Going to the 2024 State Fair of Texas? What to know about food, parking and new gun ban

The State Fair of Texas begins this weekend, bringing 24 days of fun to Dallas’ Fair Park.

Since 1886, the fair has been a way for Texans to celebrate agriculture, education and community. This year’s festivities begin Friday and last until Oct. 20.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s fair:

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State Fair of Texas tickets

The fair has a variety of ticket options.

Daily admission tickets are between $15 to $25 for adults, $10 to $18 for children and $5 to $18 for seniors. Here’s the daily breakdown:

• Monday-Wednesday: $15 adult, $10 child and $10 senior.
• Thursday: $15 adult, $10 child and $5 senior.
• Friday: $20 adult, $15 child and $15 senior.
• Saturday-Sunday: $25 adult, $18 child and $18 senior.

After 5 p.m. every day of the fair, all adults pay child ticket prices. This means that adults can save between $5-$7 on tickets, just be arriving at the fair after 5 p.m.

Another option is a premium ticket for $24, which is valid for any day of the fair. Premium tickets can only be purchased online.

The fair does offer $5 discounts for military members and first responders, who show identification when buying tickets online or in-person. Fairgoers can also save $5 on tickets by finding coupons at McDonald’s and using them at purchase.

For the fair fanatic, a season pass that allows access once per day on all 24 days is $50. Find all State Fair of Texas ticketing options online, here .

State Fair of Texas parking and transportation

There are a few different ways to get to the fair.

All official fair parking lots cost $30 and are located near pedestrian gates. The most convenient parking lot is located at 925 S. Haskell Ave., fair officials said.

Bicycle racks are on a first come first served basis and are located inside gates 5, 6 and 11.

For those looking to forgo parking all together, taking the train from Fort Worth to Dallas is hassle free option. Here’s how that works:

• Take the Trinity Railway Express to Victory Station in Dallas.
• At Victory Station, transfer to Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) green line.
• Ride the green line to either the Fair Park station (3710 Parry Ave.) or MLK, Jr. station (1412 S. Trunk Ave.).
• When the fair day is done, hop back on the green line at either Fair Park or MLK, Jr. stations.
• Ride green line back to Victory Station.
• At Victory Station, transfer to the Trinity Railway Express and ride back to Fort Worth.

For the entire Fort Worth to Dallas trip, you will need to purchase a regional day pass from Trinity Railway Express which costs $12 for adults and $3 for anyone under 19 years old. Purchase tickets through the GoPass app or at the station.

New State Fair of Texas ban on guns

After allowing attendees to bring concealed handguns in years past, last month the fair announced a ban on all firearms.

The policy change came after three people were shot on the fairgrounds at last year’s event. All three people sustained non-life threatening injuries and the suspect was arrested by Dallas police.

Not long after the fair’s announcement, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent a letter to Dallas’ interim city manager saying that the ban violates state law. Paxton also gave the city 15 days to reverse the ban or face legal action.

In mid-September, Paxton withdrew an 8-year-old legal opinion that gave private nonprofits the ability to ban guns on land they lease from cities. Shortly after, the Dallas County District Court denied Paxton’s request to block the fair’s policy.

A state appeals court also denied Paxton’s request this week, according to the Texas Tribune. After the decision, Paxton posted on X that he’s taking the ban to the Texas Supreme Court.

As of Wednesday, the State Fair of Texas’ firearm ban is still in place.

State Fair of Texas new food offerings

Three new food creations were crowned winners at the fair’s 20th annual Big Tex Choice Awards last month.

In the savory section, Justin Martinez’s “Dominican Fritura Dog” took top honors. Dominican salami and fritura cheese are dipped in corn dog batter, deep fried and topped with sauce.

Isaac Rousso’s “Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick” won the sweet award. A 12-inch bacon slice is cooked with a cotton candy glaze atop and then spun inside a cotton candy machine.

The final award for most creative dish was awarded to Heather Perkins’ “Texas Sugar Rush Pickles”. Cotton candy flavored pickle slices are coated in three different cereals, and layered in a cup with powdered sugar and cotton candy.

All three award winners will be available at the fair, along with a long list of other creative items. For a full list of all the new fair foods, visit here.

State Fair of Texas music lineup

A large lineup of musical acts have been assembled for this year’s fair. The following are set for the fair’s Chevrolet main stage:

• Sept. 27 at 8:30 p.m. — Jo Dee Messina
• Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. — Deitrick Haddon
• Sept. 28 at 8:30 p.m. — Big Daddy Kane
• Sept. 29 at 8:30 p.m. — Los Pescadores
• Sept. 30 at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. — UNT Four O’Clock Lab Band
• Oct. 1 at 8:30 p.m. — Bowling For Soup
• Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. — Savannah Rae
• Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m. — Dasha
• Oct. 3 at 5:30 p.m. — Straight Tequila Night
• Oct. 3 at 8:30 p.m. — Flipturn
• Oct. 4 at 5:30 p.m. — Cameron Sacky Band
• Oct. 4 at 8:30 p.m. — Shakey Graves
• Oct. 5 at 5:30 p.m. — Payton Howie
• Oct. 5 at 8:30 p.m. — Grace Potter
• Oct. 6 at 8:30 p.m. — Jesse & Joy
• Oct. 7 at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. — Sazerac Jazz Band
• Oct. 8 at 5:45 and 8:30 p.m. — Gabe Baker
• Oct. 9 at 8:30 p.m. — Jefferson Starship
• Oct. 10 at 5:45 and 8:30 p.m. — Elton The Early Years
• Oct. 11 at 5:45 p.m. — Shaylen
• Oct. 11 at 8:30 p.m. — Wyatt Flores
• Oct. 12 at noon — Briscoe
• Oct. 12 at 8:30 p.m. — St. Paul and the Broken Bones
• Oct. 13 at 3:30 p.m. — Ian Munsick
• Oct. 13 at 8:30 p.m. — Hannah Dasher
• Oct. 14 at 3 and 8:30 p.m. — The Ultimate Taylor Swift Dance Party
• Oct. 15 at 8:30 p.m. — Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
• Oct. 16 at 8:30 p.m. — Jon Wolfe
• Oct. 17 at 8:30 p.m. — Fleetwood Mask
• Oct. 18 at 4 and 5:45 p.m. — Palmer Anthony
• Oct. 18 at 8:30 p.m. — Spin Doctors
• Oct. 19 at 4 p.m. — Sabor Puro
• Oct. 19 at 8:30 p.m. — Foghat
• Oct. 20 at 4:30 p.m. — The Commodores

The fair also full lineups set for its Bud Light and Yuengling Flight stages. Admission to every show is free with purchase of a fair ticket.

The State Fair of Texas is from Sept. 27 to Oct. 20.