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How much money a family could spend in a few hours at the State Fair of Texas

Expenses can pile up quickly between tickets, food and games, but for some, the memories made are worth the financial strain.

It might be one of the most highly anticipated events of the year in Dallas-Fort Worth, but the State Fair of Texas can be a challenge for wallets, especially with a family in tow.

The Salts family lives in Dallas and came to the fair by Dallas Area Rapid Transit to celebrate the birthday of one of their granddaughters. The treat turned out to be more expensive this year than previous visits.

“We have spent $200 an hour since we arrived,” said Cassandra Salts, who works as a waiter. “Prices are way too high. It’s impossible to have a good time.”

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Salts used to go to the fair for more than one day when she was a child because everything was more affordable, she said.

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Today, effort and weeks of saving up gets a single visit with some rides, games and something to eat. While there are free activities with admission, most of the fun comes with a cost.

Some quick math: A family of two adults and two children can spend at least $300 with a basic itinerary of signature State Fair of Texas to-dos. That sum includes parking, tickets, four corny dogs, four refillable drinks, two attempts in a game to win a stuffed animal, a visit to the haunted castle, a ride on the Texas Star Ferris wheel and a spin on the carousel.

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The Menjivar family went to the State Fair of Texas. In less than one hour, they spent $600...
The Menjivar family went to the State Fair of Texas. In less than one hour, they spent $600 for seven people and a baby. In the photo (left to right) Cecilia Menjivar, Miguel Menjivar and Esmeralda Hernandez with the Menjivar baby visited the fair on Sept. 30, 2024.(Imelda Garcia / Staff writer)

Miguel Menjivar went to the fair with his extended family. Soon after arriving, they had already spent $600.

But for him, the memories he creates with his family are worth more.

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“My family tells me that everything is too expensive here, but I tell them it’s once a year and it’s worth it,” Menjivar said.

Darrell Mitchell feels the same way. The barber tries to go to the fair every year with his four children, seeking to create special childhood memories for them.

“We have spent about $300, almost half of what I make in a week,” Mitchell said,” but it’s important for my family to come because the kids get so much fun.”

Darrell Mitchell and his four kids visit the State Fair of Texas year after year. The family...
Darrell Mitchell and his four kids visit the State Fair of Texas year after year. The family spent over $300 on mostly rides and games on Sept. 30, 2024.(Imelda García / Staff writer)

If you’re looking for discounts and deals at the State Fair of Texas, it pays to have a game plan.

Here are some ideas to help visitors save money:

Tickets

Daily admission tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids and seniors. But there are a handful of ways and days to get discounts.

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Parking or DART?

The cost of parking at Fair Park is $30, but you may be able to save money depending on the size of your party by taking DART. Here’s how.

Coupons

Once inside the fair, forget about money. The currency is coupons and almost everything must be purchased with them. Each coupon costs $1 and, good news, you can use coupons from previous years.

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Food and drink

Food is one of the main attractions at the fair and represents one of the biggest expenses for attendees. Here’s what some classic fair foods costs this year. Keep in mind that 1 coupon is $1.

Turkey leg: 22 coupons

Funnel cake: 12 coupons

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Traditional Fletcher’s corny dog: 9 coupons

Corn on the cob: 9 coupons

Monster burrito: 16 coupons

Pretzel: 8 coupons

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French fries: 7 coupons

Sopapillas: 20 coupons

Ice cream: 6 coupons

Street tacos: 20 coupons

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The Big Tex cup: 13 coupons; refills are 4 coupons

Bottled water: 2 coupons

If you want to try all 10 finalist dishes from the Big Tex Choice Awards, you’ll need to invest 154 coupons.

Rides and games

Another essential part of the fair are the rides and games, where you can win prizes like giant stuffed animals.

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Games range from 5 to 8 coupons for one to three chances to win a prize.

Most rides cost 8 coupons per person. Some cost more, such as a ride on Swan Lake, which costs 9; a visit to the Haunted Castle which costs 10 coupons; a ride on the Skyway for 12; or a ride on the Texas Star Ferris Wheel for 14.

Free activities

There are also free activities, such as the dog show, the piggy races or the exhibits. You can also walk through the car show, where you can pretend to ride in several of the latest model cars.

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Concerts are also free with admission.

You can visit the exhibit honoring Hispanic culture in Mundo Latino, which is dedicated to the Day of the Dead, or walk through the Livestock section to see animals such as chickens, cows, horses, or sheep.