Insider secrets to making your dollars go farther at the State Fair of Texas


The Hatch HQ staff spent a lot of time at the State Fair of Texas last weekend, walking the midway, judging the blue ribbon contests for pies and breads, and enjoying the spectacular weather.

From one end of the fairgrounds to the other, the Fair has hasn’t looked this grand or inviting in years. New vendors, new signage, new coats of paint – Its new face take some of the sting out of spending big bucks to play here.

New vendors, new signage, new coats of paint — it all takes some of the sting out of emptying your wallet to eat or play here.

Looking to stretch your dollar (and ride coupons)? Here’s a hidden secret: The Fair offers discounts on food and rides on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the fair’s slower days. On Tuesdays, rides cost fewer tickets. And on Thursdays, many of the food vendors discount their prices to drive sales.

Into pigs and cows and rabbits? The Fair is big business, too. Last Friday, the 71st Annual Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction set another record for its Grand Champion Market Steer. This year’s prize-winning steer was purchased by an anonymous donor for $155,000, which brought the amount raised for Texas youth in the auction to $1.5 million.