Big Tex Says Full Price Is for Suckers

How to get into the State Fair of Texas on the cheap

The State Fair of Texas starts Friday, September 27, at Fair Park, which means that most of us will now be on the hunt for discount tickets. Ticket prices at the gate range from $17 for general admission and $13 for seniors and children under 48 inches tall. But with all of the different options for discounts, only a sucker would actually pay full price.

Buy your tickets in advance: The first discount opportunity is also the easiest. Just go to the State Fair site to buy your tickets — discounts are $1 for seniors and children under 48 inches tall, and $2 for everybody else. Unfortunately, you can't print tickets at home or have them reserved at will call, so you have to pay for shipping, which negates the actual discount part of it. You can also save a little by buying advance tickets at your local Kroger. General admission tickets there cost $15.50, but no senior or children discounts are available.

Season passes: If you're a State Fair fanatic, there's no better deal than the season pass. A pre-purchased pass for $39.95 will allow you to go as many times as your heart desires. Plus, it comes with a one-day-only guest ticket and a free ticket to use at any Cinemark theater. You can also get a season pass at Kroger for $34.95.

North Texas Food Bank deals: On opening day, anyone who brings in a full 20 ounce Coca-Cola product or Dasani water will get into the fair for $6. Also, NTFB has teamed up with Kroger for a special deal every Wednesday, where everybody who brings in at least three cans of food gets in for $3. Remember, each person must have the same donation to receive the discount; don't show up with just three cans of food and expect to get the discount for your whole brood.

It's good to be a senior: Sure, seniors — anyone 60 and over — already get a $4 discount from the regular price, but every Thursday during the State Fair is Senior Day, where those lucky folks can get in absolutely free.

McDonald's coupons: Eat at any area McDonald's, and you're likely to get a coupon for $3 off general admission, good for any day at the fair. They also have a coupon where a child can get in for half price when an adult pays full price, a discount of $6.50.

Dr Pepper deals: Make sure to save up those empty Dr Pepper cans, as each one is good for $5 admission on Tuesdays or $8 admission any day after 5 pm.

Coca-Cola Thursdays: In addition to the opening-day deal, every Thursday is Coca-Cola Thursday, where an empty 20-ounce bottle is good for $6 admission.

Dickies Day: Forget the Coke bottles on Thursday, October 3 — just make sure to wear any piece of clothing with a Dickies logo on it, and you'll get in for free.

Cinemark Thursdays: Movie lovers can trade one piece of entertainment for another on any Thursday, as a ticket stub from any Cinemark theater gets you in for free.

KISS-FM Fridays: Go to the KISS-FM site and print the coupon for $5 off general admission on any Friday. Make sure to print a coupon for every person in your group.

Discount on Midway rides: Saving on ticket prices is one thing, but everyone knows it's the rides and the food that really drive up the cost. If you go on any Tuesday, though, all rides except for thrill rides and the Texas Star are only six coupons, a savings of anywhere between two to six coupons (or $1-$3) per ride.

We've rounded up as many discount opportunities that we could find; if you know of any others, make sure to tell us about them in the comments.

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Dinosaur Display

Rare dinosaur exhibition makes American debut at Perot Museum in Dallas

Photo courtesy of Naturalis Biodiversity Center

The March of the Triceratops exhibition will go display at the Perot Museum in Dallas in July 2027.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science will become the first North American venue to host the international tour of The March of the Triceratops when it comes to Dallas in July 2027.

The immersive exhibition features five Triceratops fossil skeletons from the only known herd ever discovered, offering rare insight into how the enormous plant-eating dinosaurs may have lived 66-68 million years ago, according to a release from the Perot Museum.

The March of the Triceratops presents more than 1,200 bones and fossil fragments from five Triceratops horridus discovered together in a single rock layer near Newcastle, Wyoming from a late Cretaceous-aged rock unit called the Lance Formation.

The prehistoric herd and its Late Cretaceous environment are brought to life through soundscapes, animations, augmented reality, and life-size models.

Visitors will be able to see a true-to-size female Triceratops model and animatronic calf, explore interactive stations and touchscreens, and take part in hands-on fossil discovery experiences.

“The March of the Triceratops offers our community the rare opportunity to experience a truly landmark exhibition of some of the most complete Triceratops skeletons ever found,” said Dr. Linda Silver, Eugene McDermott Chief Executive Officer, Perot Museum, in a statement.

“Dinosaurs have the power to capture our imagination like nothing else, and seeing these remarkable specimens up close is the type of 'wow' moment that inspires awe. Complementing the outstanding scientific work and discoveries of our own paleontology team, we’re proud to make Dallas a dinosaur destination.”

The exhibition was developed by Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Netherlands and presented and toured in partnership with MUSEUMsPARTNER.

The fossils of the five Triceratops were discovered in 2013 and collected over six field seasons between 2015 and 2019 by a team of researchers, paleontologists, preparators, students, and volunteers from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.

The touring exhibition combines years of fieldwork, advanced imaging, and precision-built structural design to recreate the prehistoric world.

It comes to Dallas following presentations at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, and the Auckland Museum, New Zealand.

The exact run dates of the exhibition at the Perot Museum have not yet been announced.

science museums history dinosaurs exhibitions-visual-arts