State Fair of Texas

State Fair, by Eric Dowdle

“It’s so fluffy I could die!”

Have all y’all ever won one of those stuffed animals at the fair?

Since 1886, the State Fair of Texas has been beloved by Texans and folks in them thar parts. It usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. It is the largest state fair in the United States.

Eric certainly had fun doing research in this decadent world of deep-fried goodness, especially sampling the Fletcher’s Corny Dogs for which they’ve become famous. Recent years have seen the introduction of new unusual deep-fried items, including deep-fried Oreos, Twinkies, s’mores, pork ribs, cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly, banana sandwiches, and most recently a batter-based fried Coke. The one Eric had to call me about was the deep-fried butter. Could it get any more gluttonous then deep fried butter!? Perhaps once a year you could indulge in a 1036-calories snack.

And if all ya’ll get a hankerin’ for a heap of them thar vittles, I reckin you should bring yer people, air up them tires and scoot over yonder to the State Fair o’ Texas! I figure these purdy vittles could be yours hook line and sinker and lickity split like! And them aint none pittlin’ grits neither. Ya hear!?

The guys at Traveling with Eric Dowdle had a full conversation about their favorite fair foods. Dave and Kelly both love cotton candy. Eric’s enamored by the turkey legs. Everyone seemed to love the lemonade. And of course, anything deep fried.

What’s your favorite fair food?

While Eric was at the State Fair, he decided to ride the famous Texas Star Ferris Wheel. He ran into a couple (Brent and Katie) who were having a fine time. Eric said, “they looked like everyone else walking the street with their wide smiles and Everything’s Bigger in Texas t-shirts.” But as Eric got to know them more he found that they were owners of 5 refineries in Galveston. “The Fair’s for everyone”, Eric surmised. “Here we’re all just Texans having a knee slappin’ good time!”

Big Tex

Special Guest: Sue Gooding, Public Relations Director of the State Fair.

Sue’s favorite thing to promote about their fair is the installing of their host, Big Tex. “We install Big Tex the Monday before we open. Kids get so excited! They come from all over the neighborhoods to come to see a crane lift him. This signals that the fair is about to open!” Sue told us that this 52-foot Texan talks, waves his hand and moves his head. Every three years they even get him new clothes.

Sue’s favorite fair food is the Fletchers Corny Dog. Her 2^nd favorite “has to be the bacon wrapped fried cinnamon roll!”

When asked about their long-time rivals with other state fairs, Sue causally stated in customary souther charm, “There’s enough room for all of us to have bragging rights.”

You just gotta love the hospitable people of the South! And as Eric states so eloquently …