Last Friday, we surprised the kids by pulling them from school early (a rarity for us!), and whisked them to the State Fair of Texas. The Fair is known as one of Dallas’ signature events, and has taken place virtually every year since 1886! I grew up going to the fair with my grandfather, so when we moved back to Texas, it was so special to resume the tradition with my kids.
The train makes everything more fun…especially when it drops you at the front gates of the Fair!
Big Tex, a talking, waving, 55-foot cowboy greets us, and we take the obligatory picture with him.
Everything is bigger in Texas, right? Including the Fair….with everything from a 300,000 square foot Auto Show, a 212-foot ferris wheel (the largest in North America…and something I’ll never ride again!), BMX stunt shows, pig and ostrich races, a full barnyard, and every conceivable fried food. Seriously…even fried Coke and fried butter!
The barnyard isn’t just pigs and rabbits…the kids can pet and feed baby kangaroos, giraffes, camels, longhorns and zebras.
We tried a few of this year’s unique foods, but we always go back to good ole Fletcher’s corny dog.
Yep, those are jockeys on ostriches. Did you know they weigh 450-pounds!? (The ostrich, not the jockeys.)
We spent the afternoon touring the shows and exhibits, but my favorite is when night falls…first the parade, then the midway lights up like Vegas.
Mr. Sugarplum sticks to the easier rides with Sloan, and Jackson and I hit the vomit-rockets.
We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day, and everyone was still all-smiles on the 10pm train home! Thanks for the memories, Big Tex, see you next year!
Don’t my kids look so cute? To be sure they’d be comfortable for the long day, they both wore their favorite Tucker + Tate shirts. Along with Mini Boden, it’s my favorite kid’s line. The clothes are well-made, they launder great, and the kids agree they are soft and comfy. Which is high-praise, because you know how kids are about scratchy clothes!!!
Do you visit the state fair in your state? Have you ever tried fried butter…I’m here to say, it’s dang good! If you’re ever in Big D late September to October…definitely add the state fair to your itinerary!
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** This post is written in collaboration with Nordstrom for Tucker + Tate. All opinions and queasy stomach are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors! **
We have a tiny one street Fall fair in our town. We also have the State Fair a couple of hours away, but I haven't been since High School. Might need to change that next year!
That looks like a great fair! I've been to the CA State fair many times and it's always a lot of fun. I'm not a big one on the fast scary rides. You are a lot more brave than I am. I have not tried fried butter. I do like the churros at the fair! What a cute family you are!
Ah ha! The outfit you ended up wearing looks VERY State Fair comfy! I bet your feet thanked you for not wearing the very cute boots you proposed in the Friday post!!!
PS and curious – When Nordstrom's sponsors a post… do they send you the clothes for free. Do you go shopping at their store on your own dime, but they pay to advertise? As a regular reader, I am not placing judgement on HOW the exchange occurs, but hope you will share so as readers we can understand the motivation. For instance, the outfit you proposed on Fridayfor the Fair (from Nordstroms)… Did you purchase and own all those pieces? or did you pick them and Nordstrom's provided them, or did they pick the items for you? Thanks for any clarity.. Perhaps it is kind of like a "truth in advertising" thing. AND – I DO INDEED LIKE ALL THE ITEMS!!! : )
As for the Nordstrom sponsored posts…I'm so glad you asked since you were having questionable feelings about it!!! The way it works is Nordstrom asks if I'd be interested in promoting XYZ brand, or a category of clothes in general (boots, dresses, etc.), in exchange for a flat fee. If it's a brand or clothing item I truly love, and already wear, then I accept the campaign. They do not provide me with clothes, or tell me what pieces to highlight…all of that is up to me, and on my own dime. I've turned down numerous offers because they are clothing lines I don't wear, or prices out of my budget…and I'd never recommend something to you guys that I wouldn't actually buy myself. I always want any sponsored posts I run to be authentic content that I'd post, regardless of payment! And any sponsored post will be labeled as such with a disclosure at the bottom.
Although I grew up attending one of the larger state fairs (Ohio) like Texas, I now go to one of the smaller state fairs in South Carolina (like a county fair for some states). What a difference from my fair to yours! But we do have fried butter, snickers and now, kool-aid. Plus a krispy kreme hamburger!
fun!! i havent been to the fair in years! I used to love the lemon shake ups + boardwalk fries.yum. xo jillian – cornflake dreams
Boardwalk fries?!?!?! Those sound like something I need to know about!
We have a tiny one street Fall fair in our town. We also have the State Fair a couple of hours away, but I haven't been since High School. Might need to change that next year!
Sounds like it might be time for a road trip!!!
I didn't know you lived in Dallas. We love the State Fair! A Fletchers corny dog never disappoints!
yes ma'am….just north of the city!! xo And my corny dog was definitely not a disappointment!! xoxo
We're going today! I can't wait to have a corny dog.
I hope you had a great day!!!
That looks like a great fair! I've been to the CA State fair many times and it's always a lot of fun. I'm not a big one on the fast scary rides. You are a lot more brave than I am. I have not tried fried butter. I do like the churros at the fair! What a cute family you are!
Fried butter is basically a crispy biscuit….and it's divine!!! xo
Ah ha! The outfit you ended up wearing looks VERY State Fair comfy! I bet your feet thanked you for not wearing the very cute boots you proposed in the Friday post!!!
PS and curious – When Nordstrom's sponsors a post… do they send you the clothes for free. Do you go shopping at their store on your own dime, but they pay to advertise? As a regular reader, I am not placing judgement on HOW the exchange occurs, but hope you will share so as readers we can understand the motivation. For instance, the outfit you proposed on Fridayfor the Fair (from Nordstroms)… Did you purchase and own all those pieces? or did you pick them and Nordstrom's provided them, or did they pick the items for you? Thanks for any clarity.. Perhaps it is kind of like a "truth in advertising" thing. AND – I DO INDEED LIKE ALL THE ITEMS!!! : )
Ha, yes! My feet thanked me for wearing tennies!
As for the Nordstrom sponsored posts…I'm so glad you asked since you were having questionable feelings about it!!! The way it works is Nordstrom asks if I'd be interested in promoting XYZ brand, or a category of clothes in general (boots, dresses, etc.), in exchange for a flat fee. If it's a brand or clothing item I truly love, and already wear, then I accept the campaign. They do not provide me with clothes, or tell me what pieces to highlight…all of that is up to me, and on my own dime. I've turned down numerous offers because they are clothing lines I don't wear, or prices out of my budget…and I'd never recommend something to you guys that I wouldn't actually buy myself. I always want any sponsored posts I run to be authentic content that I'd post, regardless of payment! And any sponsored post will be labeled as such with a disclosure at the bottom.
Does all that make sense and clear it up? 🙂 xoxo
Indeed. Upstanding. It remains clear you have GREAT TASTE! Thank You!
That looks like a blast! I want to pet a kangaroo! And watch people ride ostriches!
Although I grew up attending one of the larger state fairs (Ohio) like Texas, I now go to one of the smaller state fairs in South Carolina (like a county fair for some states). What a difference from my fair to yours! But we do have fried butter, snickers and now, kool-aid. Plus a krispy kreme hamburger!