I don’t know about you, but when I think of Texas the first things that come to mind are fried food and cowboy boots. Well, the State Fair of Texas is basically every Texas stereotype amplified. For almost a month, Fair Park in Dallas is transformed into a southern oasis where every food under the sun is covered in batter and deep fried. Pie, cake balls, tacos, pizza, ice cream, pasta, butter, Coca Cola… even beer. It’s the place where the limits of what, and how much, people are willing to eat are tested, all while a giant friendly cowboy statue waves at the masses from above. Along with food (and Big Tex), there are games, prizes, performances, and of course rides including the iconic ferris wheel. It’s one of the reasons Fall in Texas is the best time of the year. There’s nothing quite like it.

There’s a reason people travel far and wide for the State Fair. It’s an experience you’ll never forget! But if you’re attending the Fair for the first time, it can be a little overwhelming. With so much to see, do and eat, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. So, here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your visit to the State Fair of Texas!

When Should I Go?

The State Fair always takes place the last week of September through most of October, giving you plenty of opportunities to find a time to visit! If you live in the area, or you’re able to come during the week, I would recommend avoiding visiting during the weekend to minimize your time spent waiting in lines. In addition to shorter wait times and less people to navigate through, week days usually mean lower admission prices and even discounted food prices.

Can’t make it on a week day? Don’t worry, you can still get the benefits of shorter lines and cheaper admission when you go after 5pm on the weekends. Cooler temps and getting the experience the fair grounds all lit up are just added bonuses of going in the evening! More opportunities for discounted rates can be found here.

Pro tip: avoid attending the day of the University of Texas-Oklahoma University game. Each year the game is held at the Cotton Bowl located inside the Fair, and herds of football fans swarm to Fair Park to cheer on their respective teams. Check the calendar beforehand and try your best to avoid the madness!

Where Should I Get My Tickets?

I’d recommend buying your tickets online to avoid waiting in line, especially if you’re going on a weekend afternoon. If you aren’t able to buy them in advance, or want to take advantage of a discounted rate, the ticket booths accept cash and various types of cards making admission hassle-free.

Once you have your ticket inside, you’re not done quite yet. You still have to purchase tickets for food (called “coupons”) separately. If the lines at the booths near the entrance are too long, keep wandering around and you’ll find plenty of coupon machines sprinkled throughout the fair grounds. All of these coupon booths also accept card. I would personally recommend grabbing 50 tickets to start out, as most things inside the fair costs anywhere from 10-30 tickets. If you want to do more than just eat, games and rides require separate tickets, which can be purchased at booths conveniently located in the entertainment areas located at the back of the park.

How Do I Get There?

My best advice? Take the DART. Traffic is terrible around the fair grounds, and parking can be difficult. Dallas actually has a pretty convenient and efficient public transportation system (the DART) that should be utilized, especially for the State Fair. Download the GoPass app and purchase a day pass for six dollars. Hop on the green line that conveniently stops directly in front of the Fair Park entrance. The green line picks up in front of Fair Park every 10-15 minutes, so you don’t even have to worry about rushing to leave. Easy peasy!

What Should I Wear?

It’s Fall in Texas, so most likely you won’t be chilly all day long. Definitely check the weather before you go, as the weather in Texas tends to be pretty volatile (we can go from wearing a tank top & shorts to a sweater & boots in the span of 24 hours). If you’re going in the morning or the evening, I’d recommend bringing a light layering jacket to accommodate the fluctuating temperatures. You’ll also be doing a lot of walking, so wear shoes that won’t kill your feet after a few hours! In general, people show up in a wide range of clothing, from t-shirts to overalls to casual dresses, so don’t stress too much about your outfit!

Where Do I Go & What Do I Get?

The biggest mistake I made my first year at the Fair was not getting a visitors guide. I just walked around aimlessly tasting food after food from the obscure stands I would pass by, being disappointed with each bite. I didn’t understand what the hype was all about, and I went home thinking I had wasted my money on a mediocre experience. My second time around I grabbed a visitors guide from one of the Info kiosks, and holy cow… game changer.

The visitors guide contains a map, which is key to maximizing your Fair experience. It lists all of the food winners from that year (aka all of the food really worth spending your money on), and tells you exactly where each tasty fried treat is located. This year, we tried the fried fettuccini alfredo balls and fried nutella custard stuffed french toast! YUM.

Make sure you make your way to the Tower Building Food Court, which is basically the pinnacle. It’s the holy grail of fried food. It’s easy to miss for a first-timer, but it’s the most important place in the whole joint you need to go to get food. That, and one of the Fletchers Corny Dog stands of course!

While I like to make it my mission to find the best food at the Fair, I also think it’s fun to just wander around and take it all in. The sights, the sounds, the lights, the music, the diversity of the crowds. It’s an experience you won’t find anywhere else!

Enjoy your visit!

xo, The Girl Out of Texas