Dallas, September 29, 2025
News Summary
The State Fair of Texas is set to open its 138th anniversary celebration, offering diverse entertainment, food, and educational attractions under the theme ‘Texas Shines Bright.’ The fair features over 100 performances, traditional Texas food, and community initiatives while ensuring a family-friendly environment. Visitors can enjoy carnival rides, workshops, and local talent showcases, all while acknowledging the fair’s history and its efforts to improve community relations. The event in Dallas runs for nearly a month, aiming to connect attendees with Texas heritage.
Dallas — The State Fair of Texas opens its 138th anniversary celebration in 2025, running from September 26 to October 19, 2025, offering a broad program of entertainment, food and educational attractions under the theme “Texas Shines Bright.” The fair centers on Texas cultural heritage, local agriculture and community engagement while maintaining a family-friendly environment and daily operations with varying hours to accommodate different visitor schedules.
Lead details and key offerings
The event is anchored by the iconic figure Big Tex, who greets fairgoers and marks the tradition that draws millions of visitors. The fair features over 100 live performances showcasing a variety of genres suitable for all ages, alongside dance, competitions, and local talent showcases. Food remains a central attraction, with a rich food scene known for creativity, including the Big Tex Choice Awards to promote innovative dishes. Offerings span classic fair food like corny dogs and funnel cakes to regional specialties such as barbecue and Tex-Mex, plus daring and health-conscious options.
Entertainment, attractions and visitor experience
Visitors can expect a diverse program of attractions that include educational exhibits, carnival rides, petting zoos, game booths, and workshops. The fair is designed to appeal to couples, families, and groups of friends and to encourage repeat visits throughout its operating period. Organizers have structured the schedule and venue to support a family-friendly atmosphere and accommodate a range of visitor schedules through daily but varying hours.
Performances and competitions
More than 100 live acts are listed across the fair calendar, covering multiple musical genres and age-appropriate programming. Competitions and local talent showcases are intended to highlight both established and emerging performers and to provide continuous entertainment throughout the event.
Food and culinary highlights
The culinary program emphasizes creativity and variety. In addition to classic fair staples, the fair promotes innovative dishes through the Big Tex Choice Awards. Regional Texas cuisine is well represented, with barbecue and Tex-Mex among the featured specialties. Food options also include health-conscious choices alongside more daring, novelty items typical of large fairs.
Community efforts and historical context
The fair acknowledges a complicated relationship with the surrounding Fair Park community, which has faced issues of segregation and displacement. Efforts to improve community relations include investments in scholarships, support for local farms, and seasonal job opportunities for residents. A nonprofit, Fair Park First, initiated plans for a 10-acre community park intended to address past injustices, though funding challenges have delayed progress.
In addition to park planning, the fair has created programs to support the local community through educational and agricultural initiatives. The Big Tex Urban Farms have been established to produce food for local food pantries and to provide educational programs about hydroponics for local children. Partnerships with local nonprofits help support community feeding programs and after-school initiatives using produce donations from the fair.
Safety, access and practical information
To enhance security, the fair has implemented a clear bag policy for enhanced security measures. The fair is open daily with hours that vary; visitors should plan visits according to the published daily schedule. The design of the event aims to create a welcoming atmosphere for a broad audience while supporting repeat attendance over the event’s duration.
Outlook and purpose
The State Fair frames its 2025 run under the theme “Texas Shines Bright,” positioning the event as a celebration of the state’s cultural, agricultural and artistic legacy. Organizers present the fair as a continuation of a long-standing tradition intended to showcase local talent, food innovation and community-based initiatives that connect visitors with Texas heritage.
FAQ
Q: What anniversary is the fair marking in 2025?
A: The State Fair of Texas celebrates its 138th anniversary in 2025.
Q: When and where does the event take place?
A: The event takes place in Dallas, running from September 26 to October 19, 2025.
Q: What is the theme for this year’s fair?
A: The theme for this year’s fair is “Texas Shines Bright.”
Q: How many performances are featured?
A: The fair features over 100 live performances showcasing a variety of genres suitable for all ages.
Q: What food programming and awards are part of the fair?
A: The fair offers a rich food scene known for creativity, including the Big Tex Choice Awards to promote innovative dishes.
Q: What is the fair’s history with the Fair Park community?
A: The fair has a complicated history with the surrounding Fair Park community, which has faced issues of segregation and displacement.
Q: What plans exist to address past injustices in Fair Park?
A: A nonprofit, Fair Park First, initiated plans for a 10-acre community park to address past injustices, though funding challenges have delayed progress.
Q: What agricultural and educational initiatives are part of the fair?
A: The Big Tex Urban Farms have been established to produce food for local food pantries and to provide educational programs about hydroponics for local children.
Q: What security measures have been implemented?
A: The fair has implemented a clear bag policy for enhanced security measures.
Q: What broader purpose does the fair serve?
A: The State Fair of Texas seeks to embody the spirit of Texas, showcasing its cultural, agricultural, and artistic legacy.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Anniversary | The State Fair of Texas celebrates its 138th anniversary in 2025. |
| Dates and location | The event takes place in Dallas, running from September 26 to October 19, 2025. |
| Theme | “Texas Shines Bright.” |
| Iconic figure | Iconic figure Big Tex greets fairgoers at the event. |
| Performances | The fair features over 100 live performances showcasing a variety of genres suitable for all ages. |
| Food | The fair offers a rich food scene known for creativity, including the Big Tex Choice Awards to promote innovative dishes; offerings include classic fair food and regional specialties such as barbecue and Tex-Mex. |
| Attractions | Educational exhibits, carnival rides, petting zoos, game booths, and workshops. |
| Community initiatives | Programs include scholarships, support for local farms, seasonal job opportunities, and partnerships with nonprofits; the Big Tex Urban Farms produce food for local food pantries and provide educational programs about hydroponics for local children. |
| Community park plan | A nonprofit, Fair Park First, initiated plans for a 10-acre community park to address past injustices, though funding challenges have delayed progress. |
| Security | The fair has implemented a clear bag policy for enhanced security measures. |
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Additional Resources
- Dallas News: State Fair Makes Reparations
- Fox 4 News: What’s New at the State Fair 2025
- Dallas News: Best Food and Drink Deals at State Fair 2025
- WFAA: State Fair of Texas Discounts and Policies
- Dallas News: State Fair 2025 Hours and Ticket Prices
- Wikipedia: State Fair of Texas
- Google Search: State Fair of Texas
- Google Scholar: State Fair of Texas
- Encyclopedia Britannica: State Fair of Texas
- Google News: State Fair of Texas
Author: STAFF HERE DALLAS WRITER
DALLAS STAFF WRITER The DALLAS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDallas.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Dallas, Dallas County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the State Fair of Texas, Deep Ellum Arts Festival, and Dallas International Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Dallas Regional Chamber and United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, plus leading businesses in telecommunications, aviation, and semiconductors that power the local economy such as AT&T, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREHouston.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
