The State Fair of Texas, running through October 29, has been a celebration of all things Texan for 128 years and once more, “Howdy folks!” will boom as mascot Big Tex welcomes fairgoers. He may be quirky, but he’s family and he is the iconic representative for this 24-day celebration of Texas. Each year, the State Fair of Texas celebrates the state with amazing food, shopping, live music and family fun. There are hundreds of daily shows, a nightly parade, free concerts on the Chevy Main Stage and throughout the grounds, popular livestock exhibits and competitions. Plus, the State Fair has the largest new car auto show in the Southwest.

New Texas-themed floats and music are featured in the nightly Starlight Parade. A notable addition is the new, 30-foot-by-50-foot Texas state flag flying proudly 120 feet in the air in the shadow of the Top o’ Texas Tower. In addition to the annual Chili and Barbeque cook-offs, the State Fair has been chosen to hold an International Dutch Oven Society Dutch Oven Cook-off this year. Participants prepare and cook a main dish, dessert and bread in a three-pot Dutch oven. The Grand Champion winner is eligible to go to the 2015 World Championship Cook-Off.

Texas Sports Legends, a Texas Sports Hall of Fame exhibition, will be featured in the Hall of State. Visiting from Waco exclusively for the Fair’s run, the attraction will showcase a selection of memorabilia from Texas sports legends recognized since the Hall of Fame’s start in 1951. As part of the State Fair’s mission to give back to the community, it has partnered with Canstruction to showcase architectural structures built using cans of food. At the end of the fair, the cans displayed will be donated for hunger relief efforts to the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant County Food Bank.

Fairgoers will enjoy a brand-new show in the historic Fair Park Band Shell, The Wild West Pet Palooza, featuring Joel Slaven’s Professional Animals, created especially for the State Fair of Texas. One unique aspect of the show is that all of the featured animals have been rescued from shelters across the country. Slaven and his staff of trainers have adopted hundreds of homeless pets and brought them back to star in shows all around the country, including Sea World. These animals are given a second chance at life, with a happy home, plenty of play time and most importantly, lots of love and affection.

A new colorful area near Fair Park’s Leonhardt Lagoon, Kids’ Boardwalk, will offer several free interactive activities for kids, including a Ronald McDonald show, pumpkin painting, fun games, photo opportunities and more.The Chevy Main Stage will feature top entertainers every weekend, plus live regional bands throughout the week. These concerts are free for fairgoers. This year’s Chevy Main Stage performers include: the Swon Brothers; Fantasia; Lucy Hale; Kool& the Gang; Siggno; a special Red River MusicFest event, featuring Deryl Dodd, Cody Canada & the Departed, Jason Boland & the Stragglers, and the Casey Donahew Band; Le Freak; Becky G; Danielle Bradbery; Collective Soul; and La Maquinaria Norteña.

Football fans will be able to step onto the fairgrounds to cheer on their teams. The AT&T Red River Showdown game between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners has been played in Cotton Bowl Stadium since 1929, and is an iconic staple of the State Fair of Texas. This year’s game will be held on October 11.

Ticket prices range from $13 up (2 and under free) and season passes are available for $39.95. Seniors get in free every Thurs. For tickets, schedules an more information call 214-565-9931 or visit BigTex.com. See ad, back page.