Concert News

State Fair of Texas unveils free concert lineup for 2017 season

Arlington native Maren Morris is one of the musical acts that will perform at the 2017 State Fair of Texas.

Photo courtesy of Columbia

Rap, pop, country, and Norteño music will be on the bill at the State Fair of Texas, which has announced the first round of free concerts for the 2017 fair.

Local country music star Maren Morris kicks off opening night on Friday, September 29, at 8:30 pm. Raised in Arlington, Morris released her major-label studio album, Hero, in 2016. She was awarded New Artist of the Year at the 2016 Country Music Awards and received a Grammy for her debut single, "My Church."

Rap artist Flo Rida and his pop protégé, Macy Kate, give a dual performance on Saturday, September 30, at 8:30 pm. His five singles include "Right Round" and "Club Can't Handle Me." Mary Kate, 18, is signed to Flo Rida's record label, IMG/StrongArm.

Tejano music phenomenon La Mafia perform on Sunday, October 1, at 5:30 pm. The Houston-based group has produced 38 albums with a combined total of more than 12 million copies sold.

R&B artist Ro James will perform on Saturday, October 7, at 2 pm. Ro signed with RCA Records who released his single, "Permission," in 2015, and his debut album, Eldorado, in 2017.

Female trio Wilson Phillips takes the stage on Sunday, October 8, at 5:30 pm. After five Grammy nominations and a Billboard Music Award, the band took a long hiatus. But they've reunited to collaborate on a variety of projects, such as a cameo in the 2011 film Bridesmaids.

The Charlie Daniels Band performs on Sunday, October 15, at 5:30 pm. Daniels has won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and is a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Christian pop duo For King & Country perform on Saturday, October 21, at 8:30 pm. Founded by brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, FK&C released a debut, Crave, in 2012, and a second studio album in 2014. The brothers have performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Today Show, in addition to playing more than 150 shows throughout their 2016 tour.

Los Traileros Del Norte perform on Sunday, October 22, at 3 pm, closing out the series. One of the most popular acts in the Norteño music genre, Los Traileros Del Norte is the all-male ensemble of six, incorporating a variety of instruments and sounds, including drums, accordion, percussion, and bass.

Regional acts for the State Fair of Texas Chevrolet Main Stage will be announced later this summer.

In addition to the Chevrolet Main Stage, the Fair offers daily live music performances on multiple other stages throughout the grounds. The lineup for the Cotton Bowl Plaza Stage ranges from Tejano to classic country, and features performances from Coffey Anderson, the Tejas Brothers, Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band, and Vince Vance & the Valiants.

Other stages include the Midway Stage, nestled in the heart of the Midway inside the Coca-Cola Picnic Grove, and the Dr Pepper Stage, next to Nimitz Circle.

This year's fair runs September 29 through October 22.

state-fair music

Rev up

Fans can meet IndyCar star Pato O’Ward ahead of Arlington Grand Prix

Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images

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Fans of IndyCar racing can meet one of the stars of the circuit ahead of this weekend's big Java House Grand Prix of Arlington: Pato O’Ward will make a pit stop at a Dallas-area Walmart for an exclusive fan meet-and-greet a few days ahead of the race.

According to a release, O'Ward will appear at Walmart Supercenter at 200 US Highway 80 E., in Mesquite, at 1 pm Wednesday, March 11.

"Fresh off a career-best 2nd place finish in the 2025 Championship, O’Ward will be available for photos, autographs, and a look at how he fuels his race-day focus with Electrolit, his official hydration partner (also Grand Prix of Arlington hydration partner)," the announcement says.

Get there early and line up for these reasons:

The first 100 guests in line to meet Pato will receive a custom cowboy hat.
Grab a photo, snag an autograph, and rehydrate with a refreshing Electrolit. ("See how the driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet stays sharp for 200mph battles.")
Hear firsthand from the man who recently threw the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game to celebrate this landmark race.

The meet-and-greet is free to attend, and reservations are not required.

O'Ward was born in Monterrey, Mexico and went to high school in San Antonio. He honed his legendary "edge-of-your-seat" driving style on Texas tracks and returns to DFW for the first-ever Grand Prix event in Arlington.

The Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, running March 13-15, will feature a 2.73-mile track layout that will weave through Arlington’s sports and entertainment district, which includes both AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, the home bases of the Dallas Cowboys and the Texas Rangers, as well as Choctaw Stadium, the Arlington Convention Center, and more.

The event in Arlington marks a return to the Dallas-Fort Worth area for the NTT IndyCar Series after Texas Motor Speedway - which hosted a race every year between 1997 and 2023 - was dropped in 2024. Tickets are available here.

Many local businesses and restaurants are hosting related events and viewing parties, as well.

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