By Tricia White | Managing Editor
Fried food! Fabulous rides! Festivities! Fun! The State Fair of Texas® kicks off on Friday, Sept. 28. And this year, you’ll find all your favorites, plus some new additions you won’t want to miss.
Celebrating Texas Innovation is not only the fair’s 2018 theme – it’s also a brand-new exhibit in the Hall of State. Get a first-hand look at the greatest Texas-grown inventions in food, medicine, agriculture, art, industry and science.
Also, in the Hall of State, Dallas in the Time of MLK focuses on King’s 1963 speech in Fair Park and his 1966 speech at Southern Methodist University. Additionally, the exhibit explores the Dallas civil rights leaders who helped lead Dallas away from segregation.
Animals and agriculture are a huge part of the State Fair, and this year, the tradition continues with some new twists. Home on the Range, located in the Coliseum, joins together a revamped Little Hands on the Farm – featuring farm-to-market activities for kids – and the Children’s Health Barnyard petting zoo.
You also can experience the miracle of life at the Livestock Birthing Barn, located near the Cotton Bowl Stadium and the Creative Arts Building. Featuring the incubation and birthing process of various livestock animals, this new exhibit highlights the breeding of livestock and its importance in our everyday lives.
And when it comes to stunts, the Amazing Archery Show at the Amphitheater is a new must-see. Each day from Oct. 8-21, Frank Addington, Jr. showcases his talents, which include several one-of-a-kind shots.
The “amazing human tricks” don’t stop there: The Team BIG AIR! Basketball Slam Dunk Show takes basketball to new heights, with energetic performances featuring high-flying hoop skills and acrobatics at Chevrolet Park Plaza.
Who goes to the fair without hitting the Midway? This year, you’ve got three more reasons to love it. The Y-Factor is an adrenaline junkie’s dream – it’s got two giant Y-shaped arms with spinning gondolas on each end. The Airmaxx will swing you around 360 degrees at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour. And the Haunted Castle is a spooky, but still family-friendly, experience.
As usual, DART is the best way to get to the State Fair. The Green Line drops you off right at Fair Park’s main entrance.
You can even buy your fair tickets and transit passes in one convenient place – DART’s GoPass® app. You’ll save $2 on your State Fair entrance ticket if you purchase it through GoPass, which is free on Google Play and the App Store.
DART has two Green Line stations serving the fair – Fair Park Station, located at the Main Gate, and MLK, Jr. Station, located two blocks from Gate 6. Level boarding makes it easy for anything with wheels to roll right on. You can park for free at many DART rail stations and transit centers. Visit DART.org/parking to find the nearest one.
If you park at a station or transit center that’s not on the Green Line, there are numerous transfer points for you to switch trains. And if you’re riding the Trinity Railway Express (TRE) or DCTA’s A-train, you’re in luck there, too – both connect directly to the Green Line.
For more DARTable fun, visit DART.org/DARTable.
For more details or to purchase advance tickets to the State Fair of Texas, visit www.bigtex.com.
