Date Night at the State Fair of Texas

The State Fair of Texas is one of the top date spots during its 24-day run each fall. The most Texan place on Earth is full of fun things to do that will dazzle your sweetheart, and we've got you covered with these romantic ideas you can enjoy from Sept. 25 through Oct. 18, 2026. This year's theme, Stars, Stripes, and Howdies, marks the fair's 140th year and America's 250th birthday, so expect the fairgrounds to feel especially celebratory.

Pick the Right Night

A weeknight is your friend here. Crowds thin out considerably Monday through Thursday, which means shorter lines and a much better shot at a quiet table. Here's the other reason to wait until evening: after 5 p.m. every day of the run, everyone pays the child admission price regardless of age, so an evening date costs less than an afternoon one. Gates stay open until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Hazte un selfie con Big Tex

Esta leyenda más grande que la vida ha sido un elemento básico de la Feria Estatal desde 1952. Con sus 1,55 metros de altura, Big Tex es el embajador cultural e icono más querido de la feria, así que no te olvides de acercarte a saludarlo. Ya que estás allí, acurrúcate y hazte un selfie para conmemorar la fecha.

Head to the Wine & Beer Garden

Indulge responsibly and taste the romance with some of the best wines the great state of Texas has to offer. Under a canopy of colorful umbrellas, the State Fair Wine & Beer Garden pours Texas wine by the sample, glass, or bottle, alongside a deep list of local beers on tap. Grab a shaded picnic table for two, order a meat and cheese plate, and let the rest of the fair keep buzzing without you. It's one of the easiest places at Fair Park to actually sit down and talk.

Settle In at the Magnolia Beer Garden

If the Wine Garden is the afternoon move, the Magnolia Beer Garden is the evening one. String lights come on after sunset and the whole patio takes on a backyard-party glow, with craft beer, cider, and smokehouse food to go around. It's an easy place to land for the last hour of your date without fighting a crowd for a view. Check the schedule for live music sets, which run here most nights.

Catch a Free Concert

Your admission ticket doubles as a concert ticket. The Chevrolet Main Stage hosts national acts throughout the run at no extra charge, with the 2026 lineup including Clint Black on opening night, plus Bowling for Soup, Lee Brice, Kansas, and a tribute to ABBA as the fair goes on. Smaller stages around the grounds keep regional talent playing all day. Check the daily schedule at bigtex.com and build your evening around a set you both want to see.

Go on a Foodie Adventure

Savor and share bites you can only get at the state fair. The Big Tex Choice Awards is where the fair's most inventive vendors show off, and the 2026 finalists are worth splitting a few ways. Order something savory like the Flamin' Crunch Pizza or Nacho Wings, then work your way toward the sweet side with a Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone or Fletcher's Chocolate Corny Dog. There's a sipper category too, which is the most date-friendly of the bunch: a Peach Bellini Float made with sparkling wine, or a Sunset Soft Serve Rita, both easy to carry while you wander. Winners are crowned before opening day, so check bigtex.com to see which ones took the titles.

Take a Swan Boat Out Before Sunset

If you're starting your date in the late afternoon, head to Leonhardt Lagoon and rent a swan boat. It's a genuine escape from the fair crowds, and the paddling helps work off whatever you just shared on the Midway. One thing to plan around: the boats stop running well before the fair closes, so this one has to come before dinner rather than after. Check the day's hours at bigtex.com so you don't miss the window.

Float Above It All on the Texas SkyWay

For a quieter moment once the sun goes down, board the Texas SkyWay. The gondolas glide the length of the fairgrounds high above the crowds, and the view of Fair Park lit up at night is one of the best you'll get anywhere at the fair. It's a few peaceful minutes with just the two of you, which is harder to come by down on the ground.

Echa un vistazo al Midway

Aventúrese en el Midway y juegue un partido amistoso con su pareja, explore una de las muchas casas de atracciones o suba la adrenalina en las diversas atracciones. Desde subir escaleras hasta pistolas de agua y otros juegos, hay un montón de oportunidades para sorprender a tu pareja con tus habilidades. Y esos animales de peluche son un regalo muy divertido que siempre os recordará el tiempo que pasasteis juntos en la feria.

Ride the Texas Star Ferris Wheel

No trip to the State Fair is complete without a ride on the Texas Star, one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North America at 212 feet. Time your ride for just after sunset and you'll catch the fairgrounds glowing below and the Dallas skyline lit up beyond it. Twelve minutes, one very good view, and the easiest photo you'll take all night. Want to go higher? The Top o' Texas Tower climbs 500 feet for the biggest view on the grounds.

End the Night with Lights

Stay through the evening and the fair puts on a show for you. The Kroger Starlight Parade rolls through the grounds nightly at 7:15 p.m. with lighted floats and life-size puppets, and shortly after, the Illumination Sensation lights up the Esplanade with dancing water, fireworks, and music. Find a spot along the reflecting basin, stand shoulder to shoulder, and let the fair close out your date for you. Confirm showtimes on the daily schedule at bigtex.com.