Big Tex and the State Fair of Texas 2011

The State Fair of Texas is annual event in Texas that runs for 24 days beginning the last Friday in September. This year's fair will be running from September 30, 2011 through October 23, 2011 at the 277 acres of Fair Park, located just two miles east of downtown Dallas.

If you've never been, you're definitely missing out. Here are a few quick facts about the State Fair of Texas:

• The State Fair of Texas brings in a whopping $350 million annually into the Texas economy.
• There are six buildings with approximately 370,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space
• There are 70-75 carnival rides in addition of the Texas Star ferris wheel
• The first state fair to be held at this location was on October 26, 1886. Approximately 14,000 attended opening day. By the closing on November 7^th, over 100,000 people had attended.
• Visitors to the 1894 fair got to see Edison's Kinetoscope, which was one of the earliest forms of motion picture.
• In 1936 the Texas Centennial Exposition was held here and during its six month run it attracted 6 million people.
• In 1901, auto racing makes its debut at the fair.
• Auto shows made their debut in 1904 and today the State Fair of Texas is the only fair in the nation to host a full auto show.
• 1916 was the first time attendance exceeded 1 million visitors.
• The 1918 State Fair is cancelled while the US Military temporarily converted it to an aviation boot camp called Camp Dick.
• The rivalry football game between Texas University and Oklahoma University (known as the Texas-OU game or Red River Shootout) has been played at this location during the fair every year since 1929.
• War-related transportation issues close the fair down from 1942-1946.
• Corny dogs, created by concessionaires Carl & Neil Fletcher are presented to the public in 1942 at one of the summer events held at the fairgrounds.
• In 1949, the fair first saw 2 million visitors.
• Big Tex, the 52 ft. cowboy mascot made his first appearance in 1952.
• Elvis Presley performs at the State Fair in 1956.
• Belgian Waffles are introduced to fair-goers in 1964.
• In 1968, the fair first sees 3 million visitors.
• A 212 foot ferris wheel, called the Texas Star, the largest in North America, was built in Italy and assembled at the State Fair in time for the 1985 State Fair.
• In 1986, in honor of the Texas Sesquicentennial celebration, the fair saw almost 4 million visitors.
• Big Tex received a new look in 1999.

• In the 2000s, the State Fair of Texas has become known as the Fried Foods Capitol of Texas. They've introduced the world to oddities such as deep-fried Oreo cookies, deep-fried Twinkies, deep-fried pork ribs, deep-fried peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches and fried Coke. I've written a hub about this, called "We'll Fry Anything!".

• Fri 9/30 at 8:30 pm Kraig Parker's Ultimate Tribute to Elvis
• Sat 10/1 at 3 pm Miguel
• Sun 10/2 at 5:30 pm KC & the Sunshine Band
• Fri 10/7 at 8:30 pm JB & the Moonshine Band
• Sat 10/8 at 8:30 pm To Be Announced
• Sun 10/9 at 1 pm Katie Armiger
• Sun 10/9 at 3 pm Colt Ford
• Sun 10/9 at 5:30 pm Thompson Square
• Mon 10/10 at 5:30 pm Mitchel Musso
• Fri 10/14 at 8:30 pm Finger Eleven
• Sat 10/15 at 8:30 pm Hanson
• Sun 10/16 at 5:30 pm Crystal Bowersox
• Fri 10/21 at 8:30 pm Randy Travis
• Sat 10/22 at 8:30 pm Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
• Sun 10/23 at 3 pm La Mafia

Other activities to entertain the whole family at the State Fair of Texas are:

• Qualified drivers can take a test drive in the all-new Chevrolet Equinox, Traverse, Malibu, or Camaro.
• The Texas Skyway is an 1800 ft. aerial track with gondolas allowing visitors to get a bird's-eye view of the park.
• The Starlight Parade has illuminated floats, giant puppets and costumed characters.
• Illumination Sensation is a light show with music, dancing water, pyrotechnics and a reflecting pool.
• Pirates of the Caribbean Dive Show featuring champion divers
• Pig Races
• Children's Barnyard & Petting Zoo
• Shepp's Backyard Circus
• Bird of the World
• Celebrity Kitchen
• Auto Show, Truck Zone, Classic Car Corral featuring new vehicles, concept vehicles and collector classics
• BMX Bike Show
• Midway and Kidway (scaled down version of the Midway)
• Wine Garden with wine-tasting
• Pee Wee Stampede
• Stunt Dog Show
• Big Tex Garden Railway
• Fall Garden Exhibition
• Livestock Show
• Puppet Show
• Cultural Exhibits
• Arts & Crafts Exhibits
• Museums