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Home » Entertainment
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Big Tex After Dark

7 nighttime things to do at the State Fair of Texas

7 nighttime things to do at the State Fair of Texas

By CultureMap Create
Aug 27, 2018, 11:37 am
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Slideshow
Big Tex at the State Fair
Visiting the Fair doesn't always have to be an all-day event. Photo courtesy of State Fair of Texas
Texas Star Ferris wheel
The Texas Star is all lit up at night. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Big Tex and State Fair of Texas at sunset
Big Texas is just as happy to welcome you in the evening. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Float in the Starlight Parade
The Starlight Parade begins nightly at 7:15 pm. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Car show at the State Fair of Texas
The Texas Auto Show is the highest-attended auto show in the southwest. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Midway at the State Fair of Texas
The lights of the Midway are even more exciting at night. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Big Tex holding a Dr Pepper can
Bring an empty Dr Pepper can after 5 pm, and your admission is only $9. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Concert at the State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas presents 24 days of free concerts on the Chevrolet Main Stage. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Couple holding a stuffed animal at the Midway
Remember that it doesn't even start getting dark until later. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Illumination Sensation light show
The Mattress Firm Illumination Sensation begins nightly at 8 pm. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas
Big Tex at the State Fair
Texas Star Ferris wheel
Big Tex and State Fair of Texas at sunset
Float in the Starlight Parade
Car show at the State Fair of Texas
Midway at the State Fair of Texas
Big Tex holding a Dr Pepper can
Concert at the State Fair of Texas
Couple holding a stuffed animal at the Midway
Illumination Sensation light show

The State Fair of Texas fun doesn't end when the sun goes down — perhaps it's even better in the evening. Picture this: Midway lights, a tasty funnel cake, live music, and the Texas stars twinkling above it all. What could be better?

Here are just seven of the many things you can enjoy at the Fair at night:

1. Get a birds-eye view
Whether you want to take a spin on the 212-foot-tall Texas Star Ferris wheel or soar straight to the sky in the 500-foot Top O' Texas Tower, both rides are just as relaxing and magnificent as the other. There's nothing quite like seeing all the lights from above, and the view is great for planning out everything you want to do the rest of the night.

2. Wine not?
Why wouldn't you want to visit a wine garden? Located across from the Creative Arts building, the State Fair Wine Garden offers spectacular wines made in the Lone Star State. Wine not your fave? Travel down a little bit further toward the Coliseum to enjoy a new spot called Backyard Steak-Out & Pizzeria. Both are great locations to view the nightly Starlight Parade.

3. Float on
A longtime State Fair tradition, the Starlight Parade hosts a procession of more than 10 Texas-themed floats. The parade includes lively music, historic parade wagons, stilt walkers, animated characters in costume, and more. It begins nightly at 7:15 pm.

4. Light the way
Lighting up the night, the Mattress Firm Illumination Sensation blends high-energy pop music and sophisticated acrobat dancers with art, technology, and pyrotechnics over Fair Park's historic Esplanade. The show begins nightly at 8 pm.

5. Rock out
The State Fair of Texas presents 24 days of free concerts on the Chevrolet Main Stage, featuring a variety of musical acts across all genres. The stage showcases national and regional talent of all types, with evening performances from such artists as Aaron Watson, Ludacris, Austin Mahone and many more. Did we mention an Elvis tribute performance?

6. Take the wheel
Stretched across three areas at the Fair, the Texas Auto Show is the highest-attended auto show in the southwest. No surprise, since we're in Texas, right? Catch the Truck Zone before the sun goes down, then head into the Centennial and Automobile buildings to see the latest models from the world's leading manufacturers.

7. Save a buck (or several)
Perhaps the most wallet-friendly reason for hitting up the Fair after hours is that when you bring an empty Dr Pepper can, your admission goes down to only $9 after 5 pm.

---

To learn more about the State Fair of Texas and purchase tickets, visit BigTex.com.

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