四虎影院 spent a day at the fair talking with people from across the state about their their favorite fair foods, activities and memories. For many, the event is a longstanding tradition. Others were meeting Big Tex for the first time.
'It's kind of like a rite of passage'
For Alex Sanchez, attending the meant providing his family with an experience he longed for as a kid.
鈥淕rowing up we were a low income family," Sanchez said. "I have the opportunity to provide a little bit more.鈥�
The Sanchez family of five have been attending the state fair for the past four years.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a Texas tradition, you know, it's kind of like a rite of passage,鈥� he said.
As his kids grow older Sanchez can see their interest change from carnival rides to food. On their list to try this year weredoubled-stuffed fried Oreos, funnel cake and corny dogs.
鈥淭hey're thankful for us being able to give them that opportunity to come out here." Sanchez said. "It's a privilege and I know for sure they don't take it for granted.鈥�
When the state fair was canceled last year due to the pandemic, University of North Texas student Rebecca Martinez put her baking skills to the test and attempted to make her state fair favorite: doubled-stuffed fried Oreos.
鈥淚 feel like you can't go wrong with fried Oreos. Those are my go-to. I made them at home and they were pretty good, but you always gotta eat them here,鈥� said Martinez, who was excited to share the experience with her boyfriend, a first-time fair goer.
Erique Jaloma was carrying his two-year-old Mila around the fairgrounds. He said they rode the ladybug carnival kid-ride earlier that day.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already tried some rides and introduced her to some new food," Jaloma said, adding he hopes to bring Mila back every year.
'I definitely missed it a lot last year'
For siblings Victoria and Ruben Villalobos from Arlington, the fair was about carnival games and corny dogs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been so great, I鈥檝e been so excited,鈥� Victoria said. 鈥淚鈥檓 pretty sure I鈥檓 gonna come again a bunch of times with my friends. I definitely missed it a lot last year.鈥�
Her family played a water gun game a few times to win a squishmallow for her. That was at the top of Victoria's fair to-do list. Ruben, hadn鈥檛 had a ton of luck yet.
鈥淚鈥檝e wasted like $150 here today, and I鈥檝e won nothing, man,鈥� Ruben said. 鈥淚鈥檓 telling you, I鈥檓 the worst. If you saw me play a game, you would think I lost my motor skills.鈥�
He said he fell a few times on a game where people had to climb a rotating rope ladder, and on the last rung at that. He also tried to get a high enough score in ski ball to win a prize, but said he 鈥渃hoked each time.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e just been wanting to win this big Sonic [the Hedgehog] plushie,鈥� Ruben said. 鈥淎t this point, I don鈥檛 even care if it鈥檚 big. It鈥檚 just a personal goal. I don鈥檛 even know if I like the character. It just drives me.鈥�
Aliyah Pedrosa had made a special trip to Dallas from Keller with her boyfriend just to visit the fair.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 usually go out to fairs like this, because crowds make me nervous,鈥� Pedrosa said. 鈥淢y first time going was about three or four years ago, so for me it feels like a brand-new experience and I love it.鈥�
The highlight for her was the petting zoo, where everything from farm animals to zebras were housed in a large indoor tent.
鈥淚t was a really weird assortment, but it was really fun,鈥� Pedrosa said. 鈥淲e bought some feed just for the little goats and we gave it all away to them.鈥�
Dedron Jordan has been coming to the State Fair of Texas his whole life, ever since he was a toddler. Now, he鈥檚 getting to experience the fair with the rest of his family, including the younger members.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a whole generational change for me,鈥� Jordan said. 鈥淚 was coming when I was back at their age, and so now, at 42, it鈥檚 their turn to enjoy.鈥�
Jordan said he enjoyed watching the kids ride the log flume and seeing animals like horses and pigs up close.
He鈥檚 from the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but was getting ready for a move to Arkansas that weekend. He鈥檇 been at the fair almost five hours, making the most of his last visit for a while.
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