Has anyone been to the Texas state fair this year?

[girl gone mad]

If so, is it worth going?

We're debating whether or not to go. $13 per ticket plus $9 parking, gas and driving time (we're in Denton), plus extra for the rides and food. It adds up fast.

I've been underwhelmed by the fair in the past and I wonder if there's anything worth seeing and doing this year.

[crispini]

1. Take DART

Buy a $4.50 Premium Day Pass
DART to Cityplace Station
Hop on the State Fair Shuttle and get a coupon good for $2 off admission to the great State Fair of Texas!

http://www.dart.org/statefair.asp?zeon=DARTHomePage

Depending on how many people you have going, you could save on parking. :)

I haven't been yet. I always enjoy the fair, but unless someone I know is dying to go, I'll probably skip it.... buy too many beers and corny dogs & feel ill, mostly. :P

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

2. I went yesterday.

But I got an incredible deal. A free ticket to Music Hall, which includes parking and Fair admission.

But if you've gone the past several years, there's not much new. Unless you're dying to try a fried PBJ-banana sandwich. The thought of it makes my stomach turn, but there was a long line for it.:eyes:

[CoolOnion]

3. They used to have a "canned food" day

I used to go on "canned food" day, when you could bring canned good in lieu of admission (something like 3 cans for a ticket). We would find free street parking on a side street & walk to the fair.

The only thing I really enjoy is the petting zoo, and now that's gone, so I'm not interested. One year, Exxon had a tiger exhibit, back when they were in damage-control mode over wrecking the environment. It was fun watching the tigers play in the fountain.

Don't like the rides, don't like the food...it's fun to walk around outside, but it's not worth spending all that money.

[derby378]

4. What's wrong with corn dogs, fried Oreos, and homemade tamales?

ginbarn and I had 'em all at the State Fair last week. Yum.

The day we went, someone accidentally lost around $25 worth of coupons on the Midway, in plain sight and in the middle of the walkway. I scooped them up and scouted for anyone with a panicked look on their face for a few minutes, but since nobody showed up to claim the coupons, we used them all on a mondo tamale feast and a ride on the pirate ship. (Not necessarily in that order, mind you.)

[CoolOnion]

5. Just the idea makes me queasy!

[derby378]

6. The petting zoo should be back in 2006

We were sorry to see it gone, too. Apparently it was some sort of insurance snafu. But I always fed the ostrich at the State Fair. By hand. While my wife cuddled baby goats and chased after chickens.

[CoolOnion]

10. We had a run-in with that ostrich

I held out my hand full of food, but it clamped down on my wrist instead, and I dropped all the food. Then my husband was trying to show me how it's done, and the ostrich grabbed the whole bag of food out of his hand and shook it. Those pellets went everywhere!

The goats are nicer.

[Lithos]

7. I remember the tigers that year

They were great to watch.

[Zen Democrat]

8. Can't make it this year -- but I'll miss the Fletcher's Corn Dogs.

And the corn on the cob.

[Why Syzygy]

9. I missed it last year

because of a long bout of bronchitis. Was thinking of driving up this year. October is my favorite month in Texas. And I love the fair.

But I went to the website ~ http://www.bigtex.com/ and pretty much lost interest. Since I moved to Austin, it's like a carnival every day! :D

btw .. note to above poster .. Denton doesn't have Dart. Would have to take the Carrollton transit or some such.

[StellaBlue]

11. I went twice already and am going again tomorrow!

And I live 2.5 hours away!

The State Fair ROCKS!

The Fletcher's corny dogs were fabulous. The funnel cake was just right. They have taken away the lemon and lime ferris wheels, though, which really disappointed me. If you go on a day when it isn't busy, the Pirate Ship runs for about three minutes, though! On Texas-OU day, it only lasted like six ups-and-downs. But the shortness was made up for by the crowd on the ride, which yelled, alternating, as each side went up:

TEXAS!

FIGHT!



So my verdict is:

GO! GO! GO!!!

[StellaBlue]

12. Plus

Where else are you going to see a lifesize statue of Elvis made entirely of butter?

[Why Syzygy]

14. That was the day I always went.

Texas/OU .. what great fun. Glad ya'll are having a blast!
Fair Park!

[cunningb]

13. We manned the Air America Radio/ 910 am booth on THUR

It was great and we met so many new fans of Air America !
We gave away tshirt and coozies (?) and bumperstickers!
We also brought the new KXEB van !

Aterwards I went to the music exhibit at the Hall of state and saw a fantastic photo of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez in 1965 !

It was great!
So was the Belgium waffle !