DON'T MISS IT, DON'T EVEN BE LATE!!
Where can you ride your favorite rides, be greeted by a 50 foot tall cowboy, and eat every variety of food you never imagined could be fried? Where else, but only in the great state of Texas. The State Fair of Texas is one of the biggest events in a place where we do everything big. Big Tex, the state fair mascot, stands watch over the fairgrounds—the 52-foot talking cowboy certainly qualifies as big. Every September and October, millions of visitors to Fair Park hear Big Tex say, “Howdy folks. Welcome to the State Fair of Texas”. Fair Park, the 277-acre park that is known for its splendid art deco architecture, is located right in the heart of Dallas, Big D to those of us who live here. The State Fair Park opened in 1936 for the Texas Centennial, a celebration to mark 100 years of independence from Mexico.
Any one who has attended a fair before understands state fairs are known for their good eats. The Texas State Fair is no exception and it all started with a simple corny dog, which was introduced during the 1942 fair. These days, the Texas State Fair hosts the corny dog eating championship, where the winners eat their way into a spot in the record books. From the corny dog, the offering of fried foods has expanded to include deep-fried butter, peaches and cream, fried bacon and surprisingly good fried Coca-Cola. Of course, non-fried foods are available at the Texas State Fair as well. Eating strange and tasty food has become one of the favorite things to do at the state fair. It's a good thing you'll have the chance to do some walking to work off your corny dog.
The calendar is jammed packed with events big and small at the State Fair of Texas. In addition to the variety of carnival rides and midway games offered where you can win yourself or your sweetie a prized stuffed bear, pig, or neon pink gorilla, there is also the annual showcase of the latest car models from all the major auto makers. Not to be out done are the shows and exhibitions like the fair dog dancers, horse barrel racing, rodeo bull riding, sheep herding and the ever popular pig races. You'll have the chance to enjoy free concerts from some of the biggest names in country, pop, and R&B when old favorites take to the stage along with today's newer artists.
Jams and jelly, pickles and mixed veggies, photography, quilting, Lego's, antiques, in fact any and all of the home arts, EVEN butter sculpturing.....so many contest, so many competitors, so many ribbons....these are the backbones of the State Fair of TEXAS. State fair visitors have a chance to join in the culinary fun with a variety of cooking contests. You'll be amazed at the creativity demonstrated in the Texas Pecan Cook-Off, Pillsbury Pie Contest or the Old Fashioned Ice Cream Crank Championship. There is a different cooking contest every single day of the fair. It is some mighty fine competition as you compete along side some of the best cooks in the state.....I know this to be true because I am that woman trying to WIN!!! With 20 years of Texas State Fair cooking contests behind me, I can say with clarity that it has been a challenge not easily won, but well worth my efforts. It has taught me to be a better cook, always trying harder and to continue looking for my next signature dish.
Staying true to it's roots, the Texas State Fair hosts a variety of agricultural events, including the annual Youth Livestock Auction. In fact one of the largest livestock shows and competitions takes place during the state fair. 4H clubs from around the state bring their prized livestock and produce from tomatoes to trophy animals. Some of the hottest competition to be found at the fair is in the judging ring during the livestock show.
One of the biggest events of the Texas State Fair is the Red River Rivalry. This annual match up pits rivals University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners in one of the most exciting games in college football, dating back over 110 years. The game is held during the second weekend in October at the Cotton Bowl, with the home team alternating from year to year. People come out of the woodwork for this football game and the fair is teeming with CRAZY fans! Good fun!
No matter what you want to do, eat, see, hear or smell at Fair Park IT'S FUN FUN FUN FOR EVERYONE! That's MY Texas State Fair!
The State Fair of Texas begins Friday, September 28, 2012, and ends Sunday, October 21, 2012. If you don't live in Texas, come on down and enjoy a bit of our southern hospitality!