Thoughts about the State Fair of Texas

[Mad4Mickey]

We went to the fair last Thursday and we were there from 2:30 pm tp 6:30 pm and spent over 200 bucks on rides and food !

We paid to get in but it was coke day so we all got in for 4 bucks each

You are a brave soul I didnt try the fried PB&J but I wanted to .

We did however buy the best bargain at the fair as always the Borden Choclate milk for $ 1.00 proceeds go to charity .

I will say this WHO are they kidding with that midway ? they are sucking us dry LOL

We took my 5 yr old nephew and 3 yr old neice and I was kinda happy that she didnt want to ride much cause her brother was "KING OF THE MIDWAY " He rode everythign he could ride it was scary when you thought about how much 8 tickes really was to drive a little truck on a track

 

[Beca]

I have to admit, this thread is making me a little sad!!! I grew up in Arlington (worked at Six Flags for MANY years), but then moved to Phoenix. We just recently moved back to North Texas (yea!!!!), and I was SOO looking forward to the fair....I guess it is just a sentimental favorite of mine!!!

But, this is the second place I have heard really bad things about it. I called today to schedule the initialization of my security system, and the rep on the phone mentioned that whatever I do....do NOT go to the State Fair!!

We used to get tickets to go to the Music Hall and see a matinee of whatever show was in town, and then go to the fair...it was SOO much fun!! But, of course...we found out we were moving too late to get tix to Wicked....I am dying to see that show (we did, however get tix to see it in Houston), so that routine is over anyway.

Maybe I will have to re-think going this year. My dd is 3, and I sure would not want to put her in any danger....but, dang!!! I really like the fair!!



Beca

 

[missypie]

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?

The Dole Whip at WDW did not seem to be milk based....it tasted totally fruit based...like a soft serve sorbet. At the fair, it is definitely milk based soft serve ice cream, with pineaple flavoring. Not only is the taste different, but the color and texture also.

As far as safety is concerned: Sure, parking "inside" costs $9, but you're a fool if you park in some person's yard for $5...is your family's safety worth $4? And like others have said, there are LOTS (LOTS!!!) of cops. The later in the day/evening it gets, the more cops there are.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't understand why people wouldn't go to the fair? Security is so tight there and I've never felt like we were in danger. Maybe I'm just naive.

I can see it because of the prices at the carnival though! I asked DS is he would go and skip the midway and that didn't go over real well. He's not much for rides but loves the funhouses.

 

[va32h]

We've been to the Fair twice since moving to Texas (the latest time being just last week) and have never seen anything remotely resembling gang activity or violence.

Literally nothing. Perhaps I am just extremely unobservant.

The prices are insane, but there are some "cheap thrills". My kids loved going through the Little Hands farm, where they could pretend to be farmers and plant and harvest their crops and feed the animals.

We saw the bird show, which my son loved, and a milking demonstration. The Food plaza had yummy free biscuit samples, and we got some chocolate milk too. My husband enjoyed the barbecue demonstration, and the kids got to "play with their food" in this really weird exhibit that had piles of fruits and veggies and instructions on how to carve them artistically.

The garden/train exhibit was also fun. We saw miniature train layouts, watched an artist create a mural, and walked through the butterfly gardens.

We also saw a couple different drum/color guards perform, the Pee Wee Rodeo which featured little kids doing rodeo feats on stick ponies, and we did catch the pig races, which were not that bad, although I have seen better pig races in my time.

My son got to practice casting a line at the Great Outdoors booth, and pitching a newspaper at the Dallas Morning News booth.

So it can be fun, just not in the same way that Disney is fun.

The cost for the rides is just ridiculous though. Highway robbery.

 

[KathyTX]

A little off-topic (but not very much!!!)

Any of the Dallas-Ft. Worth area DISers on this thread interested in a DIS lunchtime meet on November 6? We've got a thread on the DIS Meets board you should take a look at:

November 6th DIS meet in Colleyville!

 

[Spaceship Earthfan]

I work for the State Fair of Michigan...in fact, I'm a Departmental Assistant Coordinator. Those prices posted above seem ridiculously high! We get complaints all the time about our prices, but looking at those numbers, our's really don't seem so bad. Parking is $5 (but a parking pass can be bought in advance for $4) and admission is $9 per adult, $5 for kids (but there are a ton of opportunities for discounts). I'm not too sure what it costs to ride the rides as that's not my area, but I think it's something like $12 or $20 for a wristband to ride all day. We had a program this past fair where if a child read 10 books and had a teacher or librarian sign a form, they would get a free wristband. This was pretty popular. Plus, we had free concerts all throughout the Fair...and there were some decent names there, too.

I never really knew what other State Fairs charged, but wow things are really getting expensive!

 

[pogopossum]

i worked out there for abc on the ut/ou game crew, and dd was out for fair day on friday, so everybody got up early and went out with me. they went off while i worked setting up fo saturday. at lunch we got together and ate at the cotton bowl food court, then went to the train gardens exhibit, which was really neat as mentioned earlier. dd informed me that she had found her first car, fortunately the new hhr starts at $15,900, and in 5 years we should be able to a nice used one for $5000 or less, it could have been worse.

we spent less than $100 on coupons. we limit the kids on how many rides they get to ride, and make them choose between something they want to buy and rides. but after lunch dw could hardly get them to leave the science place and they liked the aquarium. i was trying to figure out how to play hooky and go off with them to do the food and fiber building and grand place and all the usual fair stuff. it's kind of corny, but i just love doing the state fair. got to have a fletcher's corny dog with jack's fries, and a belgian waffle to finish it off.

can anybody tell me why there is never a big name act on main stage the night before the big game? gary allen was there on saturday night and he was pretty good, but cold blue steel on friday night? i don't get it.

i also think that going out the day of the ut/ou game is great, everything really clears out once the fans go in the cotton bowl.