Stay Safe, Y'all

Clear bags and more State Fair of Texas security measures for 2025

DPD works closely with the State Fair Safety Team

Photo by Kevin Brown

It's not all Fletcher's Corny Dogs and Ferris wheels at the State Fair of Texas, which opens September 26 and runs through October 19.

A big part of successfully welcoming 2.4 million-and-counting folks to Fair Park is a comprehensive safety and security plan, and this year's updated policies have just been released.

Enhanced this year is the clear bag policy, which requires that clear bags and soft-shell coolers must be 9" x 10" x 12" or smaller for entry. Small clutch bags or purses do not have to be clear, but cannot exceed 4.5” x 6.5”.

Exceptions to this policy will be made for medical bags, parenting bags, and soft-shell coolers after proper inspection. Something to note about the coolers is that only ice packs and clear baggies of ice are allowed — no loose ice is permitted.

Beginning at 5 pm daily, all minors age 17 and under must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or chaperone (21+) when entering the Fair. Parents, guardians, or chaperones may accompany no more than six minors.

The pedestrian gate entry will continue to funnel guests through weapons detection technology, and all security screen processes will be recorded.

This is your official reminder that, despite Ken Paxton's best efforts, all firearms, knives (other than small pocketknives), clubs, explosive devices, ammunition, chemical dispensing devices, replicas or hoaxes, or other weapons of any kind are not allowed inside the Fair. This includes holders of a License to Carry, Constitutional Carry, Concealed Carry, and the Open Carry of firearms anywhere on the fairgrounds, including Cotton Bowl Stadium.

Speaking of Cotton Bowl Stadium, fans attending the State Fair Classic between Grambling State and Prairie View A&M, and the Allstate Red River Rivalry between UT and Oklahoma, will also need to follow the clear bag policy and abide by a fan code of conduct. A similar guest code of conduct is in place for all State Fair attendees, and is posted near all pedestrian entrances.

The State Fair Command Center, introduced last year, is also returning. Run by the recently retired City of Dallas Office of Emergency Management and Crisis Response director, Rocky Vaz, the center is where all event oversight, incident notification, tracking, and resolution occurs. It's operational 24 hours a day for the 24-day run of the State Fair.

Finally, although the parking lots will open daily at 9:30 am, guests this year will not be allowed to enter the Fair before it officially opens at 10 am.

To read all the safety policies and other FAQs, head here.

Catch up on CultureMap's coverage of all things State Fair-related, including concert lineups and how to score ticket discounts, with this special editorial series.

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Listen up

Underground hi-fi 'listening bar' Shyboy opens in downtown Dallas

Photo courtesy of Shyboy

Shyboy lounge is new on Main Street in downtown Dallas.

A new lounge is turning up the volume beneath the streets of downtown Dallas: Shyboy, billed as Dallas' first "hi fi bar," will debut at 1313 Main St., in the subterranean level of The Drakestone building.

According to a release, opening weekend events will take place March 4-7.

The new nightlife concept comes from The Headington Companies, the folks behind the Joule hotel and other Main Street developments.

"Inspired by hi-fi listening bars around the world, with roots in Tokyo’s post-WWII 'jazz kissas,' Shyboy offers a social and listening experience unlike any other nightlife space, with progressive, genre-bending programming, signature hi-balls and cocktails, and two state-of-the-art OJAS sound systems, designed by Devon Turnbull," says the release. (Turnbull's speakers have been used in projects with Mark Ronson, Public Records in Brooklyn, and more.)

Jazz kissas are cafes that specialize in the playing of and listening to recorded jazz music; here, jazz is played for active listening rather than as background serenade.

Piggybacking on that idea, Shyboy will offer "an immersive environment where design, lighting, and atmosphere are treated as essential elements of the performance, inviting guests into a unique experience that blurs the line between listener and participant," they say.

The 3,000-square-foot underground space, once a bank vault in the historic Davis Building (renovated and rebranded as The Drakestone residential building in 2017), will house one of the most advanced sound systems in the city within its historic concrete "bones." Interiors were designed by acclaimed Dallas-based 5G Studio Collaborative.

The venue includes two distinct spaces. The main room functions as a social listening environment, where towering speakers double as sculptural focal points beneath curved underground ceilings.

A second chamber, called The Vault, is designed as a more intimate lounge for private events, sound classes, performances, and art exhibitions. The Vault’s entrance features an installation from artist Lachlan Turczan’s Optical Resonance series, which uses water and light to visibly respond to sound waves, the release says. The room also includes a newly commissioned reflective sculpture by Florentine artist Duccio Maria Gambi.

Shyboy’s inaugural month will include a lineup spanning house, deep grooves, soul, and global dance sounds. Opening weekend, March 4-7, will welcome talent like JT Donaldson (Shyboy music director), Dallas legend Red Eye, Sound Advice Vol. 1, Skeme Richards, Patrice Scott + Brandon Epocha, and Wamono Nights.

The calendar later in the year will feature appearances by celebrated DJs and producers such as Theo Parrish, Derrick Carter, Eli Escobar, Kai Alcé, and the Los Angeles-based listening collective In Sheep’s Clothing.

Shyboy’s cocktail menu starts at $13, and the bar will serve soft-serve ice cream.

Throughout March, there will be no cover charge for entry; for more information, visit the venue's website.

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