Totally Texas -- Howdy, folks! It’s Big Tex!

I’m glad my daughter and I didn’t wait to visit the State Fair yesterday, when near hurricane-force winds roared through (amazingly, the storm did little damage to the fairgrounds themselves.) No, the weather was beautiful when we visited. Just like today.

Regular admission is $17 for adults, $13 for children under 48 inches tall and for senior ages 60 and over. However, there are numerous discounts. Check www.bigtex.com or search under “State Fair discounts” for bargains like today’s admission coupons for $12 entry from Kiss-FM. I had free tickets, courtesy of my membership at one of Fair Park’s several museums.

The money we saved on tickets went for food instead. Not the new-every-year fried fare. As far as my family’s concerned, the State Fair would come to a screeching halt if we didn’t eat our annual State Fair corny dogs. This year, we opted for a new twist¾ cheese and jalapeno pepper-flavored corny dogs. The cheese and peppers are incorporated into the hot dog before it’s dipped in cornmeal batter and, of course, deep-fried. On a scale of one to ten for spiciness, my daughter rated the hybrid corndogs an eight. I would have said a seven. Warm enough that you need something cold to chase them down is just hot enough.

Since it was a girls’ day out for us (her husband at work, kids still at school) we concentrated on the arts and crafts building. She loved the amazing needlework¾ needlepoint and embroidery delicate enough to make us wonder if the makers had gone blind in the process. Male members of the family, we decided, would home in on the LEGOs and military hobbyists’ work.

I marveled at the gardens and landscaping. The discovery a few years ago of natural springs under Fair Park gave landscapers the ability to keep flowers flourishing without running afoul of city watering restrictions.

We mourned the absence of the Chinese Lantern Festival that graced the Fair the past two years. But the vacant space made space for a new Kids’ BoardWalk. And meanwhile, at the park’s lovely artificial lagoon, we were glad to see the swan boats back in business. And the new Big Tex is settling in nicely, with a fresh shirt for this year’s fair.

Because we were short of time, we drove and parked ($15 for parking in designated “State Fair” lots). When we have more time, we usually take DART, whose Green Line whisks us straight to the fair’s front gate.

Each year when the fair opens, it seems it will last forever. But don’t wait too long. Come October 19, it’s gone for another year.

Totally Texas -- Welcome to 2012, Big Tex!

State Fair of Texas

Dallas Fair Park

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By the time you read this, the official State Fair countdown should read: 00 days, 01 hours (maybe less). And if you want a good view of the opening parade down Main Street at noon today, you want to stake out a site now, if not sooner. Last year, I found hanging out at any of the numerous little lunch cafes along Main Street worked well. This year, I predict the new Main Street Garden park will be prime real estate. Parking? Just take DART. A day pass will get you to both the parade and fair.


My daughter and I are discussing multiple trips to the fair -- there’s just too much to see on in one day. And her set of lively twin boys get the fidgets when she lingers over the craft displays. So she and I may make a ladies day of it before everything closes October 21.

The official Big Tex site lists general admission prices, including the combination DART pass and fair tickets. (Last year we had to remind the clerks about this.) For even more discounts, see http://dallas.about.com/od/festivalsparades/qt/State-Fair-Of-Texas-Discounts-And-Deals/.

Food -- weird, filling, or both, is a given at the fair. To heck with obesity epidemics -- State Fair food runs heavily to the deep-fried. This year’s winners of the Big Tex choice awards are Deep-Fried Jambalaya (which may contain a vegetable or two) and Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll. Taste discreetly, wear comfortable shoes and tell yourself you’ll walk off the calories meandering around Fair Park’s 277 acres, watched over by the fair’s genial giant of a mascot, Big Tex.

You won’t be able to burn off a serving of fried jambalaya on the swan paddle boats, though. This year only, a Chinese Lantern Festival replaces the swans. The festival’s exhibits, lighted at night, include a 330-foot long dragon made of thousands of porcelain plates, in honor of the current year of the dragon. The boys will definitely want to see that -- their favorite animals are anything big and scary!

I also predict they’ll love the Texas Garden Railway, a demonstration of large-gauge
model trains in the Greenhouse on the Midway; the pig races; and the free-flying Birds of the World demonstration, among others.

For directions and more fair events, see www.bigtex.com/.  For a helping of info about  Fair Park’s museums and historical buildings, check out www.fairpark.org/.

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Looking for more to do this weekend? More than a dozen North Texas museums offer free admission Saturday, September 29. See the complete list at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/.

If you’re still hungry, check out the Greek Food Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, at the corner of Alpha and Hillcrest in Dallas. Runs today (opening 4 p.m.) through Sunday, (September 28-30). Food, music and dancing, crafts and more. See www.greekfestivalofdallas.com/.