State Fair of Texas

State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas
Genre	State fair
Dates	Starts last Friday of September and last 24 days. 29 September–22 October 2017.
Location(s)	Dallas
Years active	1886–1916, 1919–41, since 1945.
Attendance	2,618,500* (2010 *MCW)
Website
Official website

The State Fair of Texas is an annual state fair held in Dallas at historic Fair Park. The fair has taken place every year since 1886 except for varying periods during World War I and World War II. It usually begins the last Friday in September and ends 24 days later. While the State Fair of Texas considers quantifying its official attendance figures "too much of a hassle", it is still consistently recognized as one of the most highly attended and best state fairs in America.

The State Fair of Texas opening day ceremonies are highlighted by the annual Friday parade rolling through downtown Dallas.

Traditionally, the centerpiece of the fair has been the annual college football game between Oklahoma and Texas, nicknamed the Red River Rivalry (historically known as the "Texas-OU Game") and played in the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park. Also, the State Fair Classic, featuring Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University, is played at the Cotton Bowl during the fair. In 2010, Baylor and Texas Tech played their game during the fair for the first time. During the opening weekend of the 2013 fair, Army and Louisiana Tech played in the only Heart of Dallas Classic at the Cotton Bowl; it was abandoned thereafter. The new Texas State Fair Football Showdown is scheduled to take place on the third weekends of the 2017 and 2018 fairs and will feature Southern and Texas Southern.