Loaded baked potato pie pies. Cotton candy tacos. Anything and everything you can imagine is served baked, wrapped and decorated with an occasional dollop of buttercream: bubblegum, Coca-Cola, Jell-O, beer, cinnamon rolls and Thanksgiving dinner. That’s just Big Tex’s way of saying “bon appétit, y’all”.
But thanks to the coronavirus pandemic – which hit the state hard this summer – the Texas State Fair and its fierce cowboy mascot have canceled this year’s festivities. The 134-year-old event, held in Dallas’ Fair Park, typically runs from late September to late October and hosts the Texas-Oklahoma Red River Showdown football game, as well as concerts, numerous rodeo and fairy competitions, theme park amusements and, perhaps most famously, food vendors who strive every year for the bizarre, demonstrably edible fairground dish. Previous Big Tex Choice award winners have included such caloric creations as stuffed baked taco cones, chicken-baked bacon, deep-fried lattes, smoked bacon margaritas and deep-fried butter.
Although this year’s show will not continue, it will want stomach-stretching smorgasbord. Former officials have first announced a foodie: the Big Tex Fair Food Drive-Thru. On select weekends in September and October, masked food vendors will serve some carnival items to car passengers, while Big Tex is on top.
The experience comes as a package with food and a photo opportunity with Big Tex, who this year will add a new accessory to his usual ensemble of a Dickie’s Western shirt, blue jeans, boots and cowboy hat: a face mask.
Packages cost $ 65 or $ 99, depending on portion size, and include soft drinks or bottled water, Fletcher’s Original State Fair Corny Dogs, Jack’s French Fries, Fried Oreos, cotton candy and kettle flour, with corn on the cob, sausage on a stick and turkey legs available as add-ons. Unfortunately, the deep-fried bubblegum and funnel-cake-flavored beer will sit this way.
Those who want to skip the snacks and just get a selfie with Big Tex and his jumbo-sized face mask can just pay $ 25 for the privilege, though that offer is only available the weekend of September 19-20.
The state fair website claims that other surprises will greet fair drivers, who will have to distance themselves socially and wear face masks when they are outside their cars. Meanwhile, the proceeds will help with the Texas State Fair operation – which hopes to be back in full swing by 2021 – with a portion benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.
Tickets go on sale beginning September 2nd. Trade fast – and grab some Tums.
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