As the State Fair of Texas enters the third weekend of the 2025 season, online discussion and rants about the annual event’s low attendance has grown. But fair officials and vendors say the first few weeks are usually the calmest.
Across social media platforms, videos about the top — and most expensive — fair foods are being shared. Fairgoers are sharing TikToks that showcase the cost of attending the fair for a family of four. Many posts show empty parking lots, sparsely attended food courts and only a few people enjoying the Midway rides.
The online critics say the fair is emptier compared with years before. But fair officials and vendors say seeing fewer people while at the fair doesn’t fully capture how many people are there and plan to attend.
Karissa Condoianis, a spokesperson for the State Fair, said this year’s event is doing great and the fair’s slowest days are usually at the beginning of the season.
“The fair is not empty,” Condoianis said. “There are plenty of people here. People are coming to the fair. So I would say don’t always believe what you see.”
Historically, attendance picks up after about the first eight to 10 days, she said. In 2024, 2.3 million people visited the fair. Only the fair’s last third and fourth weekend in 2024 had over 100,000 visitors daily, according to State Fair attendance records.
Vendors such as Fernie’s Funnel Cakes and Old Mill Inn agree that they see lower attendance in the first week. Both said sales numbers are trending up.
Emily Molino, a support manager who helps runs the Old Mill Inn, said word of mouth has helped get customers to come in for cocktails and purchase food.
“We are a little bit better than we’ve been in the years past. We say that very humbly,” Molino said. “But I think people are posting on social media. The first week, it’s like little scout ants. They, like, send out, see what’s good, they see what’s bad, and then, once that information is out there, everyone else is like, ‘I’m gonna come out there.’ ”
Royse City resident Candace Martinez, 45, center, drinks mustard beer at the State Fair of Texas on Monday in Dallas. The drink is a collaboration with Fletcher’s Corny Dogs and Martin House Brewing.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
One of the biggest fair attendance days occurs during the third weekend for the Red River Rivalry, which is when the University of Oklahoma Sooners play the University of Texas Longhorns. This year’s game takes place this Saturday.
Christi Erpillo, 72, and Johnna McKee, 64, run Fernie’s, which is named after their mother, Wanda “Fernie” Winter, who died in 2021. The family brought the first funnel cake to the fair in the 1980s.
For years, the sisters said attendance changes after the Texas-OU game. If it’s been really slow the first few weeks, Erpillo said, after the game weekend, crowds start to get a little crazy.
“Right now, people are thinking ‘Oh it’s too hot. I’ve got, you know, another 15 days to go to the fair,’ ” Erpillo said. “Then there are days, on that last day of the fair, there’ll be people lined up across the street at our funnel cake stand, and I’m like, ‘Where have you been for 23 days?’ ”
Attendees walk past the Texas Star Ferris wheel at the State Fair of Texas on Tuesday in Dallas. The fair also hosts free activities, including petting zoos, brand activations and an art gallery in the Creative Arts building.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
Weekends are usually the most popular days. Weekends are also when costs can rack up because of fewer discounts available to fairgoers.
When it comes to affordability, the fair does offer discounts; fairgoers just have to look for them. Thrifty Thursdays, taking the DART and admission discounts are just a few ways to keep more dollars in your pocket, Condoianis said.
“We do have lots of people coming to the State Fair and having a great time out here. So, that’s not a concern,” Condoianis said. “But we always, every year, do offer a lot of discount opportunities to give people options in order to, when they can come out, to try and save money.”
Once fairgoers enter the gates, they can also enjoy countless free activities. Growing cost concerns usually pertain to food and rides at the fair. Vendors at Fair Park are a collection of small businesses who Condoianis said have varying prices based on their expenses.
An attendee gives a worker coupons at the State Fair of Texas on Monday in Dallas. Every Thursday, known as Thrifty Thursday, attendees can purchase smaller portioned treats at a discounted price.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
“Families are running these, and they are setting their own prices,” Condoianis said. “We are not immune to what is going on in the world here at the State Fair, and neither are our vendors. So, like when you would go out to dinner right now, or you go and buy groceries, you might see a little bit of higher prices.”
Some of the most expensive fair food also happens to be the trendy, over-the-top items such as the 15 Big Tex Choice Awards finalists.
The food expense mainly depends on the cost of ingredients and how much work goes into making the item, McKee at Fernie’s said.
The sisters said they can’t recall any of their food items at Fernie’s costing more than $18, even when they offered a burnt ends burrito. To make sure anyone can enjoy the funnel cakes or food they offer, they try to consider everyone while also staying aware of prices.
“It costs us a whole lot less to make it back then, and 1759939639 the product is more, the labor is more, but it’s still shareable,” McKee said. “A family of four can have a funnel cake for $10.”
As people visit the fair, some food items may be pricier than others and some areas or days might be super popular, while other may not, Condoianis said. It just depends on when people go.
Attendees stand in front of food stalls at the State Fair of Texas on Tuesday in Dallas. The fair offers dozens of new menu items alongside the classics.
Christine Vo / Staff Photographer
When the fair finally opened the gates this year, Condoianis said opening weekend and opening day felt like an attendance record to her. As the fair counts down to its final days, more fun is to come, she said.
“Just seeing everybody abuzz on the fairgrounds, coming and saying howdy to Big Tex, getting their favorite fair food, or taking in a show,” she said. “ It was a great day, and it’s been a great fair so far.”
