The State Fair of Texas, which opened its 24-day run at Fair Park in Dallas on Friday, offers a nearly overwhelming variety of food, games, entertainment, music, and vendors, but a little advance planning will help fairgoers make the most of their visit to the Most Texan Place on Earth.
First up: Tickets. Admission prices vary greatly, depending on the day of the week, time of day, and special discount offerings, so it pays to check out all the options. Daily admission tickets for adults range from $15-$25, while senior (60+) and child (3-12) tickets range from $5-$18. Daily admission tickets are only valid for the date on which they are purchased. However, the $24 premium 1-day admission ticket allows flexibility to attend any day of the fair and is available for purchase online only.
Attendees with a military or first responders ID can receive a $5 discount on admission. Spouses with a military spouse ID and any accompanying children can also get the discount. Participating McDonald’s locations throughout the metroplex are giving away $5 discount vouchers inside meal bags and on tray liners.
In addition, certain weekdays are designated for specific discounts. Every Thursday during the fair, seniors can enter the park for just $5.00. On Wednesdays, bring five canned food items to donate to the North Texas Food Bank and you can enter the park for $5. Anyone who signs up as a Big Tex Insider can receive a code to purchase an online $10 admission ticket good on Tuesday and Thursday Value Days.
After 5 p.m. on any day of the week, everyone pays the kid’s price of $5 for admission. For those who can’t get enough of the fair in just one visit, season passes are available starting at $50, good for one admission each day of the event.
Plan your travel and parking. With approximately 2.25 million visitors expected at the fair over the three-week period, traffic around Fair Park will undoubtedly be heavy at times, especially on weekends. Do yourself a favor and take the DART Rail Green Line to Fair Park Station, directly in front of the entrance to the fairgrounds. If you prefer to drive your own vehicle, parking on the fairgrounds this year will cost $30. If you are using a digital map to navigate your way to the fairgrounds, use the Fairtime parking address of 925 S. Haskell in Dallas.
Some new policies are in place at the fair this year. After 5 p.m., all minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone who is at least 21 years of age. Also, no weapons of any kind are allowed on the fairgrounds, including licensed concealed carry and open carry of firearms. This is a change from previous years when licensed concealed carry was allowed. All guests will be screened for weapons before being allowed to enter the park.
There is a lot of ground to cover at the 227-acre Fair Park, but maneuvering through the park is easy with the fairground map, which shows the location of entertainment and exhibit venues, restrooms, first aid, lost and found, and other important services.
For those attending the fair primarily for the food, Big Tex has got you covered. The State Fair of Texas has a webpage dedicated to descriptions and pictures of the new foods available at this year’s fair, along with a map of where to find these delicacies in the park. On Thrifty Thursdays, participating vendors offer one of their signature menu items at a reduced price.
Take note that all food and beverage purchases, rides, and Midway games require coupons, which can be purchased online or onsite for $1 per coupon. The cost of most rides ranges from 5 to 12 coupons, and the price of Midway games ranges from 3 to 20 coupons.
However, there are more than 100 free daily activities included in the price of admission, such as rodeo events, dozens of musical acts, and street performers.
The fair’s exhibits and shows are too varied and numerous to list them all here, but some of the offerings this year include the Billy Kidd magic show, card-stacking with Guinness World Record Holder Bryan Berg, a Cirque du Soleil show set to country music, Dino Time with Professor T. Rex, Dinosaurs at the Lagoon, cooking demonstrations, butter sculptures, livestock exhibits, an auto show, and vendors selling just about anything you can imagine.
Be sure to print or download the 2024 State Fair of Texas Visitor’s Guide for more information on fair events and program scheduling.
After a full day of activities at the fair, linger long enough to catch some of the popular evening events, including the Starlight Parade that winds its way through the park each evening beginning at 7:15 p.m.
Then head over to the reflecting pool on the Esplanade for Illumination Sensation, a pyrotechnics and special effects show with fireworks and pyrotechnics synchronized to music, along with dancers and acrobats. The show begins at 8 p.m. each evening.
And, for four days only, October 3-6, the Stars Over Texas Drone Show will follow Illumination Sensation, beginning at 8:25.
The State Fair of Texas runs through October 20 and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.