The Great State Fair of Texas on the Cheap!: Deals & Discounts

I fell in love with the Great State Fair of Texas years ago when I first worked a promotion for PartyPoker.net there. Five or six days a week, I would drive to Fair Park, pay at least $10 to park (I would be reimbursed) and hand out freebies from PartyPoker.net at the State Fair. It was hot and the days were long (I would typically work 10-7 or 8 on my feet, on the blacktop, in the Texas heat) but I loved it! The State Fair was unlike anything I'd experienced before.

Now it's an annual event I love taking my family to. We pick a weekday (usually whatever half day the girls have at school during the State Fair's three-week run) and head out to Dallas to check out the food, admire the cars, go on a few rides and generally enjoy the noise and fun that is the Great State Fair of Texas!

Luckily each of my girls receive a ticket from school granting them weekday admission to the fair for free. From there, I check out all the available discounts to get the best rate for my husband and me. The State Fair can be hard on the wallet, so I'm all about finding the deals wherever I can!

Here are a few of my tips for maximizing your budget at the Great State Fair of Texas:

1. Check Facebook Marketplace and groups for free student and adult tickets. Please, please don't sell your student's free ticket. However, if you aren't going to use it, please post it for a others who may be in need! Last year, when my youngest was too old to get in for free but too young to be in kinder and receive a free ticket, I found a free ticket for her on Marketplace that saved us the $14 kids ticket price. Teachers and educators usually receive complimentary tickets, as well, and may pass these on if they are unable to go.

2. Grab an empty Dr. Pepper can and reap the rewards! Use your empty can to get half price admission any day of the week after 5 pm (that's $9 off the entry price of $18 at the gate). Or go all day on Tuesday for half price with an empty Dr. Pepper can!

3. Stock up on canned goods to donate to the North Texas Food Bank and get in for $4 on Wednesdays during the Fair. Must bring 4 cans per person to receive $4 admission.

4. Thursday is Senior Citizen Day- any guest over 60 gets in free on Thursdays! For those of you who don't qualify for this discount, no worries! Grab an empty 20-ounce Coca Cola product and get in for $9! That's right- half price on Thursdays thanks to Coca Cola.

5. Military? Your get-in-free day is Friday, September 27. Your spouse and kids get in free, too! Just bring valid ID. First Responder? Your free day is Friday, October 11. You can bring up to three guests with you for free. Don't forget your ID.

6. Stop by Kroger or McDonald's and snag discount vouchers at these locations. McDonald's trays have liners that will save you $5 per ticket. Kroger has discounted tickets available at customer service.

7. Save your unused ride and food tickets! Did you know that those don't expire? Each year we have two or three that we don't spend. I keep them all in an envelope in my office to bring the next year. It's not much but it does give us something to start with each year- and we never feel badly if we don't use all of our tickets each year! Be sure to check FB for ride and food tickets, as well. Sometimes people way over-buy and then try to unload tickets (at a small discount) to recoup some of their expense.

8. Buy online at www.bigtex.com and save $1.50 per ticket. If none of the above discounts and tricks have been able to save you any money, consider buying online ahead of time to save. Gate prices are $18 for adults, and you can save $1.50 buying online.

What are your tips for saving money at the State Fair?