The State Fair of Texas ended Sunday with fans getting one last round of selfies with Big Tex.
"It's just the tradition, seeing how the city's grown and being a kid again," one man said.
"The atmosphere, the people," another woman said.
"And smiles," her daughter added.
"Yes, the smiles," her mom said.
The State Fair of Texas says attendance for the 24-day run was 2.3 million people. Dry weather most days helped keep numbers up, but in 2022, attendance was 2,547,289.
In an email, State Fair of Texas President Mitch Glieber said last year's event raised $18.5 million for non-profits, scholarships and community initiatives.
“Each year the State Fair of Texas is centered around community,” Glieber wrote. “Despite the challenges we faced this Fair, our team has been resilient and remained steadfast in bringing the community together to celebrate at the Most Texan Place on Earth. After 137 years, there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing folks from all walks of life embrace and uplift the time-honored tradition that is the State Fair of Texas.”
A shooting at the fair led to an evacuation of Fair Park Saturday, October 14. The fair reopened the following afternoon. The suspect has said he was defending his family. Monday morning, he remained in Dallas County jail on three charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without bond.
The State Fair of Texas is scheduled to begin next year on Friday, September 27, 2024 and run through Sunday, October 20, 2024.
"The State Fair of Texas is privileged to be an integral part of the year for so many families, and we hope y’all will join us again next year for the 2024 State Fair of Texas," Glieber wrote.
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