Attending the State Fair of Texas must be on every Lone Star State resident’s bucket list, as this oversized event held in Dallas each fall is arguably “the most Texan place on earth!”
“For almost 140 years, the State Fair of Texas has brought millions of fair fans to Dallas for agricultural competitions, cattle sales, baking and cooking contests, farm machinery displays, concerts, midway games and rides, and deep-fried everything,” wrote Amanda Ogle for Texas Highways. “Experiencing the Fair is a Texan rite of passage, and something everyone should do at least once.”
The 139th State Fair of Texas kicked off on Sept. 26 and runs daily through Oct. 19, 2025. The fair features such icons as the 55-foot-tall statue Big Tex, which greets fairgoers, the Red River Showdown college football game between the University of Texas and its rival, the University of Oklahoma (Oct. 11, 2025), and, of course, fried Oreos and other wonderful food.
“The Texas-Oklahoma rivalry game joined the festivities in 1929, and Big Tex appeared in the ’50s. Today, the State Fair of Texas sees over 2 million people through its gates during its annual 24-day autumnal run, and fans from across the state, country, and around the world head to Fair Park for the newest food crazes.
A Brief History of the Texas State Fair
The Texas State Fair is more than fried food and carnival rides — it’s one of the Lone Star State’s proudest traditions.
- Origins: The fair began in Dallas in 1886, making it one of the oldest state fairs in the country. Its first location was a humble 80-acre tract in East Dallas. The goal was simple: celebrate Texas agriculture, ranching, and commerce.
- The Fair Park Era: In 1904, the fair moved to its current location, Fair Park, which would later become a permanent cultural and entertainment hub for Dallas. The area, built for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, features some of the finest Art Deco architecture in the U.S.
- Big Tex Debut: In 1952, the fair unveiled its most famous ambassador, Big Tex, a towering cowboy who greets visitors with his signature drawl: “Howdy, folks!” He started at 52 feet tall and today stands at 55 feet, making him one of the tallest cowboy figures in the world.
- Growth into a Cultural Giant: Over the decades, the fair has grown into a showcase for Texas music, art, livestock, and, of course, inventive fried foods.
9 Fun Facts About the Texas State Fair
Just as it’s impossible to see and do everything at the Texas State Fair, there are enough fair facts to fill many volumes of books. Here are 9 of our favorites:
- Big Tex Was Once a Santa Claus: Before becoming a cowboy, the original Big Tex figure started life as a giant Santa Claus in Kerens, Texas.
- A Foodie’s Paradise: The fair is famous for its fried food competitions, introducing creations like fried butter, fried Coke, and fried Oreos. (Yes, there is a theme here!).
- Record Attendance: The fair averages more than 2 million visitors annually, with its highest attendance topping 3 million in some years.
- Presidential Visits: U.S. Presidents like William Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, and George W. Bush have all attended the fair.
- The Texas–OU Game: The annual Red River Showdown between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma football teams is held at the Cotton Bowl inside Fair Park.
- Big Tex Speaks: Since 1952, Big Tex has welcomed guests with a booming voice. His mechanical drawl is so iconic that it has become one of the fair’s biggest attractions.
- Fair Park’s Legacy: The fairgrounds are a National Historic Landmark thanks to the Art Deco buildings constructed for the 1936 Texas Centennial.
- Fire and Rebirth: In 2012, Big Tex tragically caught fire due to an electrical short. Just one year later, a new and improved Big Tex was unveiled, continuing the tradition.
- Longest State Fair: At 24 days, it’s the longest-running state fair in the nation, timed to overlap with much of Texas’s beautiful fall weather.
Winner of the 2025 Big Tex Choice Food Awards
Each year since 2005, the Big Tex Choice Awards has selected the top food creations at the State Fair of Texas. Check out the 2025 award winners:
- Best Taste – Savory: Crab & Mozzarella Arancini (location: Texapolitan Pizza). These rice balls are a handcrafted blend of premium Maryland Blue Crab meat, white rice, mozzarella cheese, spring onion, red bell pepper, lemon, and black pepper. Served with a side of marinara sauce. Other finalists: Brisket & Brew Stuffed Pretzels, Deep Fried Deli Tacos, Vietnamese Crunch Dog, and Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders.
- Best Taste – Sweet: Chill & Thrill Delight (location: Tony’s Taco Shop). This is a twist on Colombia’s famous Salpicon de Frutas. It’s a large cup with diced mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, and strawberries, all soaked in fresh watermelon juice with a splash of lime. Topped with mango sorbet! Other finalists: Candy Lemon Sour Face, Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake, Rousso’s Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries, and Tex’s Toast Á La Mode.
- Best Taste – Sipper: Cookie Chaos Milkshake (location: various) This milkshake features snickerdoodle chunks, Golden Oreo cookies, and classic Oreo cookies. Topped with a swirl of whipped cream, a scoop of edible cookie butter cookie dough, a Biscoff cookie, and a cookie butter drizzle. Other finalists: Coconut Quadruple, Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up, Nevins Dirty Red Bull Tex-Arita, and Poppin’ Boba Rita.
Check out this map for all of the food winners’ and finalists’ locations.
Know Before You Go
The State Fair of Texas has made some changes recently, so here’s what you should know before you go:
- Clear Bag Policy: Beginning in 2025, the fair requires clear bags and soft-shell coolers that are 9 inches x 10 inches x 12 inches or smaller. Small clutch bags or purses do not have to be clear but cannot exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. Medical and parenting/childcare bags do not have to be clear or of small size but will be searched upon entry.
- Curfew for Minors: Starting in 2025, all minors, age 17 and under, must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone (age 21 or older) from 5 p.m. until closing. Parents, guardians, and chaperones may accompany no more than six minors.
- Fair Hours: The fair is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 AM to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 10 PM (with last entry at 9 PM). Parking gates open daily at 9:30 AM. Entry gates and ticket booths open daily at 10 AM. The State Fair of Texas Midway opens Sunday through Friday at 11 AM and on Saturdays at 10 AM.
- Ticket prices: General admission ranges from $7 to $29. Children ages 3 to 12 range from $7 to $24. Children 2 and younger are free. Seniors (ages 60 and older) range from $7 to $24, with $7 admission every Thursday.
Visit the State Fair of Texas today to experience the ultimate in what the Lone Star State has to offer.