Your 2011 State Fair of Texas deals and discounts, all in one place

by Lea Ann Stundins of Mommy's Wish List

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Full price tickets? No way.

FAIR PARK — It's time again my friends for the State Fair of Texas. 10 days and counting! Fried Bubblegum anyone? (What?) Here in Texas, it's practically the law that your child have so many Texas State Fair stuffed animal prizes on their bed that there's no more room for your child. And as far as eats go, if you can catch it and deep fry it, you can probably find it at the fair. Extra points if it comes on a stick. As all good fair food should.

Photo by Sarah Blaskovich

Olive and her brother, King, are just getting started with the fried goodness at the State Fair.

How many car radios can your toddler re-program in 10 minutes in the Car Building? And how many times have you stood in the butter line for just one more buttered roll? Spun the wheel for a powdered sugar donut. Drooled with desire watching the pie judges judge. This is your once-a-year chance to pet a llama, harvest crops in exchange for cheese and crackers, buy every "As Seen On TV" product you've ever seen on TV, and see every sort of dance known to man. FYI, mommies, the nervous breakdown beer is the cheapest in the Food Building.

Load up the young'ns, bring the baby leash if need be (you won't hear any judgment from me), and head over to the Texas State Fair in Fair Park this year. Check the daily calendar of events to find your favorites. You can even create a list of all the events for the very day you'll be there. What else can you see and do at the fair? Wine tasting. FUNNEL CAKE. Dobermans dancing. Storytime. Puppets. Acrobats. Pumpkin Carving. Tiny bunnies. Parades. Racing pigs. Bumper Cars. Celebrity Chefs. Oh, yeah, and football.

The Texas State Fair runs from September 30 to October 23. I'll be there Wednesday October 5, in Chevy Town Square as one of the #ChevyGirls testing out the new Diamond Chevy Traverse from 8:30 to 10:30! And for all you '80s fans, The Bangles will be live in concert on October 22 at 8:30 p.m., and admission is free with your State Fair ticket that day.

If you go, do not pay retail! Tickets are $16 at the gate. Use one of these handy ways to get a discount. This is what I've heard will be available:

Advance ticket sales online: Get a ticket online here now, for $13.95. Kids and seniors are $10.95 advance. You can even order sheets of food coupons in advance too!

Opening Day September 30: Bring a 20 oz. bottle of Dasani water (or any Coca-Cola product) for donation to the North Texas Food Bank containers at fair admission gates and get in for $5 per (per donation) per person.

DART combo ticket: Available at Kroger Food Stores, $17 buys one general admission to 2011 State Fair of Texas & round-trip transportation on DART the day of your visit. The Green Line drops off at front gate and a second station is located within easy walking distance to the MLK entrance. Advance ticket is $14.50 at Kroger without the DART pass. Already have a ticket and just need a ride? Read on.

DART fair pass (transportation only): You can also pre-purchase just a DART pass for $4 to use on either Saturday, October 1 or Saturday, October 8 here.

Kroger/Cinemark season pass: Get a season pass at Kroger for $29.95, and it includes unlimited visits for the pass holder, one buddy pass for one visit Monday thru Friday only, and a Cinemark Movie pass good Sunday through Thursday that must be used by October 31.

Dr Pepper $4 Tuesdays: Every Tuesday, bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $4. Most rides on those Tuesdays (excluding the Thrillway, Texas Star, and selected other attractions) are 5 coupons.

Dr Pepper $5 after 5 p.m.: Bring an empty Dr Pepper can to any State Fair admission gate after 5 p.m. and enter for $5.

Kroger "Three for $2" Wednesdays: Admission is $2 for each visitor bringing three cans of food on Wednesday only for area food banks.

Coke $5 Thursdays: Bring an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product and enter the Fair for $5 admission on Thursdays.

Coca Cola-sponsored student tickets: If your kid is a Dallas ISD student, they will most likely get a free ticket sent home with them. Look for it! Dallas ISD Fair Day is October 7 for elementary, and October 14 for middle and high school. (That means those kids are off school that day and being encouraged to go to the Fair with their free ticket.)

Seniors Day sponsored by DRIVE4COPD: Free Thursdays for Senior Citizens 60 years and older.

Dickies Day: Thursday, October 6, wear and show your Dickies logo clothing item at the staffed tent outside the gate and receive a voucher. The voucher is for free admission on Thursday October 6 only.

Any Day McDonald's Deal: McDonald's offers $4 off general admission with one of their State Fair coupons (available on tray liner or bag stuffers) any day of the fair. A free child ticket (with purchase of general admission) coupon is also distributed by McDonald’s. Offer may not be combined with any other offer.

Museum of Nature & Science members: Free admission for you! Members receive a voucher this week (I got mine last week) good for free admission for two adults and up to four children. Voucher is good on any week day of the fair. You're not a member? Join now, silly, and get your voucher!

West Side Story at the Music Hall: If you buy a ticket to the West Side Story performance at the Music Hall at Fair Park, it will include a same-day fair admission.

Got any more deals? Know where to score samples and freebies in the fairgrounds? Leave your hints in a comment below! Share!! I'll update this post with any new information as we get closer to the fair!

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