Dallas, September 26, 2025
News Summary
The State Fair of Texas is set to revitalize Dallas with an exciting lineup of concerts, agricultural exhibits, and family-friendly activities. Running from September 26 to October 19, attendees can expect performances from popular artists like TLC and Brian McKnight, along with culinary innovations and community engagement. With a focus on visitor experience and a history dating back to 1887, the Fair promises to delight both longtime fans and new visitors.
Dallas
The State Fair of Texas is set to take place in Dallas from September 26 to October 19, 2025. The event will include a broad program of concerts, exhibitions, food innovations and family activities designed to draw both longtime attendees and new visitors. The Fair’s schedule and lineup emphasize large-scale performances alongside agricultural and community exhibits that reflect regional traditions.
What to know first (lead)
The State Fair’s 2025 run will present multiple headline concerts and family-friendly programming. The 2025 State Fair boasts a variety of concerts and performances, with big names scheduled, such as TLC, Brian McKnight, and Hoobastank. In addition to musical acts, new attractions at the Fair this year include unique food options and various family-friendly activities. Organizers are framing the event around guest experience, with staging and services intended to support large crowds and varied daily schedules.
Practical details and tips
The Fair focuses on visitor experience with numerous performances, agricultural exhibits, and culinary innovations. For prospective visitors, planning ahead for ticket purchases, transportation, and daily schedules can enhance the Fair experience for new visitors, as outlined in fair guides and tips. Attendees are advised to review daily schedules for exhibitions and performances, consider advance ticketing where available, and plan transportation and arrival times for peak days and headline concerts.
Supporting details: programming and visitor offerings
Beyond headline entertainment, the Fair will feature agricultural exhibits, demonstrative programming, and food innovation zones aimed at families and enthusiasts. Vendors and exhibit organizers typically rotate offerings year to year; this edition highlights culinary experimentation and expanded family programming alongside traditional competitive exhibits.
Historical context and local participation
The Fair first commenced in 1887, making it a long-standing tradition. Local counties and towns have long used the event to display agricultural production, crafts and livestock. Many residents of Fannin County have historically attended the Fair each year, enjoying its festivities. In addition to attendance, Fannin County residents have participated in the Fair since the early years, with special train rates offered for Fair visitors from Bonham and Honey Grove.
Rail service historically supported day-tripper attendance from nearby towns. In 1910, the Santa Fe train provided a morning schedule for fairgoers leaving Honey Grove at 6:50 a.m. and returning from Dallas at 7 p.m. Records show attendance from small towns could be substantial; on one Sunday in October 1910, about 350 people from Honey Grove attended the Fair via train. In 1911 local reporting noted heightened local excitement about the event, referring to it as a major Texas holiday.
Cost and accessibility in earlier decades were described as modest: Fair attendees could enjoy a variety of activities and sights for a modest budget (around $5-6) including entrance, food, and entertainment. Community members from Fannin County not only attended but also entered exhibits. Fannin County residents not only attended but exhibited at the Fair; Miss Lula Gilmer of Honey Grove won first prize for her embroidered table linens in 1910.
Agricultural promotion was a recurring theme. Exhibits from Fannin County included agricultural displays, and in 1912 there was a movement to showcase corn, cotton, and milo. Mechanization and automotive displays grew in prominence over time; the automobile exhibits have always been a major attraction, with a report in 1920 mentioning concerns that the Automobile Building might be too small for the cars displayed.
Competitive entries from Fannin County included livestock and poultry as well as home demonstration projects and youth clubs. In 1928, a herd of cattle from Fannin County won third place at the Fair, and T.J. Humphrey sent 14 chickens for competition, having won prizes in previous years. Local organizations and clubs achieved consistent recognition: the Fannin County Home Demonstration and 4-H club members achieved multiple awards, leading all others in prize wins for three consecutive years starting in 1932.
Competitive success continued into the 1930s. At the Fair in 1933, Fannin County Home Demonstration Clubs secured 9 blue ribbons and other placements among 120 counties. In 1934, ladies from Trenton won first place with a quilt and continued to bring home various other prizes. County exhibit presentations were structured and informative; the Fannin County exhibit in 1938 was a substantial display featuring a soil type map, images of local towns, and the primary agricultural industries like cotton, swine, and poultry.
After World War II, the Fair resumed larger public programming. After the war years, the Fair in 1948 returned with much excitement, including performances from notable entertainers like Jimmy Durante. The continuity of entertainment, agriculture and community exhibits has sustained the event’s role in regional culture for more than a century.
Summary
The State Fair’s 2025 edition combines contemporary entertainment and culinary novelty with longstanding agricultural and community exhibits. The event’s history shows deep local participation from Fannin County and other communities, supported historically by regional transportation and competitive entries that reflected local industry and craft. Visitors who prepare in advance for tickets, transportation and daily schedules can more easily take advantage of performances, exhibits and family offerings.
FAQ
When will the State Fair of Texas take place in 2025?
The State Fair of Texas is set to take place in Dallas from September 26 to October 19, 2025.
Have Fannin County residents historically attended the Fair?
Many residents of Fannin County have historically attended the Fair each year, enjoying its festivities.
When did the Fair first begin?
The Fair first commenced in 1887, making it a long-standing tradition.
Did Fannin County participate in early Fair activities?
Fannin County residents have participated in the Fair since the early years, with special train rates offered for Fair visitors from Bonham and Honey Grove.
Was there a train schedule for fairgoers in 1910?
In 1910, the Santa Fe train provided a morning schedule for fairgoers leaving Honey Grove at 6:50 a.m. and returning from Dallas at 7 p.m.
How many people from Honey Grove attended on a Sunday in October 1910?
On one Sunday in October 1910, about 350 people from Honey Grove attended the Fair via train.
How affordable was attendance in earlier years?
Fair attendees could enjoy a variety of activities and sights for a modest budget (around $5-6) including entrance, food, and entertainment.
Did Fannin County residents win prizes at the Fair?
Fannin County residents not only attended but exhibited at the Fair; Miss Lula Gilmer of Honey Grove won first prize for her embroidered table linens in 1910.
What agricultural exhibits did Fannin County promote?
Exhibits from Fannin County included agricultural displays, and in 1912 there was a movement to showcase corn, cotton, and milo.
Have automobile exhibits been significant?
The automobile exhibits have always been a major attraction, with a report in 1920 mentioning concerns that the Automobile Building might be too small for the cars displayed.
What successes did Fannin County have in 1928 and the early 1930s?
In 1928, a herd of cattle from Fannin County won third place at the Fair, and T.J. Humphrey sent 14 chickens for competition, having won prizes in previous years.
How did local clubs perform in the 1930s?
The Fannin County Home Demonstration and 4-H club members achieved multiple awards, leading all others in prize wins for three consecutive years starting in 1932.
What were the 1933 results for Fannin County clubs?
At the Fair in 1933, Fannin County Home Demonstration Clubs secured 9 blue ribbons and other placements among 120 counties.
Did Trenton residents win prizes?
In 1934, ladies from Trenton won first place with a quilt and continued to bring home various other prizes.
What did the 1938 Fannin County exhibit include?
The Fannin County exhibit in 1938 was a substantial display featuring a soil type map, images of local towns, and the primary agricultural industries like cotton, swine, and poultry.
How did the Fair resume after WWII?
After the war years, the Fair in 1948 returned with much excitement, including performances from notable entertainers like Jimmy Durante.
What entertainment highlights are planned for 2025?
The 2025 State Fair boasts a variety of concerts and performances, with big names scheduled, such as TLC, Brian McKnight, and Hoobastank.
What new offerings are included in 2025?
New attractions at the Fair this year include unique food options and various family-friendly activities.
What is the Fair’s overall focus?
The Fair focuses on visitor experience with numerous performances, agricultural exhibits, and culinary innovations.
How can visitors prepare?
Planning ahead for ticket purchases, transportation, and daily schedules can enhance the Fair experience for new visitors, as outlined in fair guides and tips.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | September 26 to October 19, 2025 |
| Location | Dallas |
| Headline concerts | TLC, Brian McKnight, Hoobastank |
| Historical start | 1887 |
| Fannin County participation | Longstanding attendance, exhibits and competition entries |
| Notable historical exhibits | Soil maps, cotton, swine, poultry, livestock and home demonstration displays |
| New 2025 offerings | Unique food options and family-friendly activities |
| Visitor planning | Advance tickets, transportation and schedule planning recommended |
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Additional Resources
- CultureMap: Best Weekend Events at State Fair
- Wikipedia: State Fair of Texas
- WFAA: State Fair of Texas Discounts and Policies
- Google Search: State Fair of Texas
- D Magazine: State Fair of Texas Best New Dessert
- Encyclopedia Britannica: State Fair
- Dallas Observer: Beginner’s Guide to State Fair of Texas
- Google News: Texas State Fair
- Dallas News: Handling Storm Clouds at State Fair
- NBC DFW: State Fair of Texas Final Touches
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.
