Discount Admission to the Texas State Fair

For some Texas residents, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, we’re not talking about Christmas. We’re talking about the Texas State Fair, also known as the fried food capital of Texas. The fair opened on September 30 and will run through Sunday, October 17. Here are some tips and deals for saving money at the fair this year.

FREE Admission
Bring a ticket stub from a Cinemark movie theater and get free admission every Thursday. The offer does NOT specify a required date on the stub.

Anyone age 60 and over gets free admission every Thursday.

Get free admission for two adults and up to four children with a paid membership to the Museum of Science and Nature. This deal usually pays for itself with a family membership, if you take the family to the fair once and take them to the museum once. The museum membership is good for an entire year.

Discounted Admission

• Order advance general admission tickets on the state fair website to save $2 per adult and $1 per child or senior citizen.
• Kroger is selling advance general admission tickets for $14 (a $1 savings) and season passes for $29.95 (a $10 savings). The season pass includes a one-day companion ticket good Monday through Friday, and one Cinemark movie ticket that can be used Sunday through Thursday on non-pass restricted movies. The movie pass expires October 31. A season pass gives you unlimited admission to the state fair through October 17.
• Kroger also has a DART combo ticket for $16. It includes general admission and one round trip ticket on DART. That’s a potential savings of $19. You’re saving $3 on your DART ticket and you’re not paying $15 to park at the fair grounds.
• On Tuesdays, pay just $3 for admission when you bring an empty Dr. Pepper can.
• Bring three cans of food on Wednesdays, and admission is only $2. Food will be donated to area food banks.
• Admission is just $4 on Thursdays when you bring an empty 20-oz. Coca Cola product.
• Get 1/2-price admission and 1/2-price rides after 5pm on Fridays when you print and present a coupon from radio Station KISS FM.
• Pay $5 after 5 p.m., any day of the week, when you bring an empty Dr. Pepper can.
• Get $3 off general admission, any day of the week, when you present an original label from any Wolf Brand Chili product. 
• McDonald’s is distributing coupons for $4 off general admission and a free child admission on its tray liners and food bags.

Rides
Tuesdays are the best night to go to the fair if you plan to spend money on rides. They are usually five coupons or less on Tuesdays (down from eight or 10 every other night of the week), and admission is only $3 with an empty Dr. Pepper can.

Coupons
Coupons at the Texas State Fair NEVER EXPIRE!!! You must purchase them for rides and food, you can save leftover tickets for next year.