Celebrating 132 years of tradition in the fall, the State Fair of Texas will return for another season of food, festivities, and family fun. Themed “Celebrating Texas Innovation,” this year’s exposition kicks off on Friday, September 28 in historic Fair Park. The State Fair team is already in full Fair mode, prepping and planning for the big event. Adding to its annual offering of more than 100 free attractions, 70 Midway rides, and endless activities across the fairgrounds, the State Fair is excited to announce several new attractions lined up for the 2018 event.
Introducing Home on the Range, the Fair’s new attraction located inside the Coliseum. Featuring the re-designed Little Hands on the Farm farm-to-market activity for little ones, as well as the Children’s Barnyard petting zoo, Home on the Range brings these two popular activities together in a themed, indoor location. You don’t want to miss this all-new experience.
Showcasing the State Fair’s Big Tex Urban Farms indoor growing facility, the Innovations in Agriculture exhibit sponsored by Bank of America displays unique ways to grow high-yield, healthy produce indoors. The exhibit also includes DIY growing systems that can be built in your home and how they are utilized in the Fair’s Big Tex Urban Farms initiative. Check it out for yourself any day of the Fair in the Errol McKoy Greenhouse on the Midway.
Aligned with the Fair’s 2018 theme of “Celebrating Texas Innovation,” the Hall of State will house a new exhibit called Celebrating Texas Innovation. This exhibit offers a first-hand look into some of the best Texan inventions and innovations of all time. Many common items used worldwide got their start right here in the heart of Texas, and we couldn’t imagine life without them. Bring the whole family to get inspired and learn more about the Lone Star State’s contributions to food, medicine, agriculture, art, industry, and science.
In addition to the Celebrating Texas Innovation Exhibit, the Hall of State will host Dallas in the Time of MLK. The exhibit focuses on King’s 1963 speech in Fair Park and his 1966 speech at Southern Methodist University. Additionally, the exhibit features a number of Dallas civil rights leaders who were active during this critical decade as Dallas transitioned away from being a segregated city.
Experience the miracle of life right before your eyes in the all-new Livestock Birthing Barn. This new addition is a unique educational experience, exhibiting the incubation and birthing process of various livestock animals. With agriculture and education as the Fair’s foundation, the new Livestock Birthing Barn highlights the agricultural importance of breeding livestock and its role in our everyday lives. Stop by the Livestock Birthing Barn, located at Nimitz and MLK, to learn more about the birthing process.
Learning to shoot a bow and arrow at the young age of four, Frank Addington, Jr. is an instinctive archer. With nearly 40 years of performing under his belt, Frank will showcase his talents at this year’s Fair during the Amazing Archery show. Frank’s exhibitions feature several one-of-a-kind shots. He can even hit aerial targets as small as baby aspirin, shot from midair behind his back. Performances daily from October 8 through October 21. Prepare to be awed and come see archery in action in the Amphitheater located at First and Grand.
Offering the world’s first and original “stunt dog show,” audiences of all ages will be captivated by amazing canine tricks you have to see to believe! The All-Star Stunt Dog Show dogs have performed across the country, including appearances on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Oprah Winfrey Show. All the dogs have been rescued from shelters and trained to showcase their unique talents. From jump roping, to barrel racing, and even juggling, this show is guaranteed to be dog-gone fun. Join in on the fun any day of the Fair, located in the Pan Am Arena.
Proudly Texan, CHulaHoopsUSA is a premier hoop company created with success for the masses in mind. CHulaHoops are uniquely designed so everybody can do it. Their team of bilingual, pro hoop dancers and instructors mesmerize crowds with world class tricks and choreography on stage, then they hit the floor to help the audience join in the hooping. Over 20,000 people across the nation have experienced the joy of CHulaHooping, try it yourself at Marine Corps Square.
The Team BIG AIR! Basketball Slam Dunk Show joins the list as one of the Fair’s new daily shows for 2018. Team BIG AIR! has taken basketball to new heights performing acrobatic slam dunks all over the world for more than a decade. Each high-energy show brings jaw-dropping hoop skills and high-flying acrobatics to the court. The talented troupe will be performing daily in Chevrolet Park Plaza.
State Fair foodies can look forward to a new food locale featuring steaks, brick oven pizzas, and much more to hit the grounds this fall. Backyard Steak-Out & Pizzeria brings another destination to relax between activities or grab a bite to eat, located on Nimitz Avenue near the Livestock Barns. This oasis rounds out the Fair’s restaurant lineup with a plenty of shade, live music, and the perfect location to watch the nightly Starlight Parade.
Midway ride lovers can add three new rides to their list for the 2018 State Fair of Texas: The Y-Factor, Haunted Castle, and Airmaxx. The Orbiter is a new spinning attraction guaranteed to satisfy thrill seekers, while still being fun for the whole family. The Haunted Castle is another family favorite – while it’s both spooky and a little scary, it’s tons of fun. Finally, the Airmaxx ride sequence begins with a gentle sweeping motion that increases to 55 mph at the bottom of the swing to send the riders over 360 degrees.
Last year we debuted the Big Tex Plush for fairgoers to win on the Midway. In addition to that, this year players will have the opportunity to take home a Big Tex Basketball as one of many prize options.
Returning for the 55th year, the United States Marine Drum & Bugle Corps will perform at the State Fair of Texas on 10 different days. Beginning September 28, they will perform every day except Wednesday, October 3 with their final performance on Columbus Day, Monday, October 8.
The Classic Corral has been a staple of the State Fair of Texas for decades, but this year it’s moving to a new home by the Beer Haven. As a component of the Texas Auto Show, the Classic Corral offers fairgoers a unique showcase of yesterday’s automobiles. From domestic and import cars, motorcycles and customized muscle vehicles, this outdoor event changes throughout the fair, allowing fairgoers to visit with owners, club members and other enthusiasts in a rotating showcase. Fun for the families and automobile enthusiasts alike.
Housed inside the Women’s Museum, Mundo Latino will present “Cuba – A Country Trapped in Time.” This exhibit offers fairgoers a one-of-a-kind glimpse into Cuba’s colonial era transformation through a display of photographs and street art collected by Cuban artists who have lived through the reconstruction.
This year, the State Fair will host Sensory-Friendly Mornings every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Fair welcomes individuals with autism, in addition to individuals with other intellectual disabilities, their families, and anyone else who may benefit from a sensory-friendly experience. Modifications around the Fair will include sound and light adjustments on the Midway. In addition, the Fair will provide a guided itinerary for families to get the most out of their visit to the annual exposition during Sensory-Friendly Mornings. The Midway opens at noon on Wednesdays, and the usual sights and sounds of the Midway will come on at exactly 1 p.m. Guided itineraries to assist with planning will be posted to BigTex.com closer to the Fair.
Construction has begun on a new Guest Relations building. Conveniently located on the Midway, this new building will offer fairgoers customer service assistance, as well as housing the Fair’s Safe Kids program – a wristband-regulated and safe area where children can stay when they are separated from their parents. Construction is currently in progress with hopes of completing the project by the 2018 Fair.
Texas Discovery Gardens presents the all-new Lone Star Nature Arts Competition art gallery. Winning entries in paint, sculpture, wood carving, photography, and more will be on display exclusively during the run of the 2018 State Fair of Texas. In addition, Texas Discovery Gardens has added a Natural Playscape and Eco Discovery Tour. Enjoy playing outside and learning about our natural world. Stops include a leaf ID area, bark rubbing station, sand pit, rope ladder, swing bridge, and rock climbing wall.
The African American Museum will host a new exhibit, to be announced on www.aamdallas.org June 19.
Sports fans can prepare for another round of football games inside the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium during the 2018 Fair. Returning on Saturday, September 29, the State Fair Classic brings its annual matchup between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University. The rivalry continues Saturday, October 6 when Cotton Bowl Stadium hosts the AT&T Red River Showdown, where the rivalry continues when the University of Texas Longhorns play the University of Oklahoma Sooners. Adding a new game to closing weekend, the historic Cotton Bowl will host the State Fair Showdown – a matchup between Texas Southern University and Southern University.
Your trip to the Fair is your ticket to Texas-sized fun – with hundreds of events included in the price of admission, you’ve got an all-access pass to free entertainment.