The annual 2025 State Fair of Texas season is underway, and the Dallas venue is packed with visitors looking to win prizes, ride attractions or eat fried treats.
Keeping those visitors safe is a top priority of fair officials, who held a news conference last month to announce safety protocols at the 277-acre venue.
The fair runs through Oct. 19 and officials said they are expecting around two million patrons to visit this year.
“Our safety and security plan for 2025 is continuing to communicate to our fairgoers that their safety, along with the safety of our vendors, volunteers and text team members, is our number one priority,” said fair spokesperson Karissa Condoianis.
To ensure every fair visitor has a safe time, the fair works with Dallas police officers and security teams over the 24-day season, officials said.
A 24-hour security team is stationed on the premises to help protect all areas of the fairgrounds. The fair also partners with the Dallas Police Department to develop and implement a security plan during the season.
In 2023, three people were shot and wounded on Oct. 14 at the fair. Officials said the suspect didn’t have a valid license to carry a gun.
Only peace officers and qualified retired officers are permitted to carry a firearm on fairgrounds, Jeff Cotner, the fair’s director of security, said at the news conference.
This decision has sparked some political controversy, but Condoianis said the banning of guns at the State Fair, even though it’s a city venue is well within the law.
The fair follows security protocols similar to other local large-scale venues like the American Airlines Center and the Toyota Music Factory, Cotner said. This includes restrictions on weapons, security checkpoints at entrances and bag searches.
Two new protocols this year involving bags and opening times have been implemented.
Clear bags and access to fair grounds
This year, only a few select bags will be allowed into the fair, officials said.
While going through security at fair entry gates, only clear bags that are 9 x 10 x 12 inches or smaller will be allowed into the park and the Cotton Bowl, according to Cotner.
Small clutches or purses are also allowed but cannot be larger than 4.5 inches or 6.5 inches, Cotner said.
Exceptions will be made for medical and diaper bags, he said. All bags, however, will be inspected before entering the fairgrounds.
Soft shell coolers that are 9 x 10 x 12 inches or smaller are also permitted but cannot contain loose ice, as that can prolong security searches, Cotner said.
The fair will also strictly open at 10 a.m. this year, unless for planned events, Condoianis said Thursday. Parking lots will still open at 9:30 a.m., she said.
“What is new about this is that we will no longer allow guests to enter the fairgrounds before 10 a.m. That is when operations officially begin every day,” she said. “In the past, they’ve been able to wander around. Now they won’t be able to come into the gates until that 10 o’clock start.”
Getting into the fair and what’s prohibited
As fairgoers arrive, they will notice signs telling them what security measures are in effect, which includes checks of bag and for weapons. The fair uses a weapons detection system that can automatically scan visitors as they enter, Cotner said.
If someone is found to have a prohibited item, like a gun, knife, ammunition, etc. they won’t be permitted inside park grounds with it, according to officials.
The fair’s decision to do away with guns was met with political opposition from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who filed a lawsuit against the ban for infringing on “Texans’ right to self-defense.” The suit was dismissed by a Dallas County judge in June.
A bill presented during this year’s legislative session also went after the fair for allegedly restricting the right of license carry on government property. The bill, however, did not make it out of the state House.
The fair will also enforce a daily curfew. After 5 p.m., minors who want to attend the fair must enter with an adult 21 years old or older. The guardians or parents cannot have more than six minors with them.
More prohibited items at the fair include:
- Collapsible and folding chairs.
- Hard-sided coolers and baskets of any size.
- Firearms, ammunition, knives (other than small pocket knives), lasers and weapons of any kind including replicas, facsimiles, toys and likenesses.
- Costume, mask or face coverings not for medical reasons.
- Chemical dispensing device for personal protection.
- Aerosol cans (except sunscreen).
- Illegal drug substances or drug paraphernalia.
- Fireworks, sparklers or explosives.
- Smoke, fog or haze emitting machines or devices.
- Alcoholic beverages. Glass containers (excluding baby food jars or similar).
- Horns, whistles, megaphones or artificial noise makers.
Staying safe and aware
Having a safety game plan can be beneficial as you explore the fair, officials said.
If you’re visiting the fairgrounds with young children or older adults, Dallas Police Department Deputy Chief Sam Ismail suggested at the news conference to take pictures of them beforehand or have an assigned meeting spot.
“If anyone gets separated, this simple step will help our officers and safety personnel to locate them quickly,” Ismail said.
It’s also important to not leave items in your car, or conceal them if can, he said.
One question raised at the news conference was the possibility of carrying out immigration checks or Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents being there.
Ismail said the Dallas Police Department does not have any units or operations specifically at the fair that would ask about immigration status. But, he said, Dallas police could assist ICE at the fairgrounds if legally asked.
“It is our custom as the Dallas Police Department that when we get requests for assistance from whether local, state or federal law enforcement agencies, will evaluate that request. As long as it’s legal and lawful, we will assist in that,” he said.
If fairgoers have more questions about safety protocols or what they can or can’t bring to the fair, they can visit the State Fair of Texas Q&A site.
