State Fair of Texas

Looking Back on When Martin Luther King Jr. Came to Dallas

Looking Back on When Martin Luther King Jr. Came to Dallas

Top Mean Reader Emails for 2023

Top Mean Reader Emails for 2023

Should I Bring a Gun to the State Fair of Texas?

By Simone Carter
Oct 19, 2023

Three people were injured during a shooting at the state fair in Dallas on Saturday. A suspect is behind bars, but gun control advocates say there's more work to be done.
Updated: A List of More Than 200 Fried Foods at the State Fair

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Oct 18, 2023

The fair will close shop in just five days. We've updated our list of (almost) every fried food with some budget-friendly options, all 10 coupons or less.
State Fair of Texas Delays Sunday Opening to 2 p.m. Following Saturday's Shooting

By Kelly Dearmore
Oct 15, 2023

The State Fair of Texas will reopen on Sunday at 2 p.m. following a shooting Saturday night that injured 3 people.
The State Fair Responds to a Viral Misspelling By Getting in on the Joke

By Eva Raggio
Oct 5, 2023

The State Fair has a sense of humor bigger than Big Tex.
$Mitch Glieber is the president of the State Fair of Texas.$

The Man Behind Big Tex: Mitch Glieber Runs a Giant Piece of Texas History

By Richie Whitt
Sep 27, 2023

Behind every giant state fair mascot, there's an even taller, great man. But it hasn't always been fun rides and fried foods for Mitch Glieber.
State Fair Hacks for Non-Fair People

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Sep 20, 2023

We've put together a guide for those who have yet to conquer the fair. It includes best classic foods to eat, new food to try, award-winners and hidden gems. Plus, some tips for doing it all well.
The Observer's Must-Have Classics: State Fair Foods Every Fairgoer Must Try

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Sep 20, 2023

The food options at the fair feel overwhelming. Just be sure to try at least one of these classic items.
The Observer's Guide to the Big Tex Choice Awards at the State Fair

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Sep 20, 2023

Each year three new fried foods get anointed as best in show. Here are the Observer picks for the best of the Big Tex Choice Award winners.
The Observer's Guide to the Best New Foods at the Fair

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Sep 20, 2023

Every year the fair introduces new foods and here are a few we're jazzed to try.
The Observer's Picks for Hidden Gems at the State Fair of Texas

By Leslie Chatman
Sep 20, 2023

The fried food options may seem as daunting as the lines, but here are some under-the-radar foods to seek out at the fair and where to find them.
Funnel Cake Shots. Why Not? Fernie's Funnel Cake Cocktail is a Boozy State Fair Treat

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Sep 13, 2023

It's funnel cake time. Bottoms up!
This Year's State Fair Lineup Includes CeeLo Green, Lil John and Bowling For Soup

By Danny Gallagher
Sep 13, 2023

If you find yourself struggling to avoid the calorie-laden foods at this year's State Fair of Texas, check out some of the live performances.
Fried Food Glory: The 2023 Big Tex Choice Award Winners

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Aug 28, 2023

Each year before the State Fair of Texas opens, judges pick the three Big Tex Choice Award winners. So, when you wonder what you should eat at the fair, this is a great place to start.
The State Fair Has a New Policy This Year for Minors After 5 p.m.

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Aug 16, 2023

After a chaotic event at the State Fair of Texas last year, a new policy will require a parent or guardian to chaperone all fairgoers 17 years or younger after 5 p.m.
Let's Get Fried! Top 10 Big Tex Choice Awards Announced

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Aug 9, 2023

Early this morning, the 2023 Big Tex Choice Awards finalists were announced. Deep-fried pho, cheesy crab tater bites, bourbon banana caramel sopapillas and a fried cherry pie are all on the menu.
36 State Fair Fried Food Semi-Finalists Named; Here Are the 10 Most Intriguing

By Nick Reynolds
Jul 10, 2023

Deep-fried Vietnamese coffee, turkey ribs, Creole etouffee beignets and deep-fried pho are some of the foods we're already excited about at the State Fair.
State Fair of Texas by the Numbers: Attendance Record Broken

By Jack Moraglia
Oct 27, 2022

The State Fair of Texas has been a Dallas community staple for more than 130 years. This year surpassed all others as the State Fair broke its attendance record with 2,547,289 fairgoers across its 24-day run.
The Essential Tasting Guide to the State Fair of Texas

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Sep 30, 2022

Each year Big Tex and his cronies work hard to make sure we ingest as many calories as possible while visiting the State Fair of Texas. Here's a guide we put together to make their hard work pay off, and to ensure your visit is productively indulgent.
Honey Bun Dreams: A South Dallas Family Takes the Fair's Top Prize

By Lauren Drewes Daniels
Sep 28, 2022

“Is that it?” That was Nicole Sternes’ first question when her husband told her earlier this year of his idea for an entry in the Big Tex Choice Awards at the State Fair of Texas ...
Big Tex: 70 years of Questionable Fashion Choices

By Sarah Schumacher
Sep 27, 2022

Over the many years that Big Tex has been a Texas institution, he has undergone many transformations. He changes his outfit every year. Here's a look at the history of his fashion choices, from his past as Santa to the Big Tex we know and love today.

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