Big Tex- Texas State Fair

   Today was the opening day for the 

      *****TEXAS STATE FAIR*****

Texas State Fair first opened in 1886.

Big Texas 2024.    Big Tex stands 55 feet tall.

The Texas State Fair would not be the same without Big Tex.  His Distinct strong voice greets Fair goers by saying "HOWDY FOLKS"  

His first debut to the State Fair was in 1952. 

 

Before he was Big Tex, he was a Big Santa!

The big Santa was originally located in a small town about 100 miles East of Dallas by the name of Kerns, Texas.  It was built to attract Christmas Shoppers. 

 Fair officials paid $750 for the Santa in 1951 and the big Santa was transformed into "BIG TEX" 

The face on the Santa makes me laugh.

1952 Big Tex

I have photos of Sam and I standing in front of him back in 1972, but sadly, I could not find them today.  I will have to go through some more photo albums to find them.  

We haven't been to the state fair in about 20 years.  It would be fun to go back, but not to ride the rides...  Anything that moves fast makes me sick at my stomach.  

A few of the NEW foods at this year's state fair include:

1.  Bluebonnet Bliss - Nothing says Texas like the new Bluebonnet Bliss by Dippin’ Dots®. Indulge in the classic Vanilla Ice Cream Dippin’ Dots® mixed with the fan-favorite Cherry ‘n Blue Razz Icee® flavor. This flavorful duo was created just for the Fair and is hand-mixed just for you! Stop by their Midway booth or at the newly renovated stand by the Front Gate. 

2.  Caramel Macchiato Fritters - A classic, heaping serving of delicious caramel forms the nucleus of these creamy coffee cake balls. Each cake ball is dipped in beignet batter and fried until golden brown. With three to an order, these Caramel Macchiato Fritters are garnished with whipped cream, caramel, and white chocolate drizzle. You didn’t think we forgot the coffee, did you? For a finishing touch, use your syringe full of espresso to inject into every delicious bite! Coffee chains, beware…there’s a new Macchiato in town! 

3.  Cheeseception -  One heck of a sandwich! No—you’re not seeing double. This is a sandwich inside of a sandwich! Savory mushrooms, crisp arugula, and prosciutto with melty, sweet, and smoky cheeses, all in between classic grilled cheeses. All the flavors to make your taste buds and your stomach want more. 

5.  Cookie Butter Nachos - Discover a whole new level of nacho love with Cookie Butter Nachos! These nachos take the concept to a whole new level by using freshly fried flour tortilla chips coated in a heavenly blend of cinnamon sugar. 1The highlight of this indulgent treat is the generous scoop of homemade cookie butter cheesecake filling, which adds a creamy and rich element to the dish. To further elevate the taste, dollops of homemade cream cheese icing are generously added on top, followed by a drizzle of gooey caramel sauce. The finishing touch is a sprinkle of crushed Biscoff® cookies, providing a delightful texture to this extraordinary dessert. 

6. Fat Bacon Pickle Fries -These deliciously perfect slivers of dill pickles are battered and fried until golden brown. They are lightly dusted in a spicy ranch pepper seasoning. Lastly, they are ladled with the perfect blend of queso with just a hint of heat. As if it wasn’t perfect enough, this masterpiece is topped with thick-cut maple caramelized bacon chunks, sour cream, jalapeños, and chives for an explosion of flavor. 

Plus about  10 other new items.  Of course....on the top of the list is the "Fletcher's Corndogs!"

The Famous Fletcher's Corndogs.  

I think I just made myself hungry just writing about all these foods.  

Happy Weekend Friends....

Shug