The slogan that “everything is bigger in Texas” definitely applies to the State Fair of Texas. Held annually for 24 consecutive days starting on the last Friday of September, this event draws people from all over the state and country as fair mascot Big Tex welcomes them with his signature greeting, “howdy.” Originally created in 1886 to feature the best that Texas has to offer, the fair promises a “family-friendly environment” that promotes “agriculture, education, and community involvement,” including a full roster of 100 daily shows and activities like pig races, milking demos in the livestock areas, and a midway full of rides and games that take place at Fair Park.
But, a huge draw for fair attendees is found in the deep fryer. Created in 2005, the Big Tex Food awards continues to challenge concessionaires to answer the question, can you deep-fry it? To enter the competition, a concessionaire has to have participated in the fair for at least a year. The winning creation nabs the coveted Big Tex Food Award trophy that looks like an Oscar but of course, with a Big Tex figurine on it instead. The food awards are just the beginning of mapping the fair by food—225 concession stands are scattered throughout the fairgrounds offering a wide array of options. In 2015, food and Midway ride coupon sales generated more than $53.6 million, the most successful fair in its long history. And, over 300,000 pounds of canned food were donated at the 2015 fair. Make a plan, pack your bags and head to Dallas for fun, football, and of course, food you can only find at the fair.
Annelies Zijderveld’s first cookbook, Steeped: Recipes Infused with Tea, is available now. She has been published in Curator magazine, Arthouse America, and Sated Magazine. Follow her teatime antics and cooking with tea journey on Instagram.
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Standing tall at 55 feet in height, Big Tex towers over Fair Park as the official mascot of the State Fair of Texas. Decked out in Western garb of Dickies pants, cinched together with a 33-long belt, t-shirt, and a 95-gallon hat, every three years his outfit gets swapped out keeping him at the height of Western wear. Big Tex is a popular meeting spot on fairgrounds. Don't miss him bellow out a greeting as he waves to crowds.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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It's easy to stay at the State Fair of Texas all day for cooking demos, acrobatic shows, livestock shows, Farmer Mike the pumpkin carver creating artful jack-o-lanterns in the greenhouse or even the Glue-a-Shoe Contest. An auto show appeals to car enthusiasts while shoppers can get their fix at several pavilions. Once evening settles over Fair Park concerts kick up over at the Chevrolet Main Stage along with nightly fireworks over the Esplanade. Destiny Anete and Nicholas Ailey spend their Saturday at the fair.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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Chainsaw artist Burt Fleming joined the State Fair of Texas line-up in 2015. With a chainsaw and log of wood, he carves a bestiary of animals including squirrels, bears, alligators, wolves, and eagles, but also takes requests from the audience. In 2015, he even created a bust of the State Fair of Texas president too.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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Dallas artist, Ken Robison created a butter sculpture replica of the 2015 Texas State Fair grand champion market steer, RFD. Robison used 1000 pounds of butter made from 21,200 gallons of milk to carve the steer, on display in the Creative Arts Building.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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One part hot pocket, one part potpie, Down Home Chicken Potpie Pockets, enrobe creamy chicken and vegetables inside a flaky crust. Created by Christi Erpillo, a small side of macaroni and cheese dip accompanies them.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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Cookies, crinkle cut. Available in chocolate chip or sprinkle, these long, skinny, cookies delivered in French Fry baskets derive their shape from the popular fry, taking the association all the way to chocolate or strawberry dip offered in place of ketchup. The State Fair Cookie Fries, created by Isaac Rousso won this year's "most creative" award.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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During the State Fair of Texas, three football games are held in the 46,000 seat Cotton Bowl stadium, but the most notorious among them is definitely the Red River Showdown between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma. This staunch rivalry started playing at the Cotton Bowl in 1929 and continues to draw record crowds. In 2016, on game day, at any given moment in the Tower Building food court, Texas fans or Sooners fans would break out into chanting, and sometimes heckling.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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A University of Texas Longhorn fan picks up a Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll from the Benavides Concession stand. This particular concession stand introduced in 2016 the new Doritos Deep-Fried Bacon Mozzarella Cheese Stick as well as the Bacon-tilla, a tortilla shell made of crisp bacon woven together, filled with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese… and more bacon. In the Magnolia Beer Garden, you can find Smoky Bacon Margaritas, a recent Big Tex Food Award finalist.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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Just in case you thought brownies were overlooked, they too came deep-fried with warm, gooey, chocolate middles enclosed in crispy batter. University of Oklahoma Sooners fans clutch forks ready to dive into freshly Deep-Fried Brownies.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld
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Why bother with a bowl of chicken and dumplings when you can get all that flavor in a bite? Clint Probst's Southern Fried Chicken and Dumplins come with fried biscuit bites and gravy.
Photo: Annelies Zijderveld