The 2017 State Fair of Texas doesn't start until September 29, but the State Fair team is already in full press release mode. This time, it's news about several new attractions lined up for this year's event.
World War I
The fair is marking the 100th anniversary of America's entry into World War I with two exhibits. "Texas in the First World War" provides an in-depth look into Lone Star State history, with wartime memorabilia and vehicles such as a Model T ambulance and a 1917 Indian motorcycle. "America and World War I" showcases original artifacts ranging from personal items to weaponry gathered from all participating nations during the Great War.
Cartoonist
"Drawing Power: The Editorial Art of John Knott" pays tribute to cartoonist John Knott, who worked for The Dallas Morning News for 52 years. They are claiming this as new but it is already on display at the Hall of State, so that's a little sketchy which is an excellent choice of words since it's about a cartoonist.
Agriculture
"Agriculture in Texas" is a new exhibit in the Science Place building that spotlights community gardens and urban farming. In collaboration with engineering students from the Hunt Institute at SMU, the Fair is hosting "Evie," a trailer-turned-mobile greenhouse.
The Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center is a new facility that the release says will attract new shows, meetings, events, and conventions to Fair Park throughout the year. It also says that the Fair will expand the scope of livestock and agriculture activities, one good, the other not so good.
Magic
World of Magic is a new attraction with magic tricks and illusions featuring performances by illusionists and a floating robot.
The release says that fairgoers can find Backyard Circus at a new location, where "little ones" can dress up in costumes and take part in a show starring lion tamers, tight-rope walkers, ballerinas, and a host of circus favorites. They're still pushing that outdated circus stuff even though Ringling has retired?
Flowers
Texas Discovery Gardens will host floral arrangements from the Ikebana International Dallas Chapter; Ikebana is the Japanese art of arranging flowers.
Food
Gulf Coast Grill is an island-style grill with a tropical flair, and will feature live music from local artists on weekends.
Stiffler’s Mom’s Cookie Factory does chocolate chip cookies and milk. It showcases two observation windows and boasts the ability to bake 800 cookies every 11 minutes. Fairgoers can order cookies by the bucket or in a bag of six, and then watch the baking process from start to finish.
A new Cotton Candy Stand location will be housed in the very center of the Tower Building, showcasing how cotton candy is made. Is that a complicated thing?
Sports
On October 7 the Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic brings its annual matchup between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University. October 14 is the AT&T Red River Showdown between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners.
