Helpful Links for making your way to and around the fair~

Digital edition of the 2009 State Fair of Texas Program

Map of the Fairgrounds

Daily Events Schedule

Fair Food Finder



HOURS:
State Fair of Texas exhibit buildings
10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday
(closing at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays). 

Midway opening times and closing times vary.
Call 214.565.9931 and press O to speak to
an information assistant.

TICKET PRICES:

• General Admission: $15
• Kids under 48” tall: $11
• Seniors 60 and over: $11
• Children 2 and under: Free
• Seniors 60 and over: Free every Thursday.
Compliments of HealthSpring and
Mature Texan Magazine
(Oct. 1, Oct. 8 & Oct. 15) .
• Garden Getaway: $18 Details

PARKING:

Self parking is available on official
State Fair lots for $10 per space. 
Look for "Official State Fair Parking" signs. 
Valet parking offered at Grand Ave. (daily) and Haskell/Parry ( Saturdays/Sundays only) for $25. 

Spaces marked for the disabled
are located in each lot.
First come, first serve. 
If spaces are filled,
an attendant will direct
you to the next available spaces.
The parking fee applies.

DART's GREEN LINE
opens September 14.

CHEVROLET MAIN STAGE - Outdoor festival-type venue with concerts all week long and headliners on weekends. FREE with State Fair admission. Sponsored by Chevrolet.
 
Qualified drivers get the keys from the carmaker in the CHEVY TEST DRIVE.  Slip behind the wheel of an all-new Equinox, Traverse, Malibu, or Camaro for a test run in East Park Plaza. FREE.
 
The crowd-pleasing ILLUMINATION SENSATION offers lights, music, dancing waters and pyrotechnics along the recently refurbished 700-ft. Esplanade reflecting pool. Mattress Firm sponsors the FREE show nightly.
 
Visitors enjoy a bird's-eye view of Fair Park from the TEXAS SKYWAY. The aerial track stretches 1,800 ft. between two stations; gondolas accomodate strollers or wheelchairs. Sponsored by Telemundo Dallas.
 
Nighttime's the right time for the STARLIGHT PARADE - See illuminated floats, giant puppets and costumed characters each evening at 7:15 p.m. Sponsored by Kitchen Craft. FREE.
 
No spyglass needed for the madcap antics & breathtaking athleticism of the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN DIVE SHOW.

Champion divers star in three shows weekdays + four weekend performances. In Gateway Plaza. FREE. Sponsored by McDonald's.
 
Check out the COTTON BOWL, seating 91,000 and home to Fair-time gridiron action:  Grambling State v. Prairie View A&M, Saturday, Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. Texas v. Oklahoma takes to the field at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.
 
Clothes make the man, and in the case of 52-ft. tall BIG TEX, that's an under-statement. Only the best for Tex -- his clothing is provided by Dickies; his footwear is by Twisted X Boots.
 
Don't miss the MOBILE TOURS that roll into the State Fair throughout its 24-day run.  Energy issues, health info, games, giveaways, technology and fun! The sponsored, mobile displays are located throughout the grounds. 
 
Catch Dallas native and Nashville recording artist Jolie Holliday on the CHEVY TRUCK EXHIBIT STAGE. Her rock and country act will appear eight times daily, right next to Big Tex Circle. Sponsored by Chevrolet. FREE.
 
Sit down, relax and enjoy a wide array of food and beverages in Cotton Bowl Plaza, not to mention the sassy sounds of local trio Lantana. On the outdoor BUD LIGHT SOUND STAGE. Sponsored by Bud Light. FREE.
 
The BMX BIKE SHOW presents, up close & personal, the all-star 720 Action Sports team performing gravity-defying feats in the Thrillway. Co-sponsored by U.S. Air Force and Dr Pepper Cherry. FREE.
 
The CELEBRITY KITCHEN is the backdrop for this popular event in Creative Arts. Celebrity chefs demonstrate recipes of all kinds in daily shows. Sponsored by Good Housekeeping Research Institute on Tour Presented by IKEA.  FREE.
 
The STATE FAIR AUTO SHOW, the biggest new car and truck show in the Southwest, features new models, concept vehicles and weekend collectors' rallies. FREE. 

Texans love trucks, and the TRUCK ZONE is where to find 'em. Entertainment and new offerings from Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, GMC, as well as a few surprises. FREE.
 
CLASSIC CORRAL - A revolving display of vintage autos, motorcycles, Chris-Crafts and more. Meet owners and club members on weekends. Look for the corral fence, across Grand from the African American Museum.Sponsored by Forza Motorsport 3. FREE.
 
Find lots of animals to see and feed at the CHILDREN'S MEDICAL CENTER BARNYARD. Visit the popular nursery where sows, ewes, nanny goats and their young are spotlighted. Sponsored by Children's Medical Center. FREE.
 
Step right up! Imaginations soar at the SCHEPPS BACKYARD CIRCUS when young ones dress up in a make-believe show with lion tamers, tight-rope walkers, ballerinas & a host of circus favorites. Sponsored by Schepps Dairy. FREE.
 
Steve Martin's free-flight  BIRDS OF THE WORLD showcases feathered friends from around the globe + a singing showstopper. Four shows daily in the Band Shell. Sponsored by Kroger Food Stores. FREE.
 
Smack dab in the exhilaration of the Midway is KIDWAY, featuring scaled-down rides for smaller Fair guests and all-around family-friendly fun. Sponsored by Time Warner Cable.
 
Take a seat & have a sip. The courtyard setting of the STATE FAIR OF TEXAS WINE GARDEN offers tastings daily. What better fit than jazz on weekends? Across from Creative Arts. Sponsored by Kroger Food Stores and GO TEXAN.
 
Looking for a staggering selection of drinks + yummy edibles in an air-conditioned environment? Find it in the COCA-COLA FOOD COURT, located on the back side of the Tower Bldg. Sponsored by Coca-Cola.
 
Check out T-MOBILE's GALLERIA & enjoy Texas-size savings on cool new phones and accessories.  Get a Mobile Makeover to find the coverage you need at the price you want - and get your picture taken with Big Tex! In the Tower Bldg. Rotunda.
 
PIG RACES - There they go, snout-to-snout, down the stretch! Three times an evening, visitors can "wager" on these wiggly piglets as they send the sawdust flying. Pan American Arena. FREE.
 
The dirt flies as little buckaroos in chaps and hats jump on stick horses & go for it at the PEE WEE STAMPEDE. Daily, in the Ranch Arena. Sponsored by LEGO®.  FREE.
 
GONE TO THE DOGS - Lou Mack's Jump! The Ultimate STUNT Dog Show promises action-packed daytime shows; afternoons belong to Pam Martin's "Dancing with the Dogs." Pan American Arena. FREE.

Native sons killed or MIA are commemo-rated at the TEXAS VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL. The inscriptions include Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Located in a contemplative spot near the front gates.
 
From Washington, D.C., see the famed UNITED STATES MARINE DRUM & BUGLE CORPS in afternoon shows at Marine Corps Square and in the evening parade. Sept. 25 - Oct. 11, excluding Wednesdays.  Marine Corps Square is presented by Dick's Sporting Goods.
 
Zany games with prizes attract lottery fans to the TEXAS LOTTERY SHOW, a hot spot of Fairtime fun. Four shows daily. Sponsored by Texas Lottery Commission.
 
Circling the feet of the 52-ft. State Fair ambassador is the diminutive and delightful BIG TEX GARDEN RAILWAY.

Designer/landscape artist Paul Busse's miniature train display appeals to young and old alike. Located in Big Tex Circle. Sponsored by Oncor. FREE.
 
STATE FAIR FALL GARDEN EXHIBITION: Landscapers vie for Best of Show bragging rights; sculptors ratchet up the visual appeal with art scattered across Fair Park. Design + planting info is available each step of the way. FREE. Sponsored by The Home Depot.
 
The MIDWAY features 70+ attractions, including the overhead Texas SkyWay®, the 212-ft. Texas Star® Ferris wheel and a 1914 Dentzel carousel. Adrenaline rushes are guaranteed in the extreme ride Thrillway section. Definitely one of the Fair's most popular destinations.
 
LIVESTOCK BREED DISPLAYS: Cows, pigs, sheep and goats are showcased in breed displays on modern livestock production. Free exhibits located in Cattle Barn 1 and the Swine Building.
 
LITTLE HANDS ON THE FARM in "pretend" egg-gathering, planting, harvesting, and caring for a cow. At the end, they get play money for grocery shopping at the store. Sponsored by Bank of America, Dreyer's Ice Cream, AT&T and Wal-Mart/Sam's Club. FREE.
 
"WORLD ON A STRING" PUPPET SHOW: Master puppeteer John Hardman and his cast of marionettes perform throughout the day in Creative Arts' Showplace Theater. FREE. Sponsored by Skechers. 

Guests line the fence when SPIRIT OF THE HORSE begins. Expert Robert Liner showcases his training methods and communication with horses. Daily, in the Ranch Arena. Sponsored by First Choice Power. FREE.
 
LIVESTOCK: Diligence and countless hours pay off for 4H and FFA exhibitors at the Youth Livestock Auction of Champions. Shows and sales offer an array of beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, goats, poultry and exotic breeds.
 
Watch and learn as cows from nearby farms demonstrate modern procedures in the MILKING PARLOR. Daily shows in Cattle Pavilion 1. Sponsored by Southwest Dairy Museum. FREE.
 
SHOP for the practical, the unusual & everything in between. Discover 300+ exhibit spaces in the Coliseum Market Place, Grand Place, Crafts Pavilion, Centennial Building (inside & out), Gateway Pavilion, Embarcadero, East Park/Gateway and the Pennsylvania Gate.
 
Synonymous with fairs everywhere, CREATIVE ARTS is where to find ribbon-winners in more than 1,100 categories, including canning, quilts, photography and crafts. Contest kitchens feature daily competitions and cooking demos. FREE.
 
BACKDOOR STAGE : The Killdares bring their Celtic rock back to the State Fair of Texas.  Shows at 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 p.m.  Sponsored by WAHL Trimmers and T-Mobile. FREE.
 
Enjoy ethnic diversity as wide as the state with performances by 59 ethnic and cultural dance groups from across the state. Presented by the Texas Cultural Partnership on Saturdays and Sundays in front of the Hall of State.
 
MUNDO LATINO: Annual celebration of Hispanic culture, its history, traditional music, instruments and costumes in the Hall of State.  The Mercado is a true shopping experience and is open daily. FREE.
 
Get set for the national touring company of Broadway's MARY POPPINS, with two of the original stars. The Dallas Summer Musicals production runs from Sept. 24 - Oct. 18, closed on Mondays. Remember, DART's new Green Line drops patrons just steps away from the Music Hall. 
 
Searching for gold has never been so much fun! Visit the COLORADO MINING COMPANY in the Coliseum Market Place. Free 15-minute educational sessions scheduled at 11 a.m. and 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. daily.
 
Fair Park is home to an array of year-round MUSEUMS and attractions.

Music Seen:  Rock 'n' Roll Photo-journalists will rock The Women's Museum with 100+ photos by Lynn Goldsmith and

Janet Macoska. Open daily, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. FREE.
 
"An Extraordinary Man with a Mighty Vision" -- a traveling exhibit and comprehensive look at the life of George Washington Carver -- makes a stop at the African American Museum. The show is developed by Chicago's Field Museum in tandem with Tuskegee University and the National Park Service.
 
Sleuths, listen up: The Science of Spying will feature how to detect liars, crack safes and find hidden clues. The new spy skills exhibition will be onboard at the Museum of Nature & Science, admission charged.
 
The new Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium opens at Texas Discovery Gardens, admission charged.

The first public garden in Texas to be certified 100% organic, TDG offers the native wildlife pond, scent garden, shade garden & heirloom garden free of charge.
 
See two legendary Union Pacific "work-horses" + more than 30 pieces of historic equipment, including a steam calliope, whistle display and a special, Fair-time exhibit at the Museum of the American Railroad. You can't miss 1942's towering #4018 "Big Boy."
 
Discover American history memorabilia at the Continental DAR House. Exhibits, artifacts, flag displays, patriotic videos and music are featured. The New Andrews Sisters perform during the State Fair of Texas. Free.
 
Don't forget the Dallas Aquarium (closed for renovations until 2010) will be "back in business" next year.