My Fair Chevy

September 27, 2012 12:59 pm CT

It’s a beautiful time of year for every Texan. Football is in full force. The replacement referees didn’t ruin any of our games, the weather is getting cooler, and the Texas State Fair is upon us! Every other state has county and state fairs, but nobody does it quite like Texas. Preaching to the choir, I know. Anywho, we wanted to make sure you were well equipped with what to expect when you make the trip to State Park.

What makes the fair so great? Big Tex? The attractions? The food? It’s like the Tootsie Pop adage, “The world may never know.” Let’s just embrace all the greatness it has to offer.

For the 60^th straight year, Big Tex will be there to greet you when you walk in the fairgrounds. Although his hair has grayed a bit, there’s no denying that the man still looks good. Where else in the world will somebody warmly embrace you with a, “Howdy partner,” 50 feet above your head?

The attractions will be everywhere once again. Presumably, a lot of people will be coming from the Red River Rivalry already, but that’s just the tip of the (what would be fried) iceberg. The Reliant Starlight Parade, Greenhouse on the Midway, Texas Garden Railway, there is so much to see. You’ve got Farmer Mike, the Picasso of Pumpkin Carvers, out there slicing and dicing. Pig races and marionettes. Basically, think of something that would make you smile. That’s probably at the State Fair.

All the great rides of Midway will be back in full force. The Texas SkyWay, the Texas Star Ferris wheel, the 1914 Dentzel carousel. The Chinese Lantern Festival will be not only be making its Texas State Fair debut, it’s also making its debut in the entire southwest portion of America.

Finally, you can’t go the fair without trying some of the fried food. Anything and everything on location could be fried, but there are a select few that stand above the rest. The finalists include:

• Chicken Fried Cactus Bits
• Deep-Fried Divine Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
• Deep Fried Mac-N-Cheese Slider
• Fried Pork Wing
• Picnic on a Stick

But the winners of the 2012 State Fair of Texas: Big Tex Choice Awards are…

Best Taste: Deep Fried Jambalaya

Most Creative: Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll

With the threat of a bacon shortage in the coming years, be sure to get your fix today. Hope to see you at the fair. Sound off in the comment section below with some of your State Fair favorites.