My First Weekend at the State Fair of Texas

Howdy, Folks!  Yes, it's that time of year again and the State Fair of Texas has officially opened.  If you have never experienced the State Fair, you are missing out. It is the largest state fair in the U.S. and it certainly does not disappoint.  Just like everything else in Texas, it's big!  Big Tex is your host and he greets you each day with a big, slow, "Howdy, Folks".  

Yep, Born in Texas and Built by Texans.  The beloved Tundra greets you at the entrance of the outdoor display:

Uh oh, this is what greeted me when I arrived on Saturday:  lots of rain and some flooding reminiscent of last year's fair:

 Lots of rain=really wet sneakers.  Those hand dryers come in really handy on the wet days.

 The show!  Trackside Tina is a great addition this year with some great prizes, a little NHRA and a whole lot of Kyle Busch from the Toyota Racing NASCAR team:

 Perhaps my favorite edition to Toyota Live this year is the new intro:  new music, new graphics, and my picture on the Jumbotron!

 Never a dull moment on the stage:  dancing to our intro music with my co-host, Chris Petschler.

Sunday was the most incredible day with beautiful fall weather, the sun shining brightly, and more laughs onstage than my stomach could handle.  Thanks for a great first weekend, Dallas!  We have 20 more days at the State Fair of Texas, be sure to stop by and say "hi"!

Dallas: Day 4

Okay, we are at Day 4 of 25 and I am covered in layers of SPF 70, bug spray, and dirt! So, I am taking the best showers ever while I am here in Dallas. Each morning, I hop the Green Line on the DART and find myself surrounded by robots. Robots? Have they taken over the city? Someone must explain this to me and please explain why the robots have little bird friends. This robot is holding his little bird friend:

The fountains at the entrance of the State Fair of Texas reminds me of Disney....or Vegas. I haven't seen the light show yet, but it happens every night at 8 PM as I run out of the gates to catch the DART.

What's a fair without agriculture and a few carved pumpkins? These are pretty amazing and labor intensive. Last year, my pumpkin consisted of two triangles for eyes and a crooked half moon for a mouth. I guess they won't need my talents for this booth.

I showed you Big Tex from the front. Here's his butt. It's BIG!

This is how I know it is 3:40 PM every day. The Marine band marches by with military precision. I also know I am halfway through my shift.

Yes, everything really is fried at the fair. Fried grilled cheese.......

Fried Peaches and Cream.......

People line up like they selling the lastest iPhone at the Apple store. They wait and wait for fried, greasy, deliciousness.....

And then they hop the tram because they are too full to walk.....

At the end of the day, it's all about the glass of wine, cookies, and a glass of chocolate milk to wash down all of the fried food congealed in your arteries.

I still haven't tried the hit of the fair: Fried Butter! Stay tuned for more pictures. If you missed the first in the series, click here:
Dallas: Opening Day

Part 3.

Part 4.

Part 5: Part 5.

Opening Day: Dallas

A photo of me and my Prius on the Jumbotron and the REAL me jumping next to the photo during rehearsal.

The show opened in Dallas and I feel like I am kid in a big Southern Disneyland for the next 3 1/2 weeks. I have never seen anything like this, so I am in awe of all of my surroundings. As a Yankee from Boston, we didn't have State Fairs like this. We had the very small Topsfield Fair, but that wasn't an annual trip. I think I went 3 or 4 times during my New England years. So, here I am plucked straight out of LA and into the nation's largest state fair, The State Fair of Texas. I hope to blog my adventures in photos, so you can get a taste of what I am experiencing....

Big Tex greets you at the gate. He's huge and he talks! Dickies sponsors Big Tex and all of the State Fair employees, so you see a lot of old school Dickies fashions walking around. Big Tex will tell you everything that is happening that day at the fair. He's definitely in the know......oh, and remember, everything is bigger in Texas.

What's this? It's a Cobra! Yes, this sweet-faced boy is named Cobra. He's one of our fantastic show runners who will be with us all season. He provides endless hours of entertainment on the road, so you may see some Cobra sightings in my blog this year.

The Swan Boats! I almost felt like I was back in Boston, but I snapped back to reality. These are actually prettier and better maintained.... and they have shade with the umbrellas. Shhh, don't tell Boston I said that.

Okay, corn dogs were born at the State Fair, but they call them "corny dogs". Until I try one, I still maintain that the best corn dogs are sold at Disneyland. Yes, I said Disneyland. A co-worker tried the corny dog and said it was only "okay". That doesn't encourage me to try one, but the way the Texans were slathering their dogs with mustard, I realized it is serious business here. Stay tuned on the corny dog versus corn dog taste off.

And if you didn't know, football is a religion in this state. I couldn't tell you how to play the game and the only reason I know the name Tom Brady is because he is married to Gisele, the supermodel. So, anyway, the fair grounds are next to the Cotton Bowl and I've been told some big games are coming up. I guess I will see what real football is all about......
Come back for more photos and fun as I experience The State Fair of Texas. Yee Haw!

To see Part 2, click here: Part 2

Part 3: Part 3.

Part 4: Part 4.

Part 5: Part 5.