State Fair of Texas | |
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The State Fair of Texas |
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Date(s) | Begins last Friday of September and last 24 days |
Location(s) | Dallas, Texas |
Years active | 1886- Present |
Attendance | 2,618,500* (2010 *MCW estimate) |
Genre | State fair |
Website | State Fair of Texas official website |
The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas (USA). Its season usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. It is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2012 State Fair will run from September 28th through October 21st. Big Tex, a 52 ft (16 m) tall cowboy, has been its symbol since his introduction in 1952; in 1953, Big Tex's jaw was hinged, so that he appears to "speak" the announcements that promote fair events.[1]
The State Fair of Texas is the largest state fair in the United States by annual attendance,[2] with 2,618,500 attendees in 2010. However, the Minnesota State Fair has a higher average daily attendance. It no longer tracks attendance by ticket sales — the numbers always underestimated attendance due to the practice of free entry for local schoolchildren and senior citizens on certain days — the fair's past estimates by various methods consistently suggested more than 3 million people visit the fair annually.[3] Its 212-foot (65 m) Texas Star Ferris wheel has been the largest in North America since it debuted in October 1985, just months before the Texas Sesquicentennial.[4][5] As of 2003, the fair's marketing director estimated that it was bringing about US$350 million dollars into the Dallas economy.
Traditionally, one of the centerpieces of the fair has been the annual college football game between Oklahoma and Texas, nicknamed the Red River Shootout (historically known as the "Texas-OU Game") and played in the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park. Also, the State Fair Classic, featuring Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University, is played at the Cotton Bowl during the fair. In 2010, Baylor and Texas Tech played their game during the fair for the first time.
The State Fair of Texas is the only fair in the country to include a full blown auto show, dating back to 1904.[5] It includes over 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) of new model vehicles, two buildings, a Truck Zone and a Test Drive Track. It has been the site for several international launches including the 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and the 2008 Ford Explorer SportTrac.
In recent years the fair has emphasized its reputation as an event featuring unique, albeit high-fat foods. It has been known for years for Fletcher's brand corny dogs. Recent years have seen the introduction of new unusual deep-fried items, including deep-fried Oreos, deep-fried Twinkies, deep-fried s'mores, deep-fried pork ribs, fried cheesecake; deep-fried butter, deep-fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwiches, and most recently a batter-based fried Coke. New foods in 2008 included chicken fried bacon and fried banana splits. The State Fair chose "Ignite Your Senses!" as the 2008 theme. In 2010, Amateur chef Mark Zable introduced deep-fried beer,[6] which won "Most Creative", while Texas Fried Frito Pie won "Best Taste".[7]
Most local schools and some businesses give their students/employees a day off during the fair so that everyone may enjoy the festivities together. This is an excused absence by participating schools and businesses. The date most companies and schools choose for this day is usually the second Monday in October.
DART's Fair Park Station and MLK Jr. Station opened in 2009 to serve Fair Park and the State Fair. In addition to regular service on the Green Line, the Red Line and Blue Line also run "special event" trains to Fair Park Station for major fair events.[8]
Contents |
Timeline
- The State Fair of Texas opened its gates for the first time on October 26, 1886. Approximately 14,000 people attend the opening day.
- On November 7, 1886, the fair closes and attracted over 100,000 people for the very first year.
- In 1913, the fair introduces the first Automobile building which was filled with 175 vehicles for fairgoers to see.
- The fair was canceled in 1918 due to the US Army taking control of Fair Park to establish an aviation boot camp known as Camp Dick.
- In 1930, construction of Fair Park Stadium (now known as the Cotton Bowl) begins.
- In 1932, TX-OU play their Red River Rivalry for the first time at Fair Park Stadium.
- In 1937, the first Cotton Bowl Classic is played in Fair Park.
- Big Tex makes his first appearance in 1952.
- In 1956 the Trailblazer monorail began operation at Fair Park from 1956 to 1964. It was the first commercially operated monorail system in the United States
- Elvis Presley performs in the Cotton Bowl during the fair in 1956.
- The 1959 State Fair was opened by Vice President Richard Nixon who cut the ribbon to do so.
- In 1962, The Dallas Texans (AFL) and the Dallas Cowboys(NFL) play their first season in the Cotton Bowl.
- Belgian waffles are introduced at the fair.
- In 1964 the monorail closed and was replaced by the Swiss Sky Ride, a 64 car aerial ride that traveled over a 3,800 foot path (the longest ever built).
- In 1979, a tragic Sky Ride accident occurred during the last day of the fair, prompting the removal of the attraction.
- In 1983, an eighteen-year-old boy was killed and several bystanders were injured when a gondola fell off the Enterprise (ride).
- In 1985 the Texas Star opens as the largest ferris wheel in North America.
- In 1989, The Comet Roller Coaster, a Fair Park landmark since 1947, is torn down.
- Big Tex receives a new look in 1999.
- Following the 2001 September 11 attacks, Dallas police and State Fair officials announce the implementation of new security measures during the annual event.
- In 2005, the Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich is introduced to the fair.
- In 2007 the Texas Skyway aerial ride opens in Fair Park.
- In 2010, the 8000 ft Greenhouse on the Midway is built to house 1000 hanging baskets, beehives, and Farmer Mike the Pumpkin Carver.
- Fairgoers spent more than $37 million in 2010 which broke the fair's record.
- In 2012 the State Fair will open up a brand new attraction which will be a 500 feet observation tower. It will be called "Top of Texas Tower"
See also
Notes
- ^ Steven Butler. Fair Park Timeline, part 4: The Post-Exposition Years (1938-1984)
- ^ http://www.carnivalwarehouse.com/lists/2010list.pdf
- ^ Pam Wagner."BigTex.com: Texas State Fair ropes in visitors, revenues," Fiscal Notes, September 2003 (Texas State Comptroller's Office). Retrieved August 19, 2007.
- ^ Norman Anderson. Ferris wheels: an illustrated history, Popular Press, 1992, page 138-40.
- ^ a b "What makes us unique," BigTex.com. Retrieved 2008-09-24.
- ^ http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/09/dont-worry-deep-fried-beer-is-on-its-way/
- ^ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/090610dnmetfried.c8e438ce.html
- ^ http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/092309dnmetfairsafety.1a61a692d.html
External links
- The State Fair of Texas
- State Fair of Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
- Local guide to State Fair of Texas events
- Photos submitted by Fairgoers
- The Award Winning Flower Bed of the State Fair
- Giant Greenhouse Breathes New Life Into the Fair