Organizers of the South Texas State Fair in Beaumont stress enhanced security measures for this year’s event.
BEAUMONT, Texas — The South Texas State Fair opens Thursday at Ford Park in Beaumont, with organizers emphasizing enhanced security measures and family safety protocols for this year’s event
The Young Men’s Business League, which organizes the fair as its sole annual fundraiser, has reinforced a clear bag policy first introduced last year and will conduct bag checks at three entry points: the main gate, the VIP gate and the livestock gate.
“We wanna keep everything safe,” YMBL board member Brad Pennison said. “We’ve instituted the clear bag policy — if you think about any major sporting event you go to nowadays, it has this type of security.”
Security personnel will also conduct wand screenings at entry points, and multiple police officers will be stationed across the fairgrounds. A command trailer with a lost children’s booth will be on-site to assist families if children become separated.
Pennison encouraged parents to establish a designated meeting point with their children before entering the fairgrounds and to look for YMBL members in blue shirts or police officers for assistance.
Organizers are discouraging parents from dropping off teenagers without adult supervision. “We really hate to see teenagers running around out there without adult supervision,” Pennison said. “We do discourage that.”
While medical bags and diaper bags are permitted, organizers are encouraging all other attendees to leave bags at home when possible.
Admission is $10 per person, with parking free of charge. The first attendees through the gates on opening night will receive free admission. Tickets can be purchased online or at a newly installed ticket booth at the front gate. The fair also accepts cash.
The fair opens Thursday at 6 p.m. Weekday evening hours begin at 5 p.m., while weekend hours start at noon.
Attractions this year include a new roller coaster and a full carnival midway, Pennison said.
All proceeds from the fair are returned to the community through organizations the YMBL supports throughout the year. “The fair is our fundraiser, and then we turn around and give back to our community,” Pennison said.