When to Go: Timing Makes Everything Better

Go on a weekday. This is the single best piece of advice for families with kids. Weekday crowds are a fraction of weekend crowds — shorter lines at rides, easier access to food vendors, less sensory overwhelm for young kids, and a more relaxed pace overall. If your kids are school-age, a Friday visit is often the sweet spot — still a weekday but with a little more weekend energy.

Arrive at opening. The fair typically opens at 10am. Arriving at open gives you the first hour or two before crowds build — the best time for rides, Big Tex photos, and the auto show. Kids have the most energy in the morning, which is when you want to hit the things that require patience.

Plan to leave before meltdown o’clock. A full day at the fair for young kids means hitting the wall somewhere between 3pm and 5pm. Build a natural end point into your plan rather than pushing until someone cries. The fair runs 24 days — you can always come back.

Rides: What to Know Before You Get There

The State Fair of Texas midway has rides for every age — from toddler-friendly kiddie rides to full-scale thrill rides for teens and adults. Ride tickets are purchased separately from fair admission and can add up quickly for families. Options include pay-per-ride tickets or unlimited ride wristbands on select days — check the fair’s website for current pricing and wristband availability.

Height requirements matter. Thrill rides have minimum height requirements that are enforced at the ride entrance. Check the requirements before you go if you have kids who are borderline — discovering at the gate that a child can’t ride something they’ve been excited about is a rough moment. The fair’s website lists height requirements for major rides.

Kiddie land is a dedicated section of the fair for young children with smaller, age-appropriate rides. It’s a great starting point for toddlers and preschoolers before the bigger stuff. Lines here move faster than the main midway rides.

Food: Managing the Fair with Kids

Kids and fried fair food are a natural combination, but a few things make it easier. Fletcher’s Corny Dogs are universally kid-approved and the most iconic State Fair of Texas food — start here. Funnel cake is always a hit. The newer Big Tex Choice Award items are fun to try together as a family — make it an adventure rather than a meal.

Eat something real before you arrive. Fair food is expensive and rich — a full day on nothing but fried food leads to sugar crashes and grumpy kids by afternoon. Having breakfast or a real meal before the fair lets you treat fair food as the experience it is rather than the sustenance it isn’t.

Drinks add up fast. Sodas and lemonade at the fair run 3–5 coupons each. Bring reusable water bottles and fill them at water fountains on the fairgrounds, especially in the hot opening weeks of the fair.

The Best Parts of the Fair for Kids

Big Tex — the 55-foot talking cowboy is the first thing most kids want to see and the photo every family takes. He speaks on the hour. Make it your first stop.

The livestock barn — cows, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, and more, up close. For kids who don’t get much exposure to farm animals this is genuinely exciting and educational. One of the most underrated parts of the fair for families.

The Texas Star Ferris wheel — at 212 feet, one of the tallest in North America. Kids who are old enough to handle heights love it and the view of the Dallas skyline is legitimately impressive.

Kiddie land rides — the dedicated children’s area with age-appropriate rides is a lower-pressure environment for young kids before tackling the main midway.

The Creative Arts Building — kids who enter competitions in baking, art, or other categories can see their entries displayed here. Even if your kids didn’t enter, walking through the exhibits is a good quiet break from the midway energy.

Practical Tips for Families

Strollers: Strollers are allowed on the fairgrounds and can be rented at the fair for toddlers and younger kids. If you bring your own, make sure it’s compact enough to navigate crowds. Stroller parking is available near major attractions.

Meeting point: Agree on a meeting point before you enter the fairgrounds — somewhere easy to find, like the Big Tex area. In a crowd this size, kids can get separated and having a pre-agreed meeting point is the fastest way to reunite.

Wristbands for young kids: Write your phone number on a wristband or piece of paper tucked into a young child’s pocket or shoe in case they get separated. Some parents use temporary tattoos with contact info for this.

Sunscreen and hats: For the hot early weeks of the fair, kids burn faster than adults in Texas sun. Apply sunscreen before you arrive and reapply mid-day. Hats are worth it for young kids especially.