The food tastes good, but it's pricey. Some of the prizes are dusty, but it is fun. It's a bit overpriced for something like that. They sometimes make the games rigged, the lift the bottle one is purposely made to cheat with you, you have to make the exact angle or else it will fall. The knock down bottle game is also made to cheat with you, the bottles are heavy, the balls are light. I prefer the water gun one, the duck game, the balloon pop game, they are easy, you can get good prizes. The rides are kinda of boring, they give you nausea right after in night. Also they give out wristbands which are unlimited, but you don't get cash back though, even for tickets. The rides look like they are old, and they might creak and break, which isn't good for our safety. I'm just there for games. read more

I have some experience with fairs, having been to several in the Land of Fruits and Nuts. County Fairs are a celebration of local culture, ranging from corny (Angels Camp) to high-tech (Pleasanton). The State Fair in Sacramento is a BIG DEAL, like merging the county fair with a Six Flags park. Now, in Free America, I've heard that the fair in Dallas is just as big a deal as the fair in Sacramento. Then we have the South Texas State Fair. With over 200 counties, I guess Texas thought it's better to have regional fairs combining several counties instead of over 200 county fairs. I mean, do you expect a fair in Loving County, population 70? The South Texas State Fair has the feel of a county fair: * Midway: Bigger, nicer, and safer than a typical county fair. The rides are portable, but are better maintained than others, including that one in Ohio that resulted in one death when it malfunctioned. Rides are $3-5, or all you can ride for $40, and the girl got her money's worth with the $40 wristband. * Food: Walking through the outside booths, they're nearly all food. Typical offerings (cheeseburgers, tacos, brisket, funnel cakes), lots of repeats, high prices with semi-low quality. But you can't get a fried Oreo anywhere else. * Concerts: The Alameda County Fair, with its large permanent amphitheater, is an aberration. Most have a temporary stage, and so does the South Texas State Fair. Many national acts started in this part of the country - the Big Bopper, George Jones, Janis Joplin, Tracy Byrd, Micah Tyler - but this fair showcases up-and-comers. Country music is obviously big here. Even if you never heard of the act, you're in for a good show. Exhibits: Local stuff, the type that you'd expect to find in the county fair. I admit, I had the song "Our state fair is the best state fair..." going through my mind. I guess it depends on what your expectations are. If you're looking for a typical experience, cotton candy and all, with a Lone Star flair, then you're gonna love the South Texas State Fair at Ford Park. Be warned: you won't be the only one. As the night goes on, the crowd gets BIG. We got there 45 minutes after the gate opened on a Friday, and by 7pm, the lines in the Midway were already at least half an hour long per ride. It's a good one. read more

It's okay. It's a few steps below a "real" fair...yet a couple of notches above those little neighborhood fairs you see. It's like a really large local neighborhood fair. Fuck it, I just come to eat anyway. And I like to bring the baby cousins to ride the rides. Last fair, I came with my friend and her kids. Some of the equipment I'm not sure how often they check, but I've never heard of any accidents happening here...even if they do bring those travel rides. And it smells like a fair. Cotton candy and fried foods. If you hate this place and all else fails, the fried Oreos won't disappoint. I can dig it. 3 stars read more

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I can't believe it's been almost two years since we were able to attend the Southeast Texas State Fair at Ford Park. At first we didn't think we'd be able to make it because it was kind of raining, but we decided to go anyway. We showed up around 3:30 it was kind of crowded and sprinkling rain so we had an umbrella in the backpack. Once we got inside the food vendors were all there and ready to serve. As usual we decided to go to out usual first stop which was the jumbo corn dog. That is a tradition for us when we go to the fair every year and it will continue to be a tradition. Once we left there we walk around it sprinkled here and there but overall it was good experience. It finally stopped raining so we didn't have any problems. The park vegan to fill up as we were headed to the rodeo around 4pm as more vendors were starting to open up and start cooking more stuff. We had not attended a Rodeo in years so it was very very nice with a lot to offer. The stands were crowded. Actually they were packed I couldn't believe that there were that many people in there for the rodeo and of course it started at 5 and we were in there till about 6:30 7:00. Once we were done with the Rodeo we decide to go and fill our bellies. I have been trying to get to the Sullivans truck for months now and I just could not ever make it there. I am from Lake Charles so that does make things a little harder . Once we came from the rodeo we decided that we would try our traditional sandwich which was the sirloin tip sandwich it is awesome. We eat there every year and the sandwich is consistent. They take sirloin roast and smoke them on a pit and then they take them and they slice them and they can actually cook them in front of you in an iron skillet. You can pick from mashed potatoes mushroom and onion to top your sandwich. But I noticed this year they done things a little different they had the sandwich and they also had the bowl the ball was in an aluminum foil container without bread which also look very good but of course my husband likes bread so we got our traditional sandwich. Once we were done there we headed around to see what else we can find. We of course had stop to the crackling truck as we came out after rodeo. Usually parked right outside when coming from rodeo. Once we got crackling of course they did not disappoint. They were as good as they were the last few years that we went to the rodeo they are absolutely delicious. They also had fried ribs this year but we didnt try them. Once we were done with them we headed on down to Sullivans. We stopped at a place that had fried brisket balls. Glad we only got one they were horrible. The ball was nice and brown on the outside but it was not cooked thoroughly so the texture of the ball was soft and the brisket had no flavor at all so if you see this truck next year that says brisket balls please don't stop. So finally we headed to my main reason I was there Sullivan's BBQ. Once I arrived before we went to the rodeo we stopped there to get food and they were out of mac and cheese they didn't have power. So I told the lady how I've been anxious to get to this truck so she was so kind as to give me a sample of the pork burnt ends which were absolutely amazing one of the best dishes that I've had at the rodeo Texas. So we headed back to Sullivan's to get our signature dish that I have been waiting for 6 months. Once they're they said that it would be 15 minutes they were waiting on mac and cheese. So while I waited I also got this awesome drink that they had which was really really good. The owner was out mingling. There were plenty of people waiting patiently for the . I'd already had the burnt ends so I decide to get the chicken kabobs with the smoked mac and cheese. OMG it was awesome it's a small container but they really pack on the flavor and they pack on the food so the money that you paid for it is definitely well worth it in your going to be so freaking happy when you're done. I would recommend Sullivans to anyone. The food is absolutely amazing. Once I was done eating I went back and talked to the owner and absolutely raved on him of how good the food was and told him that even though I'm from Lake Charles when I am in Beaumont I will definitely try to make it there and get me a plate. Well once we're done with that we walked around a little bit and after that it was time to head out the cross already coming in there was no rain the weather was awesome and by the time we left it was packed people were coming in like crazy in the parking lot was full to the max. I didn't get any pictures this time guys but next time I do go to Sullivan's or anything like that I will make sure that I get photos next time. But if you're the Southeast Texas fair ends on March 30th so if you have a chance you need to make it on out there and see what's going on enjoy some of that delicious food read more

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So, do you have a day to kill some time in March or April? Do you have a serious case of neurosis? Do the crowds at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo make you want to go all Charles Whitman? Are you a big fat cheap skate? Well then have I got a solution for you.... The South Texas State Fair takes place at The Ford Complex just west of Beaumont every year. My recent experience was fantastic. The day I visited children were admitted free. The tickets were $1 and the rides were 1 ticket per rider. Ergo, it was a buck a ride. WHOOPIE.!! There were few lines that lasted more than about 5 minutes. The "carnies" were nice. They have most of the same rides as HLSR. So, for all your future carnival needs, please consider STSF. read more

Best experiences happened on this fair, it's a amazing place to go for a trip, my family and I loved going here and helped us get some time and exhaustion off our hands, really recommend going here :) read more

Wow: You gotta try the Elvis sundae at the Sundae Factory, bananas,hot fudge,ice cream, reeses peanut butter cup, whip cream,nuts,and a cherry yummmmmm!!!!! Also they use pink whipped cream for Breast cancer awareness. read more