Dallas Booklet

TEXAS STATE FAIR & WEIRD
FOOD
Everything’s Bigger in Texas
F
or a seasonal event that’s worth
the pilgrimage, the Texas State
Fair is a spectacle you won’t want
to miss. It’s an event that dates
back almost all the way to Dallas’s
founding in 1841. Since then, the
Texas State Fair has grown to the
largest state fair in the nation with
3.5 million visitors arriving over 24
days.
There are livestock shows, butter
sculptures, concerts, trained-animal
side shows, and even a butterfly
garden. But if you’re there for the
thrills, head to the Midway. There,
you’ll find dizzying carnival rides
and you can hedge your bets on
carnival games. While you are
there, ride the giant “Texas Star”
ferris wheel for a spectacular bird’s
eye view of the entire fairgrounds.
When you’re back on the ground,
check out all the weird fried food
concoctions of various vendors.
At this point, fried twinkies and
fried oreos have become returning
stars, but every year food vendors
attempt to outdo each other with the
most weird-sounding, unexpectedly
delicious, and most definitely
unhealthy food monstrosities. Tom
Grace, a 28 year fair food vendor
veteran who created the awardwinning
Funnel Cake Bacon Queso
Burger, said this of his creation:
“It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever put
together, but it just makes sense.”
It is truly impossible to know what
they will come up with next.
“Whether you’re a history buff, an art lover, or a cowboy at heart,
Dallas has something for you. The city offers a heady mix of world
class art museums, fascinating JFK-related attractions and vibrant
neighborhoods. Throw in nearby Fort Worth’s Old West–style
Stockyards and it all seems downright unfair to its Texas rivals.”
Lonely Planet Dallas Visitor’s Guide
PAGE 7