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Howdy Folks!
Start preparing your tastebuds for The 2012 State Fair of Texas. 10 days and counting y'all! Aren't you dying to have a Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll? I know I am. All the glory all starts with a free State Fair of Texas parade through downtown Dallas, on opening day, September 28th, high noon.
Here in Texas, we like the State Fair so much, that we give our kids official days off school for it. And we give them a free ticket to get in. It's drilled in from an early age it is the highlight of the year to watch pigs race, eat funnel cakes, ride rides til you throw up, blow all of your allowance on the Fairway, and sit in super awesome concept cars and pretend you are James Bond.
Yes, there are games where the kids always win a prize.
"You will eat a corny dog and like it, mister."
"Throw it again daddy! I want the really BIG Spongebob toy! PUHLEEEEEEZZE?"
Then come all the school essays of what I did at the State Fair of Texas last weekend (besides run off from my mother and make them call the Lost and Found department.) Extra credit if you went the whole day at the fair eating food that all comes on a stick. I will have no other kind.
I like 80s on 8. Rock on Night Ranger!
How many car radios can Luka re-program in 10 minutes in the Car Building? All of them. It's become one of his State Fair Traditions. Obviously, just posing for a picture with Big Tex in the background is so overdone in his opinion.
Heaven with powdered sugar on top.
I really miss spinning the wheel of fortune for a powdered sugar donut eleventy million times, and I cross my fingers every year that they'll bring it back. So that I don't get too sad about it, I console myself with yet another funnel cake.
My dearest dream is that someday, my blog will be so famous, they beg me to be a State Fair of Texas pie judge. And I'll have a badge that says "Pie Judge". And I'll walk through the Fair and everyone will bow and avert their eyes in reverence.
Luka's favorite thing at the Fair? Harvesting plastic crops and sheering plastic sheep in exchange for farmhand pay of cheese and crackers at Walmart's Little Hands on the Farm.
And when we've had enough, I look forward to my nervous breakdown in the Biergarten.
What's happening?
So of course, I'm going to see you at the State Fair of Texas in Fair Park this year! Check the State Fair of Texas daily calendar of events and discover your new favorite sight to see. You can even create a list of all the events for the very day you'll be there.
What else can you see and do at the fair? Last year I drove a SWEET Chevy Volt. Which felt like driving a computer. And of course, there are Dobermans dancing. Roller Coasters roiling. Puppets parading. Acrobat athleticism. Pumpkins partying. Tiny bunnies being tiny. Stuntmen on Stilts. Celebrity Chefs. Oh, yeah, and football (which, if you're like me you avoid Texas OU Weekend at the Fair altogether).
When is it?
The Texas State Fair runs from September 28th to October 21st. And believe it or not, Kevin Costner and his band Modern West will be live in concert on September 29th at 8:30pm. But seriously all Kevin Costner aside, you don't want to miss the World Champion Hot Dog Eating Contest on October 12th at 4:00pm.
What else can you see and do at the fair? Last year I drove a SWEET Chevy Volt. Which felt like driving a computer. And of course, there are Dobermans dancing. Roller Coasters roiling. Puppets parading. Acrobat athleticism. Pumpkins partying. Tiny bunnies being tiny. Stuntmen on Stilts. Celebrity Chefs. Oh, yeah, and football (which, if you're like me you avoid Texas OU Weekend at the Fair altogether).
When is it?
The Texas State Fair runs from September 28th to October 21st. And believe it or not, Kevin Costner and his band Modern West will be live in concert on September 29th at 8:30pm. But seriously all Kevin Costner aside, you don't want to miss the World Champion Hot Dog Eating Contest on October 12th at 4:00pm.
THE DEALS
IF YOU GO, DO NOT PAY RETAIL! Tickets are $16 at the gate. Use one of these handy ways to get a discount. This is what I've heard so far that will be available:
Advance Ticket Sales on-line
Get a ticket on-line here now, for $13.95. Kids and Seniors are $10.95 advance. You can even order sheets of food coupons in advance too!
Opening Day Sept. 28
KISS FM $5 Fridays
Get in for $5 off the gate price with this coupon here, thanks to KISS FM, on all Fair Fridays all day long.
Senior Thursdays
Senior Citizens 60 years and older get in for FREE each Thursday. This deal is sponsored this year by Renewal by Andersen. Otherwise seniors get in for $12 other days.
Got any more deals? Know where to score samples and freebies IN the fairgrounds? Leave your hints in a comment below! Share!! I'll update this post with any new information as we get closer to the fair, so keep checking back.
Follow The State Fair of Texas on twitter here. "Like" 'em on Facebook here.
Find more recent deals on Events here.
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Advance Ticket Sales on-line
Get a ticket on-line here now, for $13.95. Kids and Seniors are $10.95 advance. You can even order sheets of food coupons in advance too!
Opening Day Sept. 28
Bring an unopened 20 oz. bottle of Dasani water (or any Coca-Cola product) for donation to the North Texas Food Bank containers at Fair admission gates and get in for $6 (per donation) per person.
DART Combo Ticket
DART Combo Ticket
Available at Kroger Food Stores. $17 buys 1 general admission to 2011 State Fair of Texas & round-trip transportation on DART the day of your visit. The Green Line drops off at front gate and a second station is located within easy walking distance to the MLK entrance. Advance ticket is $14.50 at Kroger without the DART pass (see below).
DART Fair Pass (transportation only)
You can also pre-purchase just a DART pass for $4 to use on either Saturday October 6 or Saturday October 13 here. This is cheaper than any of the paid parking down at Fair Park.
Kroger/Cinemark Season Pass
Get a single advance ticket at Kroger for $14.50. Get a season pass at Kroger for $34.95, and it includes unlimited visits for the pass holder, one buddy pass for one visit Monday thru Friday only, and a Cinemark Movie pass. You can also get a Dart Combo ticket at Kroger for $17, which will include one admission and one round-trip on the DART rail. So ya don't have to park in Fair Park.
Dr Pepper $5 Tuesdays
DART Fair Pass (transportation only)
You can also pre-purchase just a DART pass for $4 to use on either Saturday October 6 or Saturday October 13 here. This is cheaper than any of the paid parking down at Fair Park.
Kroger/Cinemark Season Pass
Get a single advance ticket at Kroger for $14.50. Get a season pass at Kroger for $34.95, and it includes unlimited visits for the pass holder, one buddy pass for one visit Monday thru Friday only, and a Cinemark Movie pass. You can also get a Dart Combo ticket at Kroger for $17, which will include one admission and one round-trip on the DART rail. So ya don't have to park in Fair Park.
Dr Pepper $5 Tuesdays
Every Tuesday, bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $5. Most rides on those Tuesdays (excluding the Thrillway, Texas Star & selected other attractions) are 5 coupons.
Dr Pepper $8 after 5 p.m.
Dr Pepper $8 after 5 p.m.
Bring an empty Dr Pepper can to any State Fair admission gate after 5 p.m. and enter for $8.
North Texas Food Bank "Three for $2" Wednesdays
North Texas Food Bank "Three for $2" Wednesdays
Admission is $2 for each visitor bringing 3 cans of food on Wednesday only. The canned goods go to filling the North Texas Food Bank.
Coke $6 Thursdays
Coke $6 Thursdays
Bring an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product and enter the Fair for $6 admission on Thursdays.
Coca Cola sponsored Student Tickets
If your kid is a DISD student, they will most likely get a free ticket sent home with them. Look for it! Dallas ISD Fair Day is October 5th for Elementary, and October 12th for Middle and High School. (That means those kids are off school that day and being encouraged to go to the Fair with their free ticket.)
City of Dallas Employee Discount Coupon
Are you a City of Dallas Employee? This week they're handing out your $6 off coupon to use when you buy a ticket at the box office. That makes your price $10, instead of $16.
Coca Cola sponsored Student Tickets
If your kid is a DISD student, they will most likely get a free ticket sent home with them. Look for it! Dallas ISD Fair Day is October 5th for Elementary, and October 12th for Middle and High School. (That means those kids are off school that day and being encouraged to go to the Fair with their free ticket.)
City of Dallas Employee Discount Coupon
Are you a City of Dallas Employee? This week they're handing out your $6 off coupon to use when you buy a ticket at the box office. That makes your price $10, instead of $16.
Dickies Day
Thursday, October 11th, wear and show your Dickies logo clothing item at the staffed tent outside the gate and receive a voucher. The voucher is for FREE admission on Thursday October 11th only.
Cinemark Thursdays (*Possible. Unconfirmed as of September 18th)
Cinemark usually runs this deal: Bring your Cinemark Movie Theater ticket stub to the box office and trade it for a free admission on any Thursday.
Any Day McDonald's Deal
Cinemark Thursdays (*Possible. Unconfirmed as of September 18th)
Cinemark usually runs this deal: Bring your Cinemark Movie Theater ticket stub to the box office and trade it for a free admission on any Thursday.
Any Day McDonald's Deal
McDonald's offers $3 off General Admission with one of their State Fair coupons (available on tray liner or bag stuffers) any day of the Fair. A half-price child ticket (with purchase of general admission) coupon is also sometimes distributed by McDonald’s.
Museum of Nature & Science Members
FREE Admission for you! Members receive a voucher this coming week good for free admission for two adults and up to 4 children. Voucher is good on any week day of the fair. You're not a member? Join now silly and get your voucher!
The Addams Family at the Music Hall
If you buy a ticket to the Addams Family performance at the Music Hall at Fair Park, it will include a same-day fair admission.
The Addams Family at the Music Hall
If you buy a ticket to the Addams Family performance at the Music Hall at Fair Park, it will include a same-day fair admission.
KISS FM $5 Fridays
Get in for $5 off the gate price with this coupon here, thanks to KISS FM, on all Fair Fridays all day long.
Senior Thursdays
Senior Citizens 60 years and older get in for FREE each Thursday. This deal is sponsored this year by Renewal by Andersen. Otherwise seniors get in for $12 other days.
Got any more deals? Know where to score samples and freebies IN the fairgrounds? Leave your hints in a comment below! Share!! I'll update this post with any new information as we get closer to the fair, so keep checking back.
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Pay it forward, people! Don't let your friends spend all their money on admission, when there's important things like funnel cake to buy.
29 comments:
If you are FTW Star-Telegram subscriber, they have a press pass day, or you can buy tickets ahead of time on a special link (4 tix for $32, so half price).
Hey Allyssa, never heard that one before, thanks so much for sharing. And for driving clear over here to big D from FW!
Do you have any suggestions as to how many Food & Ride Coupon sheets a family of four should purchase for a day at the fair? Thanks for the tips to save money on admission; we're really looking forward to going to the fair and saving money will make it an even better day!
Lorie,
That's a tough one. Depending on age of your kids and the amount of rides they ride and food they eat will determine this. Rides are not cheap, unless you go on a discounted day like Tuesday. Rides probably average 10 tickets ($5), so you can see how quick that will add up. Food is everywhere, and if your crew is like most, they will want to try everything. If you are planning on making an entire day of it then plan on easily spending a couple hundred bucks, especially if your kids ride a lot of rides.
Hi Lorie, my family of four usually eats at home first (so we're not spending all our money on meals.) Then we each get to choose one "fair food" item to eat while we're there, and usually a drink at some point too. Have everyone bring a water bottle that you can keep refilling at water fountains all day.
The kids each do about 2 rides. I think we end up buying $20 - $40 worth of coupon sheets to keep ourselves busy for the day.
Remember, that if you're going to play games on the fairway, those are not coupon paid-for, those you buy separately (from game card kiosks in front of the fairway games). Games are usually about $5 to play one time, so our kids get to pick ONE. And we have them pick one that "kids always win a prize" so they don't go home empty-handed.
The two best things to do with little kids at the fair are the baby animal petting zoo (free to get in, but you can buy cups of food to feed them) or the Little Hands on the Farm where they play at being farmers and get a snack prize for their hard work at the end.
Opening Day is 6 dollars with a Coca Cola 20 ounce product Not open
We always try to go early and see if we can spend no money until afternoon. Free Ice cream and food in the Food and fiber pavillion. Free shows (dog show, bird show, pig races, dive show, petting zoo, etc.) Then dollar hot dogs (Old mill)and dollar drinks (DAR house). We all choose one fair food to eat (or share). We try to go on a day when rides are half price, so it's a few rides in the afternoon, a few games on the midway, and if we have enough energy we catch the butter sculpture the climbing wall (JEEP) watch the shows we missed and push through till the parade and fireworks.
Thanks for the information. last year we ended up paying 48 dollas at the entrance, but this year won't be that :)
To save money on the food, pick up a visitors guide at the entrance or info booths... Some of them are up to 4 tickets off a meal.
Parents that like to drink beer and wine should purchase these drinks in the Coca Cola Food court (it's at the end of the skyway ride or the beginning of it, depends where you get on). They are always quite a bit cheaper in that building.
Charli, Kristy, Jennifer, and all my anonymous information sharers, thanks for making this post even better with such great money-saving ideas INSIDE the park!
Thanks to my friend Jerri who made me go find a coupon to get a discount to get in to the Chinese Lantern Festival Exhibit. Go print yours here: http://www.chineselanternfestival.com/tickets.php
We're all so excited for the State Fair. Thanks for sharing these deals with us! Paying a little less will make the experience even sweeter.
New tip from the Facebook page: Naomi wrote: "You can bring your own food and drinks, and have a picnic, and if you sign up for a sunday DALLAS MORNING NEWS paper for $17.00 near the wine area-behind the cotton bowl, you can get 30 tickets" [food coupons]
Any discounts for Monday's that anyone is aware of?
We took a cooler full of water, Gatorade and juice, plus a snack bag full of stuff for my 2 year old. Saved us a bundle. We ended up spending $75 and we were there for a good 8 hours. We also went on Coca-Cola Thursday and went in the Chinese Lantern Festival before 6:30 which was quite a bit cheaper :) We'd love to go back Sunday, but haven't found any discounts for that day. Anyone know of any? Thanks!
Right by the main entrance there are two museums (one is the women's museum) and they were selling soda and water for $1 which is a steal compared to the $3-$4 anywhere else.
does anyobne know if there is a day where tides are half priced? or u can byu a wristband?
Any,monday deals?
Reduced rides on Tuesdays. Most are only 5 tickets ($3.00)... The state fair does not sale wristband, unfortunately.
any saturday ticket deals?
If you're going to the fair on Sundays or Mondays, use the McDonald's coupon for $3 off and half price kids. It's not day-specific.
anyone know if the fair will allow you to use the kids free tixs on Saturdays? we did a couple of years back with no problems, but dont want to drive and pay for parking if its going to be a pain with three kids?
Also, in the Coca Cola Food court the Oak Farms stand has bottled tea, milk, juice, and water all for only 3 tickets ($1.50).
I found the coupon for chinese lantern festival last week and didn't print it off. Now the coupon is not on the website? Help??
http://www.chineselanternfestival.com/coupons.php
Thanks Luis! You're the hero of the day! :-)
Hello everyone is there any discounts for the last day?
Are there any discounts for today the last day?
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