If Big Tex knew how many families are steering clear of the State Fair of Texas because of the steep prices, we feel certain he’d weep. So it’s a good thing fair officials are looking to make the iconic event more affordable.
Last year’s State Fair saw a major dip in attendance. It drew a little over 2 million people, about 400,000 fewer than in 2024, our newsroom reported. High prices have been cited as one major factor.
State Fair officials said they are considering lower ticket prices and other measures to reduce costs. Mitchell Glieber, president of the State Fair, said affordability will be the “No. 1 priority.”
The fair has long been committed to making admission more affordable. There are all sorts of discount options, and local students below high school can get a free ticket.
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The affordability problem gets out of hand after making it through the gates, however. It’s doable enough to go and enjoy the scenery on the cheap, but if you want to buy food and enjoy a few rides, it’s going to cost a pretty penny. Especially if you have a kid, and most especially if you have more than one.
Glieber mentioned working with vendors to “try to rein in pricing,” our newsroom reported.
We’re hopeful that approach will work because it shouldn’t be a major financial sacrifice for local families to enjoy this event that traces its history back roughly 140 years. Families deserve opportunities to make memories and spend time together outside of the routine, and this celebration of everything Texas is one of the best.
Out where the West begins, the 23-day Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo got started last week. The event drew 1.26 million visitors last year compared with 1.14 million in 2024, according to the Fort Worth Report. The numbers last year were just shy of a 1.27 million visitor high in 2023.
The Stock Show and the State Fair are very different events that run at different times. But in all, the stock show seems to be doing just fine. Maybe there are some lessons there for Dallas.
High prices are a depressing reality in just about every part of our lives these days. Of course, that reality affects the fair and its vendors too, but we’re encouraged that fair officials are looking to lessen the impact on families from North Texas and beyond.
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