Photos

This picture is taken during the Texas State Fair 2008.

The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas, Texas (USA). The fair season usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. The fair is held at the historic Fair Park where it has been held since 1886. The 2009 fair will be from September 25 to October 18. Big Tex, a 52 ft (16 m) tall cowboy, has been the symbol of the fair since his introduction in 1952; in 1953, Big Tex's jaw was hinged, so that he appears to "speak" the announcements that promote fair events.

The State Fair of Texas is the largest state fair in the United States by annual attendance, according to industry magazine Amusement Business; although the fair no longer tracks attendance by ticket sales — the numbers always underestimated attendance due to the practice of free entry for local schoolchildren and senior citizens on certain days — the fair's past estimates by various methods consistently suggested more than 3 million people visit the fair annually.[2] Its 212-foot (65 m) Texas Star Ferris wheel has been the largest in North America since it debuted in October 1985, just months before the Texas Sesquicentennial.[3][4] As of 2003, the fair's marketing director estimated that the fair was bringing about US$350 million dollars into the Dallas economy.

Traditionally, one of the centerpieces of the fair has been the annual college football game between Texas and Oklahoma, nicknamed the Red River Shootout and played in the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park. Also, the State Fair Classic, featuring Grambling State and Prairie View A&M, is played at the Cotton Bowl during the fair.

The State Fair of Texas is the only fair in the country to include a full blown auto show, dating back to 1904.[4] It includes over 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) of new model vehicles, two buildings, a Truck Zone and a Test Drive Track. The State Fair has been the site for several international launches including the 2007 Chevy Tahoe, the 2008 Ford Sporttrac and the 1998 Chevy Blazer.

In recent years the fair has emphasized its reputation as an event featuring unique, albeit high-fat foods. The fair has been known for years for Fletcher's brand corny dogs. Recent years have seen the introduction of new unusual deep-fried items, including deep-fried Oreo cookies; deep-fried Twinkies; deep-fried pork ribs; fried cheesecake; deep-fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwiches; and most recently a batter-based fried Coke. New foods in 2008 included chicken fried bacon and fried banana splits. The State Fair of Texas chose "Ignite Your Senses!" as the 2008 theme.

Local schools and businesses typically give their students/employees a day off during the fair so that everyone may enjoy the festivities together. This is an excused absence by schools and businesses. The date most companies and schools choose for this day is usually the second Monday in October.