Food fanatics and ride enthusiasts can rejoice this weekend as the State Fair of Texas opens to the public Friday, Sept. 30. The fair, which ends Oct. 23, features live entertainment, a plethora of fried food, car shows and family entertainment. Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning your trip to Dallas.
Getting there
The fair is located in Fair Park just two miles east of downtown Dallas at 3921 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas. Here are directions: From Houston-Huntsville-Corsicana Take I45N to exit 284A. Move to the right lane and follow signs for I30E. Take exit 48B and follow directions to Fair Park.Admission
Tickets to the fair give you access to more than 100 family-friendly activities, shows, concerts and the nightly Starlight Parade. Ticket prices vary and can be purchased in combo packs. In general, children age 2 and younger are free and children under 48 inches are $14. Adult general admission tickets are $18 and seniors (age 60 and older) are $14. However, here are several ways to save money on tickets:- Buy your ticket online and save $2.
- Bring a Dr Pepper can any day of the week and get half-price admission. Bring a Dr Pepper can on Tuesday and admission is $5. Tuesday is also the day to get discounts on rides.
- Bring four cans of food to donate to the North Texas Food Bank on Wednesdays and admission to the fair is $4.
- Seniors get in to the fair for free on Thursdays. Others can bring an empty 20-ounce Coke product and get in for $6 on Thursdays.
- Print a coupon on the KISS-FM website and get half-price admission on Fridays.
Food
Each year foodies flock to the fairgrounds to try the latest fair food. This year there are several new items to try:
Cookie Fries
Created by Isaac Rousso, this sweet treat may appear to be a french fry but is far from it. The fries, which won most creative this year, are offered in chocolate chip or sprinkles and served with your choice of strawberry or milk chocolate sauce.
Dr Pepper Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Like Dr Pepper? This ice cream dish combines Dr Pepper with mini chocolate chips.
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The cherry-flavored Jell-O dish won best taste this year.[/caption]
Fried Jell-O
This is the first time in the fair’s history that Jell-O has been used to create an unique dish. Created by Ruth Hauntz, the cherry-flavored Jell-O has a panko-crusted breading and is covered with powdered sugar. This dish won best taste this year.
Blackened Shrimp Baked Potato
This hot potato features blackened shrimp with a hint of spice. It is topped with cheese and parsley, then drizzled with butter.
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The Caribbean Pineapple Korn-a-Copia features marinated grilled chicken and shrimp served over a bed of yellow Caribbean fried rice.[/caption]
Caribbean Pineapple Korn-a-Copia
This dish features marinated grilled chicken and shrimp served over a bed of yellow Caribbean fried rice and topped with a tropical salsa and pineapple rum glaze.
Don’t want to go to the fair to try the food? Inside of the Walmart located at 425 Coit Road, Plano, there is a new restaurant called State Fair Treats, which serves 45 menu items ranging in price from $1.50-$7.50.
