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A Day at the State Fair of Texas

© Joy Butler

Tantalizing aromas of cotton candy and popcorn, the rumble of roller coasters, and the gentle sounds of barnyard animals always greet fair visitors. The State Fair of Texas is no exception, other than its Texas size, covering 277 acres of Dallas landscape, and of course, only the State Fair of Texas can boast the world's tallest cowboy, Big Tex, towering 52 feet tall, wearing size 70 boots!

The millions of visitors who attend the fair each year should plan to spend an entire day, or even two or three, to take advantage of all the things to see and do at the nation's largest annual exposition. The auto show alone fills several buildings and offers displays of sleek autos with exciting sneak previews of future models. Other exhibits include a glimpse of a honeybee society, the opportunity to try out a massage chair, examine a detailed mini replica of the White House, or meet Elsie the Cow dressed in her fringed, red cape and flower lei.

Fairgoers browse the many arts and crafts booths featuring country décor items such as quilts, wind chimes, or a John Wayne sketch, and meander through the eight museums in Fair Park including the Texas Discovery, Women's Museum, Science Place, African/American, or Dallas Aquarium.

While enjoying a candy apple or fruit smoothie, visitors try their hand at a dart throw or ring toss, or watch Farmer Mike demonstrate his unique pumpkin sculptures, or perhaps have their face painted by Montreal's Faceination. And when true fair spirit sets in, they climb on the tallest ferris wheel in North America, the 212 ft Texas Star, for a ride in the sky. Then there are the roller coasters, bumper cars, log ride, and bungee jump with a mini version for kids approximately 8 and up.

Small children find plenty of entertainment with the balloon artistry demos, swan paddleboat rides, and a visit to Little Hands on the Farm, where they feed chickens, sheep and cows and gather eggs, wool, and milk, and then plant seeds, harvest a garden and drive a child-size tractor to deliver mini bales of hay to the cows. At the end of their farm tour, they sell the fruits of their labor to the country store for coupon money which is redeemed for snacks.

The number one fair attraction is reported to be food and there's no shortage of it here. In fact, this year's theme is "Taste and See" and visitors drool over scrumptious strawberry creations and exotic foods, experience wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and appearances of 132 renowned chefs, cookbook authors and other "food people". Besides the elaborate demo kitchen, approximately 200 food concessions offer fairgoers Mexican food, pizza, beer, popcorn, ice cream, fruit smoothies, salt water taffy and so much more to excite the taste buds.