From the Taff to Texas: The State Fair of Texas

Giving it large with Big Tex.

The kids had a day off school today, a teacher training day which also coincides with Columbus Day, so it was a perfect opportunity to use the free tickets for the state fair the kids had been given through school. The State Fair of Texas (http://bigtex.com/) is held at Fair Park in Dallas and runs for 3 weeks every October. In true Texas style, it's big (and there's enough parking). There are numerous shows; music, dog, police and bike displays to name a few. In the agricultural section there are prize livestock breeds on show and a children's farm. Exhibitions, shopping, an enormous food hall, and even a 'skyway' cable car across the site add add to the line-up. We tried 'Funnel Cake', which is basically doughnut batter poured though a funnel into a big squiggly nest shape, fried then covered with lashings of icing sugar, the kids loved it and we had to go back for another one. All good stuff, until you get to the unavoidable enormous fairground area where heamorrhaging money is order of the day. Although kids love them, I have to confess I'm not the greatest fan of fairs, to me they are just noise, bright lights, junk food, dodgy looking rides and games with naff prizes. However, even with the free tickets for the kids (otherwise $43 for them to get in) $5-6 per child per ride is daylight robbery. One ride kids, and we'll go back to Six Flags in the holidays.