied by a weight gain and embarrassing photo's of me stuffing down the following fried items:
butter
salsa
pineapple upsidedown cake
oreos
cookie dough
pizza
cheesecake
corny dogs
brownies
queso
guacamole
Needless to say, it is wise to go to a veggie heavy diet soon afterwards. -
Review from Kristen e.
Seattle, WA
10/3/2011 1 photo
Before you get the rope, hear me out, please! We moved to Texas in March and from the moment the wheels of the plane hit the runway at DFW we've been counting down the minutes until the State of Fair of Texas opened its doors.
We love fairs, everything about them: fried food in abundance, wine gardens, arts and crafts, live-stock, and watching kids on rides that would make us lose all of the fried foods and wine we've consumed.
The State Fair of Texas was a disappointment. There I said it.
We went on a Monday at mid-day, mostly because I just got my foot out of a walking cast and we wanted to avoid the crowds. We took the DART from Richardson, which was easy and let us out right at an entrance to the park.
Immediately I headed toward the animals, passing through the car pavilion which had a few classic cars - which were beautiful - and lots of new models of major car brands for folks to get up close and personal with. And then through the Crafts and Foods pavilion where there were just a few exhibits and the store. Except the store was closed. All day. For inventory. Really? It's the morning of the third day of the fair and they are closed, for inventory.
In the crafts building there were, again, just a handful of vendors. Most of the goods were perfunctory and very little was distinct. There was more original art at the Wildflower Festival in Richardson back in May.
The animals, I thought, they can't mess up the animals. We marched determinedly toward the last pavilion. Right up into the EMPTY pens. Fresh sawdust. No animals. No pigs. No cows. No bunnies. No goats. No chickens. Not even the smell of manure to prove that at one point there had been live-stock, alive, on the premises. There was a show going on, but did it require ALL of the animals at the fair? That would be weird.
And lastly, there's the food.
I repeat, we love fried food. Fried food starts with the temptation of the aromas that reach around corners and grab you by the nose hairs, dragging you in a trance to the basket and hot oil from which emerge luscious foods. Smells of onions, meats, batters, sugar, all mixed with heat and oil and love should embrace fairgoers.
Today, no smells. No embrace.
Here's the thing, everything we bought came out from under a heat lamp and there were no smells. No aroma of fried deliciousness, not even the aroma of fried fried stuff. We had Corny Dogs, good to taste, but super heavy later. And we had chicken fried bacon - the batter was tasty, but the bacon was sliced super thin and kinda limp all on it's own.
The one good thing, despite the lack of flirtatious sensory engagement, was the fried lemonade. A sweet cake soaked with lemonade and fried like a beignet. It was good. That's it.
So, Tex, I have to tell ya - I had hoped for better from the largest state fair of all of the states. And maybe this just wasn't your moment, but I hope you won't blame me for coming on the wrong day or at the wrong time. You've been at this for 125 years and you only have to "make it work" for less than thirty days. I wish you the best, but I won't miss you. -
Review from Susan J.
Cave Creek, AZ
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
DAG Nabit, you all gotta go. This was an experience that everyone should try at least once. To the doo sayers that make negative comments, where can you go to get food fried or on a stick for almost a month each year. The fried kraut, fried salsa, corny dog and shiners made it worth my while. It took me 50 years but it was soooo fun.
The other attendees were fun and delightful in make recommendations about turkey legs, fried pickles, fried tomatoes, and the dessert fried bubble gum. Everything is bigger and better in Texas. -
Review from Jenny H.
Los Angeles, CA
10/10/2011
Really? It's hot, sweaty, and there are a ton of heavyset people eating corny dogs they dont need. The rides and food are such a ripoff it literally almost made my normally consumer focused mind hurt. I am a big fan of car shows but the POS they try and pose as one is like a few dealerships got together and put out some cars. The stingray concept car is using literally the lowest grade materials I have ever witnessed in concept. It's effing hot and impossible to get water without spending 5$. The rides literally SUCK and cost your entire arm and leg. The shows are deadbeat washups, everything about this place sucks EXCEPT the donkey show. There were actually donkeys being shown.
On the other hand, there were no other intruiging animals, it was a blazing hot disappointment and if I didnt have to go with my family I'd never step foot over there again. -
Review from Adam B.
Houston, TX
10/10/2011
Went to the fair for the Texas-ou game ( :( ) and I'm now officially one step closer to a heart attack. But it was worth it.
I was a HUGE fan of the kraut balls. Fried sauerkraut and sausage. How can you not love it?
My wife was a little disappointed with the buffalo chicken flapjack, but I thought it wasn't bad. Reminded me of a spicy chicken and waffles.
Had to get the Fletcher's corny dog and fried Frito pie. It's not a trip to the fair without these two.
Stay away from the fried biscuits and gravy. Bland and greasy. This was the only thing that my wife and I didn't finish.
Check out the rest of the food we had and some pics at http://www.bayoucitybi... -
Review from Ryan F.
10/19/2011
I don't get it... what is all the hype about? This was the biggest waste of money that I can think back on for quite some time.
Well, I was say the best place to start is at the beginning. $15 to park. You don't have any choice on this, you're going to have to park, so immediately they have made money on you just to show up. Then there's the admission fee. Again, paying just to show up, I now spent $36 for two passes. $51 down and I haven't even seen or done anything yet... For that price I could have gotten a season pass to Six Flags with coupons for friends to join for free.
One of the first things I see when I come in is a ticket booth. I'm familiar with fairs and know its easier to handle tickets everywhere and then they split vendor proceeds and all, but its also a ploy to make you not realize how much you are spending. Imagine a Ranger's game where a beer costs 12 tickets vs $6... Its all a marketing ploy truly... So I got 40 tickets for $20 so that my date and I could actually do some things. Anything actually- there was barely a thing that was several tickets just to experience. Running tab: $71 (still haven't done anything).
We came for three reasons: experience the state fair and what everyone has always talked about since I moved here, tried some of the unique fried foods, and ride at least one decent ride. Walking around, or should I say shuffling and grinding past the crowd of people (the freak show of most of the people out there was one of the only free attractions there), we discovered some of the food vendors. Settling upon our first stop, we tried fried cookie dough (decent for 10 tickets), fried pizza (a miserable cold centered and soggy mess for 11), and a beer each (9 or 10 tickets). 40 tickets gone... Time to go buy more... And the food was, eh. Mostly soggy and the fryer oil seemingly never gets changed cause it tasted like burning flour.
40 more tickets- $20 gone. $91 so far to be disappointed in the pizza, and have our palates muddied up with burnt covered cookie dough. Next venue of intrigue: Wines of Texas. Its no secret I'm a wine guy, so a chance to try wines is always enjoyed. Problem is I've never been a huge fan of Texas wine cause most are just not good. I'm thinking, eh, maybe there's a diamond in the rough as they can often be, and I trade some tickets for a bottle to take home... Not so much. Its 3 tickets just to have like a 1 ounce sample. To have to taste through that many wines to find something decent, I'll wait for Grapefest again next year.
We grinded our way through the moving freak show again, tripping on wagons and strollers galore to find a car pavilion with a car show. Lots of cars and AHA! A/C! A nice cooling opportunity and got to see the next fleets of cars coming out, as well as a great looking '76 Roadrunner, the original Lambourgini super car, and some very very old first concepts and such. Then back out to the west end of the park. This was pretty much all cars from area dealers, and thats when it struck me: The Texas State Fair is reverse advertising. Guests pay tons of money to have stuff advertised and hocked to them all day: T-Mobile, Verizon, Chevy, Ford, Nissan, and all other car manufacturers (literally, all), Texas Lottery, all of the flea market-ish vendors, the 'As Seen On TV' sales guy, and on and all. Its some rides, fatty foods, a flea market of crap, and then advertisement. Like walking through the commercials on TV and paying even more just to be there.
We sat down at the Bier Garden for, well, a beer each, and a bratwurst. Another 36 tickets gone. The brat was all right. Nothing special. Then off to a ride so we can do that and go the heck home... 10 tickets each to ride the one we came for, so another $10 for 20 tickets ($101 for those still counting), and we actually got to enjoy something that felt like it belonged there: the Fireball. Everything that I needed towards making me forget the rest of the day's disappointments.
Okay, so a couple more bucks for a funnel cake on the way out and a free tea at the gate (FREE!!?!?!?!). Only cause it was an advertisement to get you to buy more of it, but it was well received. Tram to the car took forever, but I never looked back. I've experienced it, and next year we'll get season passes to Six Flags instead... -
Review from Ben L.
Irving, TX
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
Now I don't have any other fair to compare, but I couldn't really complain about anything other than the cost, but it was to be expected. Chicken fried bacon and the UFO ride were the most memorable experiences. Definitely should have taken my skirt off because I was not down to try some items. Fried twinkies, butter, gum, or beer? They either sounded too disgusting or unhealthy for me to take a leap of faith that wide. Maybe next year. Most likely not, but who knows? We'll see.
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Review from Tim L.
3/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The State Fair of Texas is both aggravating and awesome at the same time. The event has become so crowded in the past couple of years. We were still able to do what we like, but at times you seriously have no personal space. As for the food, you're not going to find a better collection of fried foods in one place. If you have no idea what you're doing just grab a guide and it'll point you to all the locations of where you can sample the food that were in competitions. There are many other things to do at the fair. You have your carnival games at Midway, auto exhibits, cooking shows, parades, and even a laser light show to name a few.
Try avoid going when there are games at the Cotton Bowl unless you are going to the game. The Red River Rivalry is one of the most popular games in all of college football and you'll be sure to see an ocean of burnt orange and maroon if you decide to go this day. Grambling always plays here as well and I think they have a couple of soccer matches. Just check the dates of when you're planning on going or you will be sorry! -
Review from Daniel M.
Arlington, TX
10/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
The only thing keeping me from giving it a 5 star rating is because the prices just keep getting higher and higher, greedy bastards, other than that I always love the State Fair, so much to do and eat. I recommend the deep fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwich as well as any jumbo corny dog and a freshly squeezed lemonade, not just any, make sure it says freshly squeezed. The crazy mouse is the only ride that I ever ride, lol, it's a fun time.
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Review from Jose V.
Dallas, TX
11/3/2011 3 Check-ins Here
THE GREATEST FAIR IN TEXAS! There are no other words. But seriously, there is a lot to see and a lot to do, if you plan it out right. Go to http://www.bigtex.com and plan your trip.
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Review from Annette P.
Austin, TX
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have been going to the fair since I was a child. It gets more expensive every year but I still find it worth the money. DART rail makes it even easier to go! I couldn't resist trying the deep friend frozen margaritas but found it extremely disappointing. I know, I know.....what did I expect?
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Review from Ray P.
Hayward, CA
10/29/2011
The texas state fair is hugggggggeeeeeee. The fair has a lot to offer: cars, food, drinks, animals, games, products, etc. They also had a dog show at the fair as well. It took us almost the whole day to walk the fair. They had a huge display of trucks and cars where you can sit in and take pictures. For food we had the fried beer, pb&j, and the cookie dough. Though this type of food may seem unusual, it was actually pretty good. The admission to the fair is not too bad but if you have a coupon it's even better. The only downside that i didn't like is that you had to buy coupons/tickets to purchase food. I am used to paying in cash when it comes to purchasing food in fairs.
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Review from Bob L.
Dallas, TX
10/16/2011
Ditto to most everything said by others. Each year's visit is a deja vu experience and that's the way we like it. Nothing much changes from year to year except maybe Big Tex's outfit. Don't miss the pig races and if Birds of the World doesn't put a lump in your throat then you need a pulse check. Go at least once, wear comfy shoes, have something fried and don't, under any circumstances, put ketchup on your corny dog. You can thank me later.
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Review from Vinh L.
McKinney, TX
10/19/2011
They don't call this the largest state fair in the US for nothing. Having visiting it the first time in 2005 or 2006 with my wife, we weren't that impressed. Now that we have 2 kids (1 and half year old and 5 year old), we thought we would give it another try. This time we went with my sister's family and sister-in-law's family. Two words to describe it FUN and COSTLY.
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Review from Wendy P.
Wanaque, NJ
Had a great time at the fair....We were there for 10 hours and still didnt do everything...Fried foods all around.....
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Review from Adrian E.
My 2010 visit to the State Fair is done. I've been so many times over the years that I have it down to a routine:
1. Get mad about parking before finding a spot.
2. Enter park and head towards the Fletcher's Corny Dog stand for my first food item.
3. Walk through the auto show buildings. Get annoyed by the kids who get in my way while looking at cars.
4. Walk into the exhibition halls and not buy anything. Stop at the Vitamix booth for a sample. No, I'm not going to buy one.
5. Walk to the Midway and avoid eye contact with the carnies who want me to play their rigged games. Nope, not going to do it.
6. Walk by the Ferris wheel and decide the line is too long to actually ride it.
7. Find and sample all the featured food items listed in the fair program.
8. Check out the animals in the livestock area.
9. See the butter sculpture exhibit. This year was TX-OU football players.
10. Try to use up whatever food tickets I have left over at the end of the day on drinks or cotton candy.
I have to say I was a bit disappointed with this year's food offerings. The fried beer was gross. It's basically a bread ravioli stuffed with warm beer. The sales person said I could add cheese, but that didn't really help. The fried Frito pie was good, but they didn't give you a lot. The fried chocolate was a fried brownie. Good but nothing special. I did get a fried PB&J which was awesome. As always, the Fletcher's Corny Dogs are the best thing at the fair.
I went to the fair on the 2nd to last day. There were so many people. Is it me or have people's strollers gotten bigger and bigger?
Regardless of the things that might be a pain, I do like going to the fair at least once per year. It's a tradition that I'll keep doing for years to come. -
Review from Lisa M.
11/19/2010
The State Fair of Texas (SFOT) has grown into a cultural institution since its inception in 1886. It is the stuff of epics. Legends. And tall tales.
Big Tex
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Big Tex is big: 52 feet tall big.
He's so big, he wears size 70 shoes and a 75 gallon hat. He's so big, it takes a metroplex like Dallas/Fort Worth to contain him. He's so big, he could probably be the eighth continent. He's so big, even Edmund Hillary couldn't scale him. He's so big, he could probably eat 40 servings of fried butter and wash it down with a keg full of fried beer.
You fried to me!
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I've already mentioned the fried food. But did you know that everything here is fried? Including some of the people. Fried guacamole, fried ice cream, fried margaritas. If you can name a food, they probably fry it here.
I got a feelin' (woohoo)
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Most people spend (lots!) of money at the SFOT. These people make (lots!) of money at the SFOT: http://2.bp.blogspot.c...
Take a walk around the Midway and tell me you don't hear ./ "I got a feelin'... that tonight's gonna be a good good night"./
Midway mayhem
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Everyone expects crushing throngs of people on the midway. No one expects to be crushed by a ride on the midway. In 1955, one of the Texas Star's gondola cars broke loose from the top of the ferris wheel and crashed to the ground, resulting in the death a Memphis High School band member. And on the last day of the fair in 1979, two of the Texas Skyway gondolas fell 85 feet, crashing onto the Midway, and injured people in the ride and on the ground, including one woman who was left a paraplegic. These accidents led to the adoption of a ride safety program that is considered a model for the amusement industry.
Swine of the times
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Boris the 1201-lb boar... nothing more really needs to be said.Listed in: Try to see it my way
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Review from Scott L.
Updated - 9/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Last year I went with a buncha guys who toured the fried food offerings, drank beer and did some rides. I wasn't impressed. This year, my friend Helen and I talked about going, and since she loves the fair, I asked her to give me her tour. Plus my ultra hip friend Brindle bought a season pass, so I figured I was missing something.
So here's some tips:
1. Wednesdays it's $2 with 3 cans of food. Other days are also free, with certain promos. Google that stuff.
2. Get there early and go to the shows and exhibits.
3. Take the DART
Highlights: The World of Birds Show, the new Aquarium, the pig races, and the butterfly garden!
The shlocky gifts and crafts are still shlocky. The menu dedicated exclusively to fried food is still absurd.
Good for a family day. Avoid the weekends and Cotton Bowl games.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/14/2009
Yeah, sorry. I just went today to the fair. And i was reluctant to go because I remember hating it… Read more »
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Review from Kristie A.
Dallas, TX
Updated - 10/21/2010 12 photos
This year's fair visit was another A+ experience. We went on the last Friday of the Fair, and I was expecting it to be crowded, but it wasn't until about 5pm-ish. We bought tickets ahead of time at Kroger. $16 that included a round-trip pass on the Dart Rail.
The Dart was not crowded at all when we got on at 2pm. About 15 minutes later we were at the Fair grounds with a Fletcher's corny dog in hand. Yum. The things we ate were all good. I had the fried lemonade, and Aimee Z was right about this being one of the better food items at the fair. It was like eating little warm balls of lemon cake. Damn it was good. We went in the food court for the cheap beer (7 coupons) and ended up getting the sweet potato chips that were drizzled with marshmallow cream. So delicious. My friend had the fried peanut butter and jelly, which I sampled and it was pretty good too. Kind of reminded me of the monte cristo back in the Bennigans days.
We had a few beers and rode a shit ton of rides. I still spent close to about $100, but for 7 hours of entertainment is was well worth it. See you next year Big Tex!Listed in: Fairs/Festivals
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/28/2010
There are two things I think about when fall hits Texas. The Dallas Cowboys followed closely by the… Read more »
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Review from Ryan L.
10/17/2010
As of today, the State Fair of Texas is officially over. I'm glad that I made it to the biggest State Fair in the country, and I wasn't disappointed.
The fair has a lot to offer different people, but since I'm not into cars, thrill rides or livestock, I went for the food. This is carny food heaven. You can get all the traditional favorites plus some new and exciting foods. I made it a point to try several of the more unique fried foods that the fair offers:
Fried Frito Pie - 2010 Winner - This is definitely one of the most edible dishes. I would like to order this as an appetizer or as a side at a restaurant. I thought it had a good flavor, it wasn't too greasy and I liked that it was served with sour cream and salsa. This dish was fried perfection.
Fried Beer - 2010 Most Creative - I think this is the most disgusting thing I've ever eaten. It's hot beer in a fried little ravioli covered in cheap cheese "yellow" sauce. Awful.
Chicken Fried Bacon - This was good in a small amount, but I would have liked more bacon flavor.
Fried Peanut Butter, Banana and Jelly Sandwich - I was skeptical about the grape jelly on this twist on a Monte Cristo, nicknamed "the Elvis", but the flavors meshed well together and made a great snack.
Fried Coke - Creative and interesting, this dish tasted like a Coke flavored donut. It wasn't bad but I don't know if I'd get it again. The Coke tasted more like generic cola soda than Coca-Cola Classic. It was served in a cup with whipped cream, a cherry and a straw for irony.
Fried Oreos - These were ok, but too "bready" in my opinion.
Fried Nutterbutter - These were better than the Oreos. The peanut butter flavor was really complemented by the batter and the deep-fry.
Fried Butter - I know you're saying "Fried Butter?" but it's delicious. One of my favorites. The butter is fried in batter so you get this dough with a strong blast of butter in the middle. You can get it with cinnamon-sugar, cherry or garlic. I thought it was delicious. I wouldn't want to eat it very often but it was a great treat.
I thought all the food was reasonably priced. Most things were between $4-6 and you got a decent amount of food. Sure, you have to add in the cost of parking and entry to the fair, but the food itself isn't a total rip off.
Besides the food, the fair was a great experience. It was fun to walk around and see everything. The weather was great and there were large crowds. I like to see all the rides with the glittering lights, pop music and air brushed backdrops featuring girls in bikinis. It's easy to get mesmerized by the lights and sounds of the fair. I liked seeing all the games that people were playing and then feeling grateful that I didn't fall for their ploys of spending $40 to win a giant stuffed banana that I'd eventually donate to Goodwill because what do a 32 year old do with a giant banana?
Coming from Michigan and seeing the Michigan State Fair in Detroit and what a dump it is, I really appreciate the State Fair of Texas. Next time I would try to go on a day and I'd look for some discounts. I now know what food to try and what food to pass up. I'd also like to see the pig races and butter sculptures. At least there's always next year. I'm sure my stomach will have recovered by then.Listed in: America The Beautiful, Austin - I Barely Knew Ye, Hodge-Podge
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Review from Desirae B.
Fort Worth, TX
9/30/2010
I went last night - canned food night (donate 3 cans and pay $2 entry). This is the best time to come - no lines for anything! Here's the low down on the food this year. The fried beer was...DISGUSTING. It was not a pretzel dough or anything like they said. It was an undercooked, doughy ravioli with cheap bitter beer inside and cheap nacho cheese on top. It was awful - SKIP IT. TRUST ME....save your 10 tickets for something else. The highlights of our group were - fried banana moon pie, fried smores, darn good's roasted corn, dole booths pineapple ice cream, fletcher's corny dogs, and the fried pbj and banana sandwich. We were pretty much fried out by that time and couldn't squeeze any more tasting in.
The auto show is cool to walk around every year and look at cars you will never buy. We went through the Creative Arts exhibit this time -had a pretty funny "glue a shoe" contest with some inventive shoe art. We skipped the pig races but that looked interesting - yee haw. The people watching is priceless. I also like the shopping pavilions where you find those guys with the cheesy demos of their cookware, steam mops and shoe shining sprays. Ok, so I bought the shoe spray and a plastic pie maker for empanadas...and some soup and dip mix...I'm a sucker. But there's some cool silvery jewelry and other finds as well.
I don't really ride rides...I'm totally scared of heights but I do like to watch the nut-buckets who decide to get thrown around upside down on a ride that was temporarily constructed from an 18 wheeler just 3 or 4 days earlier...I just stand staring in awe eating my cotton candy saying...those ppl are crazy. I also don't play the games - the prizes are like a giant tweety bird...REALLY...is $20 of throwing a ring around a bottle worth that big tweety bird or spongebob. What do you DO with it? But all in all...the fair is not to be missed. It's a childhood favorite and I just have to go every year even though I end up for a stomach ache, sore feet and an empty wallet. The price I spent on all that fried crap, I could've went to Fearing's for a nice fine dining meal. But guess what....I'll be there next year...ready to blow it out and get my fried on...yet again.Listed in: Dez's 5* Club
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Review from Stephen K.
Dallas, TX
Get off your high horse: the fair is 5 stars no matter how much money you blow and what a better deal Six Flags is etc...It's three weeks a year, it's in the sweet spot of Texas weather, it's unique. Just go and enjoy.
Here's a food break down of the gastronomic train wreck (meant in a good way) that I had on Friday:
Fletcher's Corny Dog: get it from one of the main, busy stands. Classic and perfect. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Chicken Fried Bacon: great idea: thick bacon planks with a chicken fried batter-salty as hell, good tasting, but my batch LOOKED undercooked so I only ate some of it. Didn't come down with trichinosis or anything so I think I'm good. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Fried Frito Pie: this tasted really good. It was hot and rich and served with ice cold tube of sour cream and a tube of salsa. I thought this was worth the hype. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Closeup: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Fried Twinkie: meh...not worth it imo. The fried batter shell was tough and it just didn't do it for me. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Tamales: tried two different stands: Pedro's in the food court: outstanding! Ruth' in the outdoor area by the Cotton Bowl gate: not very good this year. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Corn on the cob: get the boiled kind: I go the stand near Hans Mueller tent. Get the butter on it and then spice it up with the salt / pepper / cayenne. This was so tender and sweet and wonderful. Just make sure to let it cool before you dig in. This may have been my favorite thing I ate. http://www.yelp.com/bi... Closeup: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Belgian Waffle: I will get one out of Nostalgia every year, but it didn't really shine this year. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
On my wishlist for when I go a second time this year: fried pb&j, fried chocolate, green goblin, Pig Poppers (wtf??)-bacon wrapped sausage bites lol. Maybe a brat at Hans Mueller.
The fair grounds are just beautiful on a nice day. You just have to let things happen. Check out a waterless cookware demo. Look at all the stupid things for sale. Watch a livestock auction and check out all the countryfolk in their wranglers and cowboy hats. Check out a gigantic cow ass. http://www.yelp.com/bi... The Marine band sounds amazing. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Take your sweetie on a Texas Star ride at sunset. With the view of the city sprawling away from you and the cacophany of the Midway reaching you from far below with bits of music, screaming and ride noises, it's a perfect place to fall in love with the fair. http://www.yelp.com/bi... -
Review from Ben E.
9/24/2010
Howdy Folks!
Ever since I was child I always remember going to the fair. It was a rite of fall, we would load up the car and take a drive down 30 to Fair Park.
One of the things I love the most about the fair, is the park itself. As a Art Deco enthusiast, I was enamored by the beautiful buildings, mosaics and statues. Many of the original murals that were painted during the Texas centennial are still there in all their glory. Walk into the Hall of state and be amazed by a Diego Rivera style mural of the history of Texas. These things give the fair legitimacy! This is not just some open field or parking lot where they popped open some tents, amusement rides and food stands, this is a established place. You are walking down the same esplanade that so many of Dallas forefathers, rich, poor and forgotten walked down.
The food at the fair is legendary, if not for the taste then for the calorie count alone. I have been in other parts of the country as well as other countries and I still hear about the latest/strangest fried food of the State Fair of Texas! I'm a fan of the funnel cakes as well as the turkey legs. Go into the food pavilion and grab a bottle of Borden milk while stopping to say thanks to Bessy herself. Ditto when you go see the pigs while eating a corny dog.
The exhibits at the fair are always cool. I always stop by the Arts and Crafts building to see the cool blue ribbon winning photography, jar preserves, awesome miniatures as well as hand made jewelry and clothes. Not to mention the cool (literally) butter sculpture of that year. The car show is always a neat way to see how the other half lives (Chevy owners). All the museums are open too! Then there are all the unique traveling exhibits, such as the White House, Elvis memorabilia, I Love Lucy collection, just to mention a few of my past favorites.
Lastly the midway and the Ferris Wheel. I must admit I've probably played every game and rode most of the rides. Thoroughly enjoyed them all! All that is except for the Ferris wheel.
Maybe this year will be the year!Listed in: My fave date places, When you were young
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Review from Christina N.
Houston, TX
9/26/2010 13 photos
I LOVE ME SOME STATE FAIR!
Going on my 3rd year straight. Foodwise, it's ten times better than the Houston Rodeo. This year my goal was to try the fried frito pie. Tasted pretty good but they don't give you a lot.
You have to get: Fletcher's jalepeno & cheese corndog! Let it be your first and last bite at the fair.
Tip: Stop by Mcdonald's and grab a few coupons. $15 at the door but with the coupon you save $4. $11 for a weekend price. A little cheaper than Krogers.Listed in: Life changing food!, DALLAS, TX
