What to do, see, and hear at the 2011 State Fair of Texas

by Shannon Sutlief

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There's more than fried food, y'all.

DALLAS — No matter what's on the menu -- this year's award winners Fried Bubblegum and Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack or fair faves Fletcher's Corny Dogs and funnel cakes -- here's some advice: Pace yourself. Take a break between the fried savory treats, the somethings-on-a-stick, and deep-fried desserts, or you'll be spewing like the dancing waters of the Fair Park Esplanade. Fret not; there are plenty of other diversions.

Take our advice: For years, the Daughters of the American Revolution House has been the place to buy cheap drinks. Get bottled water and soda by the can for cash only. Check out the artifacts while you're there. Find cool air and clean bathrooms at the Auto Show in the Centennial and Automobile Buildings. The loos in the Tower Building's food court are also a safe bet. Get food samples from Go Texan businesses in the Food and Fiber Pavilion. Last year, the mini quesadillas were worth the wait. Need a respite from the Midway? Duck into the Greenhouse. The climate's a bit tropical, so park yourself in front of one of the fans hidden in the foliage and pretend to be enthralled by the model trains of the Texas Garden Railway. (They're pretty neat, actually.)

Room with a view: Everyone should ride the Texas Star ferris wheel ... once. Met your quota? Take the Texas SkyWay, which runs from Big Tex to the Thrillway. It's less expensive but still offers a bird's eye view of the fairgrounds.

Listen up: The Chevrolet Main Stage has concerts daily. This year's list of headliners includes teen idols (Mitchel Musso, Hanson), American Idols (Crystal Bowersox), country musicians (Randy Travis, Jack Ingram), and where-are-they-nows (KC and the Sunshine Band, The Bangles).

Just kickin' it: The Cotton Bowl's no longer home to the Cotton Bowl Classic, but college football still takes the field during the fair. See Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University in the State Fair Classic and Texas and OU in the Red River Rivalry.

Animal adventures: If you love seeing exotic animals in real life or real life animals doing exotic things, check out the Pig Races, Birds of the World, Amazing Dobermans, Gone to the Dogs Show, livestock displays, Spirit of the Horse show, and the Children's Medical Center Barnyard (a.k.a. The Place Where You Can Feed a Giraffe).

Light the night: Those in the park after dark may enjoy the Illumination Sensation show in which the fountains of the Esplanade are accompanied by lights, music, and pyrotechnics. Also nightly is the Starlight Parade of floats and giant puppets that travel the grounds starting at 7:15 p.m.

Honor thy forefathers: The Texas! Exhibit at the Hall of State celebrates the Lone Star State's history. See items such as the only original Juneteenth document and a life-sized replica of the Alamo (no, really; they swear).

Have a look: Many other Fair Park attractions also have special exhibits and activities during the fair. Museum of Nature and Science has Bob the Builder - Project: Build It!. The Women's Museum will display Stirring the Fire: A Global Movement to Empower Women and Girls and Petticoats and Slide Rules. African American Museum continues its showing of David Newton: Historic Moments and Timeless Monuments. Texas Discovery Gardens shows The Nature of Art -- visual arts inspired by flora -- plus Green Exhibit and Butterfly Releases and Taggings.

Ready to rumble: West Side Story is this year's State Fair musical. Starting October 4, the Jets and the Sharks will dance out their teenage aggression onstage at Music Hall at Fair Park, courtesy of Dallas Summer Musicals.

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