Eight Things to do at the State Fair on Opening Day

It’s just 10 short days from the opening of the State Fair of Texas. The excitement is definitely in the air. If you have never been to the Fair on opening day, you are missing out! You have the opportunity to be one of the first to taste all the new food, to see the new sights at the Fair and to get your picture taken with Big Tex! What better bragging rights can you get? Plus coming on opening day also has its benefits. If you bring a full bottle of Dasani Water to the gate for donation to the North Texas Food Bank and admission is only $6 per person. So if you come to the State Fair on Opening Day, what should you do? Here is the list compiled by the State Fair staff.

8 Things to do on Opening Day

 
1. Watch the Glue A Shoe Competition in Creative Arts. Contestants create works of art out of a shoe and compete for the blue ribbon. Contest begins at 11:30 am in the Home Depot Competition Kitchen.

 
2. Visit Farmer Mike and see his incredible pumpkin carvings. Each weekend, Farmer Mike is busy in the Errol McKoy Greenhouse-on-the-Midway carving giant pumpkins that will be on display. Get there the first day to see it from the beginning.

 
3. Wine tasting in the State Fair Wine Garden. There will be three Texas Wineries on site: Bluffdale, Hye Meadow Winery and St. Rose Winery. Meet the winemakers and sample some Texas wines.

 
4. Experience the Marine Corp Drum and Bugle Corps. A tradition at the State Fair of Texas, the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps return this year for four daily performances from September 26 to September 29th. You don’t want to miss them. 4 pm each day in Marine Corps Square.

 
5. Take a ride to the Top o’ Texas Tower. At 500 feet, there is no better way to see skyline of Dallas and Fair Park.

 
6. Attend the Opening Ceremonies of the State Fair of Texas. At 7 pm on the steps of the Hall of State, the ribbon will be cut and the Fair will officially open. This year, Cowboy Great Drew Pearson and gold medalist Nastia Liukin will cut the ribbon.

 
7. Watch the Rocky Mountain Horse Demo. There are four chances to see these beautiful horses in action in the Ranch Arena. And while you are over in the area, be sure to take a picture the Woofus. (Here is your challenge for Opening Day. Find the Woofus, take a picture and tag the State Fair. There might be a “like” or “retweet” waiting for you!)

 
8. See Big Tex. Round up your family and friends for a photo in front of the big guy. You can’t leave the Fair without doing that!

 
And don’t forget, if you can’t make it to the Fair on Opening Day, you can still celebrate the Fair with the downtown parade. Each year, the State Fair opens the Fair with a parade down Main Street starting at noon.