The State Fair of Texas isn’t just a big county fair scaled up — it’s a 24-day fixture at a purpose-built fairgrounds in the middle of Dallas, anchored by a 55-foot talking cowboy and a football rivalry played on-site. Understanding what happens at Fair Park each fall explains why the event has run almost every year since 1886.
What Is the State Fair of Texas?
The State Fair of Texas is an annual fair held at Fair Park, a dedicated 277-acre fairgrounds in Dallas built for the event, running from late September into October. It combines livestock and agricultural competitions, a midway with rides and games, live music and entertainment, an auto show, and one of the most extensive fair food scenes in the country, drawing more than two million visitors during its run in a typical year.
Big Tex and Fair History
The fair traces back to 1886, making it more than a century old. Its most recognizable symbol, Big Tex — a 55-foot animated cowboy statue that greets visitors and speaks over a loudspeaker — has stood at the fair’s entrance since 1952 (rebuilt after a 2012 fire destroyed the original figure). Fair Park itself, built up substantially for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, is now a National Historic Landmark and hosts events year-round beyond just the fair.
The Food the Fair Is Famous For
The State Fair of Texas popularized the modern deep-fried-everything trend at American fairs. Its Big Tex Choice Awards competition each year names a “Best Taste” and “Most Creative” winner among dozens of new entries — past winners and entries have included deep-fried concepts built around candy bars, desserts and even entire meals. Beyond the novelty items, the fair’s food vendors serve a genuinely wide range of Texan and Tex-Mex staples, from corny dogs (which the fair claims to have popularized) to barbecue and turkey legs.
Football at the Fair: The Cotton Bowl
The Cotton Bowl stadium sits inside Fair Park and hosts the annual Oklahoma vs Texas football game — the Red River Rivalry — during the fair’s run, with the stadium split evenly between the two schools’ fans. That overlap between a major college football rivalry and a state fair happening in the same place at the same time is unusual nationally and is one of the fair’s signature draws for visitors who aren’t primarily there for the rides or food.
Rides, Livestock and Exhibits
Beyond food and football, the fair runs a full midway with rides and games, an auto show showcasing new vehicle models, and extensive agricultural and livestock competitions that give the event its “state fair” identity — 4-H and FFA students from across Texas compete in categories ranging from cattle and swine to baking and crafts, continuing the fair’s original agricultural-exposition purpose alongside its modern entertainment draw.
Practical Information
The fair runs for about three and a half weeks each fall, typically late September through mid-October, and charges general admission separate from ride and food costs, with various discount and season-pass ticket options released ahead of the run. Fair Park is served by Dallas’s DART rail system, which is generally the most convenient way to reach the grounds given limited on-site parking relative to the crowds.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the State Fair of Texas?
It’s held at Fair Park in Dallas, typically running from late September through mid-October each year.
Why is the State Fair of Texas so popular?
The combination of Big Tex, its fried-food competition, live music, an on-site college football rivalry game, and one of the country’s most extensive fair setups draws more than two million visitors in a typical year.
Is the State Fair of Texas the biggest fair in the country?
It’s consistently ranked among the largest state fairs in the United States by attendance, though exact rankings shift year to year against fairs like the Minnesota State Fair.
What is Big Tex?
Big Tex is the fair’s 55-foot animated cowboy statue and mascot, standing at the entrance since 1952 and rebuilt after a 2012 fire destroyed the original.
How long does the State Fair of Texas run?
Around 24 days, spanning roughly three and a half weeks each fall.
