Thoughts about the State Fair of Texas

[missypie]

Our family spent the day at the State Fair of Texas yesterday. A few thoughts:

1. It's expensive! I have a client who always sends me two adult tickets. The kids each get a free tickets at school. So entry was free, otherwise, it would have been $58 for the 5 of us. Parking was $9. The 5 of us used up $230 in coupons. That was with each kid riding a few rides, each adult rode 2. We ate our share of "fair food" but mostly shared everything and mostly drank water from the water fountain. Rides are outrageous. Sure, the huge ferris wheel is 11 coupons ($5.50) but that seems like a barain when you consider that even the little walk through fun-houses cost $4.50 each. That's $13.50 for my three kids to spend a couple of minutes walking through a fun house.

2. The Dole Whip they serve is NOT the same as at WDW. Even though they use the Dole Whip logo, it's not the same. It is a soft serve ice cream with pineapple flavoring...not nearly as refreshing as the real thing at WDW.

3. Columbus Day is NOT the day to go...so crowded! I wished for TGM for the fair!

4. I think they've deep fried everything that can be deep fried. We tried a deep fried peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwhich (the fair has an Elvis theme this year). Not bad, but we were glad we had only ordered one for the 5 of us to try.

5. I think the most fun we had was when it rained and we went into one of the exhibition halls and tried out all the memory foam mattresses.

6. Those 25 cent foot massage chairs really work!!! Disney should have those in the parks!

7. Once a year I see what's in style for all the gang members to wear. For some reason the gangs hang out in the food court...which is the only place I can get fried green tomatoes...so I see them every year. But the police Gang Unit was out in force. Why oh why do guys think it is cool to wear their pants so low that they have to hold them up with one hand???

8. The Elvis imitator was worth the extra dollar it cost to see him. I've never seen an Elvis imitator before, but he was certainly more entertaining than the pig races.

9. Pig races: Skip them! The three heats of actual races take a combined total of maybe 60 seconds. Of course, they have to stretch the "show" so there's about 15 minutes of bad jokes.

10. The light show is dull dull dull...an Illuminations wanna be. I told my DH that I would never watch another light show again unless it was at a Disney park.

11. Lots of the young men and women at the bird show also work in the bird show at Animal Kingdom.

12. We missed the petting zoo!

Anybody else have any opinions?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I haven't gone yet but holy smokes! The cost sounds outrageous!

If we go we will go see the Border Collie show and the Auto Show. Did you see any of those?

 

[missypie]

We skipped the border collies, but saw the auto show. It's interesting to see SUVs that cost $65,000 and get 13 mpg....not exactly what we drive, but fun to climb around in.

DH and I could go to the fair faily cheaply if it was just the two of us, because we would skip all the rides. The kids get spoiled by the Disney parks where we ride all day for one cost.

If you park you car in official (fenced in) parking, pay admission, ride two rides, eat a turkey drumstick, drink a coke and buy a candy apple, you've spent close to $50 per person!

 

[Tenorsinging]

Weather willing, we are going tomm. Dread the cost of the tickets!!!!!

Lynne

 

[Nebsky]

I went, but I didnt like it.......Course that was 17 years ago and I have been to Disney since then. That means the State Fair would really suck now.

I dont think there is enough money out there to get me to go back and spend the day. A free ticket to hell sounds more appealing. Course, my ticket was punched a long ago.

 

[stuckatwork]

I find the NC state fair tends to empty the Durham ghetto out, as well as every trailer park in the state. Makes for an interesting day. I went once and stayed about 1 hour as it was not a plesant place to be.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Weather willing, we are going tomm. Dread the cost of the tickets!!!!!

Lynne

Pick up a Dallas newspaper. It has a 5$ off coupon for 1 ticket in one of the sections.

 

[missypie]

I went, but I didnt like it.......Course that was 17 years ago and I have been to Disney since then. That means the State Fair would really suck now.

I dont think there is enough money out there to get me to go back and spend the day. A free ticket to hell sounds more appealing. Course, my ticket was punched a long ago.

I think you'd have fun if you go on a non-crowded day. Do the real "state fair" stuff: see the Elvis butter sculpture; tour the building that has the prize winning quilts, pickles and art work; walk though the livestock barns and see the kids shampooing and blow-drying their sheep for show; watch a horse or dog or pig show; enjoy the art deco architecture of the buildings; experience the exhibits of things like vibrating recliners; eat three sweet fried foods (e.g. deep fried twinkies, deep fried snickers bars, and funnel cakes) and three savory deep fried things (Fletchers corney dogs, just-made potato chips and fried green tomatoes).

If you do the kind of things that they don't have at Disney, it can be a great time!

 

[malibuconlee]

I was never that impressed with it either when we lived there. I was always so surprised at the draw of the midway when Six Flags is just over in Arlington.

Yes we rode the big ferris wheel. I remeber trying to go see the big pigs, but the barns were empty .

 

[Tenorsinging]

Pick up a Dallas newspaper. It has a 5$ off coupon for 1 ticket in one of the sections.

Yeppers, saw it!!!! Thanks, that's why we are going either tomm. or Thursday, so I can use the ticket. Got them all cut out...even drug out some of the old newspapers to get enough for all of us!!!!

Lynne

 

[missypie]

The show animals aren't there for the duration of the fair. For example, they may be judging the cows the first week...so if you go to the sheep or pig barns, they'll be empty. If you check the paper or the web site, it says which animals are being judged on any given day. If you go at the very end of the fair, all the animal judging is over, so the barns will be pretty empty.

 

[m&m's mom]

missypie- I remember us "talking" about this in a thread last year.
For the 1st time in probably 15 years we are not going this year.
Too much hassle and not enough fun.
I always have bad allergies this time of year as well and makes it uncomfortable to be outside.

 

[jajuan]

I NEVER go to the state fair. Main reason was posted by OP...I am afraid of the gangs I never feel safe when I go to the cotton bowl or anywhere around there. I think it stemmed from an incident in college (TX-OU weekend)....after the game, I saw a gang type person (couldn't be sure) beating the crap out of a 50 year old middle class man while his DW watched. I have been there since, but never felt comfortable enough to go and have a good time.

 

[missypie]

I NEVER go to the state fair. Main reason was posted by OP...I am afraid of the gangs I never feel safe when I go to the cotton bowl or anywhere around there. I think it stemmed from an incident in college (TX-OU weekend)....after the game, I saw a gang type person (couldn't be sure) beating the crap out of a 50 year old middle class man while his DW watched. I have been there since, but never felt comfortable enough to go and have a good time.

I'd never go on a football game day. (This year, after the Prairie View/Grambling game, people in a hotel parking lot watched as a huge gang of people beat a 19 year old to death.) But I'll tell you, there are LOTS of cops at the fair.

 

[Carl]

I went about 50 years ago, when I was a teen. I don't remember any of the people attending looking bad, but the fair operators sure looked sleezy and frightening. And the side shows were cheap and no good.

 

[Planogirl]

I like the fair. Sure the gangs go but you can't walk five feet without seeing a policeman so I feel safe enough. And yes, the carnival is over-priced but the free or cheap exhibits are what make the fair fun anyway.

Just don't go expecting WDW! Keep that mindset and the light show and parade are fun IMO.

Did you go into the exhibit hall where they display the craft prize winners? I like seeing those.

 

[Stepht5]

I'd never go on a football game day. (This year, after the Prairie View/Grambling game, people in a hotel parking lot watched as a huge gang of people beat a 19 year old to death.) But I'll tell you, there are LOTS of cops at the fair.

I saw that on the news. That was sooo sad. And the police have said that the boy was not a gang member.

I haven't been to the State Fair i years. I don't like to drive to Dallas and DH would rather go to Six Flags.

 

[Planogirl]

I haven't been to the State Fair i years. I don't like to drive to Dallas and DH would rather go to Six Flags.

I must be odd because I'd MUCH rather go to the fair than to Six Flags. But then I have to go to Six Flags with someone who doesn't like coasters so there's really not much to do.

 

[DisneyCP2002]

This is only my second experience with the State Fair. I had alot of fun and rode no rides. I did buy coupons for food and I had the McDonald's $3 off coupon. I also got the bear in my signature. I will go back someday just probably not soon.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I always think the best day to go is TX-OU gameday. After kickoff, the place is EMPTY! That's the day we always used to go on. After the game, a restaurant there at the Fair always had karaoke and we'd sit and watch the drunk sorority girls attempt to sing. Very amusing.

We haven't gone in a few years due to cost alone. I used to work at the Music Hall and am not afraid of that area I just can't afford the admission, food, and parking! I've never done the midway or have a desire to, there are lots of free things to do to fill a day.

They must have changed the dole whip because it always tasted just the same to me. But I think they're incredibly overrated anyways. Maybe you remember the one at MK being better because you were at WDW and it was hotter than hades out?