The 2010 State Fair of Texas at Fair Park in Dallas starts with opening day Friday, Sept. 24th and runs until Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010. Fair Park in Dallas, with the infamous 52-foot tall Big Tex, is located at 1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd, Dallas, TX 75210.

The theme for the 24-day 2010 State Fair of Texas is “Super Sized Fun.” The theme is appropriate since we have Big Tex greeting visitors, the tallest Ferris Wheel in North America, the largest new car show in the southwest, and lets not forget the annual Big 12 college football rivalry around in the Red River Shootout between the University of Texas Longhorns (UT) and the University of Oklahoma (OU) Sooners on Saturday, October 2nd.

In addition to the Red River Rivalry and the annual State Fair Classic featuring Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M in a Southwestern Athletic Conference on Saturday, Sept 25th at 6 p.m., the other Big 12 contest pits the Texas Tech Red Raiders against the Baylor Bears on Saturday, October 9th at Cotton Bowl Stadium.

There will also be another high-profile soccer match, following on the heels of last year’s successful doubleheader. The must-see Halftime show is the legendary GSU Tiger Marching Band, “The Granddaddy of All Collegiate Show Bands,” and the mighty “Marching Storm” of Prairie View. Tickets will be sold through the respective universities and your local Ticketmaster outlet locations.

Each year, the Texas State Fair attendance at Fair Park brings in more than three million people to this excellent annual event, making the State Fair of Texas one of the largest annual expositions in North America. The event features amusement rides, livestock shows, an all-new canine show, cooking contests, art competitions, outdoor live entertainment on the main stage, starlight parade, the famous Fletcher’s Corny Dog and some of the strangest fried food concoctions imaginable, and lots more.

Shrek the Musical at the 2010 State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas spotlight will shine on Shrek the Musical during this year’s event, starting on Sept. 28 through Oct. 17. The Broadway hit show will be presented every day (except Mondays) at the Fair Park Music Hall. Shrek the Musical Tickets will include admission to the State Fair on the day of the performance.  Music Hall at Fair Park is celebrating its 85th anniversary on October 10th of this year.

The show time schedule for Shrek the Musical is Tuesday-Friday 8 p.m., with two Saturday and Sunday shows at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Ticket price ranges for Shrek vary, so shop early and buy your tickets before they’re sold out, to get the best seats and price for the money. Tickets for Shrek the Musical may also be purchased through Ticketmaster, at any Ticketmaster outlet or by phone at 214.631.ARTS.

Tickets for Shrek are also available for purchase at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center in Dallas. For more information, visit Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or Dallas Summer Musicals at www.dallassummermusicals.org. Season ticket holders for the Dallas Summer Musical shows should call 214.691.7200 for more information.

State Fair of Texas Main Stage Performances

Chevrolet Main Stage is a festival-type venue sponsored by Chevrolet, with State Fair concerts all week long and headliner performances on weekends. Concert tickets are FREE with State Fair admission.

The list of this year’s main stage performers are still being decided as of this writing, but those already scheduled to appear include Eli Young Band on Saturday October 2; Wade Bowen and the Josh Abbott Band on Saturday October 9; Intocable on Sunday October 10; Allstar Weekend on Monday October 11th (Columbus Day); and Laura Bell Bundy on Saturday October 16.

Be sure to check the official State Fair of Texas website at www.bigtex.com for the complete list of live, headliner performances as they become available.

State Fair of Texas Discount Tickets and Coupons

General Admission: $15
Kids under 48” tall:  $11
Seniors 60 and over: $11
Children 2 and under: Free
Seniors 60 and over: Free every Thursday. (Sept. 30, Oct. 7 & Oct. 14)

While there is no specific coupon policy listed on the State Fair of Texas website, coupons will have a specific season for which they are valid. Coupons for earlier years are not valid the following year or later. Coupons and special discount offers for the State Fair of Texas are often valid for only one specific day, so be sure to read the specific offer or coupon details carefully.

Advance discount tickets to the State Fair of Texas starts on September 1, 2010, including DART combo tickets, general admission and season passes. As the official advance ticket outlet for the State Fair, Kroger stores will have discount tickets in combination with special Fair prices for Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Green Line.

As has been the case in previous years, State Fair sponsors, radio and news stations, movie theatre and fast-food restaurants like McDonalds have offered discount deals for the Fair. Watch for Dr Pepper $3 Tuesdays and Dr Pepper $5 after 5 p.m. discounts, where every Tuesday, Fair patrons bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter the State Fair for just $3, or the $5 after 5 p.m. deal to enter for just $5.00.

Watch for Kroger “Three for $1″ Wednesdays deals, where admission has previously been $1 for each visitor bringing 3 cans of food for local area food banks. Coca-Cola admission discount offers called “Coke $4 Thursdays” has offered patrons entry to the Fair for just four dollars by bringing an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product for a discounted admission fee. McDonalds, Dickies, Cinemark, “Save Me Steve”, radio station KISS-FM and others typically offer a variety of deals and discounts for the State Fair of Texas, so be sure to check their respective websites for specific details.

State Fair of Texas coupon tickets for food, rides and drinks can be purchased at coupon booths throughout the State Fair fairgrounds. Credit cards are accepted and ATMs are available.

State Fair of Texas Parking

Parking is on a first come, first serve basis. Disabled parking spaces are clearly marked and can be located at each lot. If spaces are full, an attendant will direct you to other available parking spaces/lots. Be sure to look for “Official State Fair Parking” signs for self-parking lots, at a cost of $15.00 per space.

Don’t risk getting your car towed! Watch out for unsavory characters trying to rip-off Fair-goers pretending to be a reputable car lot, only to discover your vehicle has been towed upon your return to the unofficial lot. Valet parking is offered at Grand Avenue daily for $30.00, and Saturday/Sunday weekend parking at Haskell/Parry for $30.00.

The State Fair of Texas is a fun, family-oriented annual event, one of the most fun things to do in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Fun and entertainment of all kinds at the Fair means there is something for everyone, for all ages. Keep safety in mind, don’t leave valuables in your car or in plain sight, and if possible, don’t bring a purse.

Pickpockets and thieves look for easy targets, so consider wearing a fanny pack around your waist with your wallet, keys and other valuables inside. Have a safe and wonderful time at this year’s 2010 State Fair of Texas at Fair Park!

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The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas at historic Fair Park ever since 1886 when the fair first began. This year’s State Fair opens on September 26 and runs through October 19, 2008.

Big Tex, a 52 foot tall cowboy has been the famous symbol of the state fair since 1952, and he’s an awesome site to behold as visitors and thrill seekers attend the State Fair of Dallas each year. The State Fair of Texas food is always a big draw for visitors to the fair, with a wide variety of weird fried foods that just might be a “heart attack waiting to happen” for those who consume too much.

This year, the State Fair will introduce an 800-pound unsalted King Tut butter sculpture accompanied by servants and Egyptian relics. The King Tut show opens at the Dallas Museum of Art on Oct. 3 and runs through May 17, 2009. Definitely a Must-See exhibit if there ever was one.

Fair admission is reasonably priced:

• General Admission: $14
• Kids under 48″ tall: $10
• Seniors 60 and over: $10
• Children 2 and under: Free
• Seniors 60 and over: Free every Thursday (Oct. 2, Oct. 9 & Oct. 16)
• Parking is $10.00 per space on official State Fair parking lots. Valet parking is $25.00

State Fair Dallas Texas Hours of Operation:

State Fair of Texas exhibit buildings open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. each Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday (closing at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays).

The State Fair of Texas has released it’s list of award winning food items at the annual Big Tex Choice Awards. Nothing says Texas without fried foods of all kinds and chicken fried steak smothered in gravy, and this year’s fried foods includes such “tasty treats” as:

1. Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich: White bread sandwich with American and cheddar cheeses dipped in egg-and-milk batter, coated with bread crumbs, and fried.
2. Chicken Fried Bacon: Bacon with seasoning, battered, breaded, deep-fried, served with ranch or honey mustard sauce. **Glen Kusack’s chicken fried bacon concoction won this year’s Best Taste Award.
3. Fried Banana Split: Banana and honey peanut butter rolled in balls, battered, and deep-fried, topped with powdered sugar, caramel and chocolate syrups, peanuts, whipped cream, banana split-flavored ice cream bites, and cherry. **Shirley Weiss’ won the Most Creative Award for her banana split concoction.
4. Texas Fried Jelly Bellys. Jelly Bellys rolled in funnel cake batter and fried.
5. Deep Fried S’mores. Marshmallow and chocolate chips sandwiched between two graham crackers, dipped in batter, fried, and dusted in powdered sugar.
6. Fire & Ice. Pineapple ring, battered and deep-fried, topped with banana-flavored whipped cream that’s been frozen in liquid nitrogen so it smokes.
7. Fried Chocolate Truffles. Dark chocolate truffle rolled in cocoa powder, battered, deep-fried, dusted in cinnamon, sugar, and cocoa powder.
8. Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls. Strawberries in chocolate shell, dipped in waffle batter, deep-fried, dusted with powdered sugar, served on a stick.

The annual college football game between Texas and Oklahoma is played at the Cottonbowl in Fair Park and is one of many favorite things to do at the State Fair of Texas 2008.

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