Here’s your guide to what to see, do and eat at the 2024 Texas State Fair

It’s time to try your luck halfway, enjoy the latest deep-fried delicacies, choose your next dream car, and stroll through a cattle barn or two at this year’s State Fair of Texas.

The main theme of this year’s edition is “24 days of fun”. And trust me, you’ll need 24 days to see everything the 2024 edition of the State Fair of Texas has to offer.

Here is a list of what’s new at this year’s Fair and things you should know before you go.

Remember to check the Fair’s website at bigtex.com and its social media channels for any last-minute changes. More events can be found at Go to DFW.

DATE/TIMES

This year’s Texas State Fair will be held September 27-October. 20. Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 10:00-21:00, Friday and Saturday 10:00-10:00

ENTRY

Daily entry ticket prices vary depending on the day of the week. Ticket prices range from $15 to $25 for adult tickets and $5 to $18 for children and seniors. Children under 2 years old are free of charge.

DISCOUNTS AND VALUE DAYS

Adults pay children’s prices every day after 5 p.m.

Military/First Aid Discount: All active military, retired military and veterans save $5 each day by presenting valid military service documentation at the door or online. Spouses of service members and accompanying children under 18 also receive discounted admission. This offer also extends to first responders and their families.

Opening day: Bring two jars of peanut butter and donate them to the North Texas Food Bank and receive $10 admission at the door. This discount is only available at the gate.

Tuesday and Thursday Valuable days: Purchase your admission ticket online on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the discounted price of $10. Only Big Tex connoisseurs receive the promo code for these exclusive savings. Register on bigtex.com/Insider.

Wednesdays: On Wednesdays, bring five canned goods and get admission for just $5. All canned donations go to the North Texas Food Bank.

Thursdays: Seniors 60 and older enter the fair on Thursdays for $5.

OTHER DISCOUNTS

On Tuesday, trips with 4 coupons
On Tuesdays, most Midway rides are 4 coupons, and Kiddie rides are discounted to 3 coupons. Excludes Thrillway and Texas Star Ferris Wheel.

Frugal Thursdays with discounts and fair food
Every Thursday, participating food vendors offer one of their signature menu items at a discounted price, ranging from mini to regular-sized items.

Discounts at McDonald’s
Save $5 off your ticket price with discount coupons available on tray liners and meal bags.

PARKING/DART

Parking in the official State Fair of Texas parking lots is $30 per space.

Solve parking and traffic problems by driving DART Railway. Take the Green Line to two stations – the Fair Park Station on Parry Avenue at the fairgrounds entrance and the MLK, Jr. Station. south of RB Cullum Blvd. at the entrance to the MLK fairgrounds (gate 6).

POLICIES

Minors Policy: Every day from 17:00, all minors, aged 17 and younger, must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or guardian (21+) when entering the Fair. Parents, guardians or guardians may accompany no more than six minors aged 17 or under.

Firearms Policy: The Texas State Fair prohibits fairgoers from carrying any firearms, knives with blades longer than 5.5 inches, clubs, explosives, ammunition, chemical dispensing devices, replica or fake guns, or weapons of any kind. This includes concealed and open carrying of firearms anywhere on the fairgrounds, including the Cotton Bowl Stadium. This policy does not apply to elected, appointed or employed peace officers. Previously, gun policy allowed licensed concealed carry. This is not the case now.

Public events or protests: You may not hold any public event or protest or obtain or disseminate any information without the prior written consent of State Fair of Texas management or security personnel.

A full list of Fair rules can be found on the website bigtex.com/know-before-go-go

NEW SHOWS AND ATTRACTIONS FOR 2024

The Texas State Fair offers over 100 attractions every day. Here are some of the new attractions added to the 2024 free entertainment lineup.

Cirque Du Soleil: Songblazers
An acrobatic live musical performance showcases the artistry of Cirque du Soleil and the melodies of beloved country music. The show celebrates country music’s diverse influences and stories. Songblazers performances will take place from September 25 to October 20 at the Music Hall in Fair Park. Songblazers tickets include free entry to the fair. Visit cirquedusoleil.com/songblazers to purchase tickets and obtain further information.

Performances take place on Saturday and Sunday at 12:00, 15:00 and 18:00 in the Music Hall.

The Billy Kidd Show

Billy Kidd is an award-winning magician from Bath, England whose work can be admired around the world. She hosted a Discovery Channel program Breaking the magic series and was a wizard on Syfy’s The Wizarding Wars with Penn and Teller. Stop by the Fringe stage to see her tricks and jaw-dropping tricks. You’ll wonder, “How did she do that?”

Daily performances at 1:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on the Fringe Stage

Bryan Berg Card Stacker

Guinness World Record holder Bryan Berg demonstrates his amazing card stacking skills in the Hall of State. Watch as he builds the Dallas skyline using only a deck of cards. Trained as an architect, Berg first broke the world record for building the world’s tallest free-standing house made of playing cards in 1992 at the age of 17, with a tower 4.5 meters high. Since then, he has been asked to break his own Guinness World Record about ten times.

The exhibition can be viewed in the State Hall every day from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m

A pint-sized parade

Follow the characters in Showstoppers costumes around the fairgrounds to the Hall of State where they will perform. This family procession includes music, dancing and fun surprises.

The parade begins daily at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. near the Lagoon and ends at the steps of the State Hall

NEW FOOD FOR 2024

Prepare your taste buds. The State Fair of Texas is introducing 6 new concessions for the 2024 season. Here’s a look at what to expect.

Rita’s Italian Ice Cream – located on Grand Avenue

Try the new menu item, The Cool Combo. It’s Italian ice cream combined with frozen vanilla cream.

Korean corn dogs – located on Coliseum Drive

Korean Corn Dog Hot Cheetos debuts at this year’s Fair. It’s half hot dog and half mozzarella cheese, coated in wheat and rice flour, coated in panko breadcrumbs, and then deep-fried. Pour spicy mayonnaise over everything and roll in Hot Cheeto breadcrumbs.

Crepes and Co. – lis located in the Tower building

The restaurant’s specialty is fried apple-cinnamon crepe. It’s a pancake filled with Biscoff cookie butter and caramelized apple cinnamon. It is then topped with additional caramelized apples, cinnamon and served with Biscoff mousse, whipped cream and a Biscoff cookie on the side.

So deviled eggs – located in the Tower

Don’t miss the Texas version of the beloved deviled egg. The classic is topped with coleslaw and barbecue ribs topped with beer barbecue sauce.

Smith Spot Grill – located in the Tower

In celebration of its debut at the Texas State Fair, Smith Spot BBQ is offering its signature dish called “The Nephew.” It’s a glazed donut with brisket, mozzarella cheese, a little honey and a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Noodle experience – located on Funway

Choose your dumplings – pork and vegetables, chicken and vegetables and edamame. Customize them with one of five sauces, including Ponzu Lime, Thai Chili, Sriracha, Home Grill and Reaper Grill.

FARM ANIMALS

As you browse animal barns and check out Blue Ribbon winners, don’t miss farm-related activities.

Pig racing

Sure, we’ve all seen horse races and maybe even a few hot dogs, but bless the person who said, “What about pigs?” Pigmen race face-to-face in search of racing silks at Chevy Park Plaza.

Pig races daily at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Chevy Park Plaza

University of Farm and Fork

Have you ever wondered why chickens lay different colored eggs and whether horses really sleep standing up? Get all your questions about Cowboy Trey’s backyard burning answered. A talk-show-style presentation will introduce you to all the animals you will meet while visiting the barns.

Daily at 11:00, 12:30, 14:00, 15:30 and 17:00 in Bull Alley

Big Tex’s Discovery Farm

Learn about agriculture and the impact that farm animals have on our daily lives through interactive exhibitions and live animal shows.

Open daily from 10:00 to 18:30 near Bandshell and Laguna

PARADES, FIREWORKS AND A BRAND NEW DRONE SHOW

There’s no better way to end your day at the Fair than with a parade of lights after dark, followed by a fireworks display.

Star Parade

The perfect end to a day at the Fair is the Parade of Stars, which winds through the fairgrounds every night for the duration of the fair. The bright procession consists of a colorful assortment of floats, life-size dolls, animated characters in ornate costumes and more.

Every evening at 7:15 p.m. through the fairgrounds

Feeling of illumination

After the parade, head to the reflecting pool on the Esplanade for a nighttime illumination sensation. A synchronized display of pyrotechnics and special effects includes dancing waters, fireworks, pop music and performances by dancers and acrobats.

Every evening at 8 p.m. on the Esplanade

NEW for 2024: “Stars Over Texas” drone show.

The Texas State Fair is adding a drone show to its offerings this season. Watch four performances immediately following the Illumination Sensation fireworks display.

October 3-6 at 8:25 p.m

LIVE MUSIC

During the 24 days of the fair, you can admire various musical talents, from country to hip-hop. What’s more, admission to these concerts is free.

There are multiple stages throughout the grounds. Here’s a sampling of the stars that will be appearing on the Chevrolet main stage. A full list of musical performances can be found on the website bigtex.com/live music

Opening weekend:

Friday, September 27, at 20:30 – Jo Dee Messina
Sat. September 28, at 16:00 – Deitrick Haddon
Sat. September 28, at 20:30 – Big Daddy Kane

Second weekend:

Friday, October 4, 20:30 – Shakey Graves
Sat. October 5, 17:30 – Payton Howie
Sat. October 5, 20:30 – Grace Potter

Third weekend: :

Friday, October 11, 20:30 – Wyatt Flores
Sat.October 12, 20:30 – Saint Paweł and broken bones
Sunday.October 13, 20:30 –Hannah Dasher

End of the weekend:

Friday, October 18, 20:30 – Spin-Doctors
Saturday, October 18, 8:30 p.m. – Foghat
Sunday, October 19, 4:30 p.m. –Commodore

The Go to DFW the calendar is a partnership between KERA and The Dallas Morning News.

Arts Access is an arts journalism collaboration between The Dallas Morning News and KERA.

This crowdfunded journalism initiative is funded by the Better Together Fund, Carol and Don Glendenning, City of Dallas OAC, University of Texas at Dallas, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Eugene McDermott Foundation, James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, Jennifer and Peter Altabef and the Meadows Foundation. The news and KERA retain full editorial control of Arts Access journalism.