****Welcome Good Morning Texas viewers…Scroll to the bottom and enter to WIN a Family 4-pack of General Admission tickets to the State Fair of Texas (a $72 value)!
Yee-haw! The State Fair of Texas opens this Friday!!! It’s a ton of fun, but it can also be a huge drain on your budget. And if you’re taking your entire crew, you can easily drop nearly $100 before you even walk through the gates!
Watch and read below for some ways to help you save a little cash when you say “Howdy” to Big Tex!
Thrifty Thursdays is new for 2015, and fair food fanatics will love the deep discounts on signature menu items, like the classics, cotton candy and funnel cakes, and other popular items like Frito pie, tornado taters, Fletcher’s Bird Dog and many more.
Here’s just an example of the discounts you’ll see (keep in mind, coupons are $.50 each):
Burger Sliders & Mini Fries
Regularly: 26 Coupons
Special Price: 10 Coupons
Located at N-18 stand
Fried Peanut Butter & Jelly
Regularly: 12 Coupons
Special Price: 4 Coupons
Located at FW-20 and N-12 stands
Bowl of Meatballs
Regularly: 16 Coupons
Special Price: 6 Coupons
Located at TB-2 stand
Ice Cold Root Beer
Regularly: 6 Coupons
Special Price: 2 Coupons
Located at G-24 and M-34 stands
Go HERE for a complete list of discounted items.
Sign up to become a Big Tex Insider and you’ll receive ticket discounts, merchandise promotions, and a special message from the big guy on your birthday!
There are over 10 completely FREE kid activities that you don’t want to miss. From the ever-popular Pee Wee Stampede, to the Kids Boardwalk, where new additions for 2015 include an interactive magic show and a comical cowboy puppet, joining a list of activities that range from face painting to Big Tex temporary tattoos, along with various arts and crafts that allow kiddos to show off their creative skills.
Bring a Cooler! Yes, you should splurge on a turkey leg and a few fried treats, but pack your own snacks to save a lot of money (and calories, too!). You’re allowed to bring in any type of food and non-alcoholic beverages in plastic containers.
Each day, the State Fair offers lots of FREE shows, educational exhibits and activities for the whole family. Go here and select the day you’re going, then plan your activities. New this year, “Lone Star Horse Spectacular” is a this lively production where visitors get the chance to celebrate the rich history of our great state as each of its six flags as they are paraded through the arena. Themed to traditional Texas music, the event features professional riders on horseback, performing in coordination with the historical narrative. The Fair invites you to join Texas native Barry Corbin as he narrates the show, telling the spectacular story of the great Lone Star State!
Monday, Oct. 12th is FAIR DAY for area students. All school-aged kids will receive FREE admission tickets from their schools. These are only valid for students. Sorry, grown-ups, you’ll have to buy your own ticket!
The fairgrounds are over 400 acres! Little legs will be zapped in no time, so don’t forget a stroller or wagon. Plus, you’ll have a place to store all your goodies. Wagons and strollers are available to rent for $10-$15, but there are limited quantities and you’re encouraged to reserve one here.
Here are my boys over TEN years ago (sniff, sniff). There’s no way I would’ve ever taken on the massive fair without a stroller!
Be sure to check out the Food and Fiber building where you’ll find FREE samples of smoothies, pickles, ice cream, and Davis Mountain Nut Company.
Here’s the list of all deals and discounts available for admission tickets:
Dasani – Opening Day, Sept. 25th
Bring an unopened 20 oz. bottle of Dasani water (or any Coca-Cola product) for donation to the North Texas Food Bank and get a coupon for HALF PRICE admission ($9 for adults, $7 for kids) on opening day.
Dickies – With any $75 purchase at the Ft. Worth, TX retail location, customers receive (2) FREE admission tickets. While supplies last, limited to one offer per transaction. The passes do not include parking, and customers receive the passes at the time of purchase. Offer not valid online.
Kroger – Advanced General Admission / Season Passes
General Admission tickets are $16.50. A Season Pass is $34.95. They may be purchased at the check-out counter or at the service desk. The season pass includes a one-day companion ticket (good Monday-Friday).
DART GoPass – Any Day Discount
Buy discounted tickets to the State Fair of Texas right from your DART GoPass app. Adult tickets are $16 and child/senior tickets are $12. You can also buy a DART pass to the Fair and save $15 on parking {gulp}! Both your DART pass and your Fair tickets will be right there on your phone and scanned at the gates. Go here for more info.
Plus, with the DART GoPass, you’ll have a special entrance and can by-pass the long line of people waiting to purchase their tickets and go through the gate!
McDonald’s – Any Day Discount
McDonald’s is offering $5 off general admission tickets or HALF OFF a children’s tickets (with purchase of general admission) any day of the Fair. Look for the coupon on tray liner or bag stuffer.
Can Food Drive – Any Wednesday
Bring 4 cans of food for donation to the North Texas Food Bank any Wednesday of the Fair and receive a coupon for a $4 admission ticket. Enjoy the Fair for just $4 and help stock the North Texas Food Bank.
Senior Day – Any Thursday
Senior Citizens 60 years and older get in to the State Fair FREE each Thursday.
Dr Pepper $5 – Any Tuesday
Bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $5. Most rides (excluding the Thrillway and the Texas Star) are 6 coupons on Tuesday, too!
Dr Pepper $8 after 5 – Any day after 5 p.m.
Bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $8 after 5 p.m.
Coca-Cola – Coke $6 Thursday
Bring an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product and enter the Fair for $6 admission.
KISS-FM Fridays – Any Friday
Download and print the coupon from the KISS-FM website to get $5 off admission..making it $13! Discount is off of general admission only – when purchased at a State Fair of Texas admission gate with coupon.
My favorite treat is anything fried! I LOVE fried twinkies 😀
A few years ago we had the fried red velvet cupcake and it was amazing!
Desperados!
Fletcher’s corny dog – plus all of the new fried foods!
Anything fried!:)
I love funnel cakes!
Fletchers..all the way!
A pregnant lady dream come true during this season…fried coke or turkey legs!
Fletchers Corny Dogs!
I loooooove Fletcher’s Corny Dogs of course! Not very original choice I realize, but just can’t do the Fair without doing Fletchers!
Fried frito pie, a once-a-year treat!
Th cinnamon rolls covered with pecans in the food pavilion!!
TURKEY LEGS AND FRIED ICE CREAM!!!!!!
We went for the first time last year and fell in love with the jambalaya balls. Yum!
Corny Dog!!!
Thursday is an awesome deal for me! State Fair here I come!!!
Love the fried foods!!!
Funnel Cake
Our favorite is the Fletcher’s corny dog!
fried oreos
I love the Belgian Waffles and the Fletcher’s Corny Dogs!
My favorite fair food is a Fletcher’s corny dog!
just moved to Texas so I’ve never been…can’t wait to experience the State Fair for the first time..
I loved the Fried Thanksgiving Meal last year!
Cannot wait to try the new foods this year ! Always a treat !
I love the Corny Dogs!
Fried King Ranch Casserole!
Never been to the fair !!! Would love to try the corn dogs or friedanything
Funnel cakes
All time favorite is a turkey leg!
OF COURSE FUNNEL CAKES!!
I love to try the new fun things each year. I also like the root beer and agua fresca!
Funnel cakes with chocolate syrup
Funnel cake for sure!
I love the corn dogs and funnel cakes!!
Fried Snickers!
I love trying whatever is “new” for the year!
My favorite classic State Fair treat is the funnel cake with extra powdered sugar!
Anything that is food! 🙂
Fletcher’s Corny Dogs…My favorite for over 40 years!!! ?
Funnel Cakes – YUM!
I LOVE the fried desserts, especially fried Oreos!!
I love Fair foods! My favorite is anything fried. This year I’d love to try the corny corn dog and maybe the bacon margarita.
Turkey leg!
Fletcher’s Original Corndog and Root Beer from the Barrel, oh yeah cotton candy and funnel cakes are a must too!
Funnel Cake
Turkey legs and fresh made cotton candy are my favorites at any fair?
Fried Oreos-YUM!
Cheese curds with ranch but they were hard to find 2 years ago when we went.
Frio chili pie and corn dogs
Ooh and funnel cake
I always try the new fried stuff too
I like funnel cakes, can’t wait to try friend peanut butter and jelly
Turkey legs and Funnel cake!!
Love funnel care and smoke turkey
Corny Dogs!
Corny Dogs!
Desperado Tacos!!!
Fun
a fried dessert!
Funnel cake for sure!!
Corny dogs and anything fried with bacon
Fletchers Corn dog for sure!
Hello there, entering a contest here for the first time ! Hoping to win 🙂 thank you! would love to try any and all FRied Food 🙂
Fried Oreos are my favorite!
Corn Dogs!!!
Fried cheesecake
funnel cakes
Corn dogs of course but I do wish I had tried the fried coke a couple of years ago.
We LOVE BIG TEX!!!!
Fried Green Tomatoes!
everything!!!!