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Arts & Entertainment

State Fair of Texas: What's new for 2015

Have you come down with State Fair fever yet? Are you starting to hear Big Tex's booming "Howdy, folks" greeting? Are you craving that first corny dog and cold beer? Opening Day (Sept. 25) is fast approaching so here's a  sneak peek  at some of the new attractions and deals that will be offered at the 2015 State Fair of Texas.

Thrifty Thursdays

Each Thursday during the Fair visitors can eat on the cheap with discounted prices on favorite foods. Deals include: Cotton Candy Cone for  5 coupons (regularly  10),  Fried Thanksgiving sample for 7 coupons, Frito Pie for 6 coupons (regularly 10) or a Mini Frito Pie for 4 coupons, and a Fletcher's Bird Dog (a turkey corny dog) for 6 coupons (regularly 10). Each coupon is 50 cents. Here's a list of all the  Thrifty Thursday deals.

(Courtesy: State Fair of Texas)
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Beer Haven

It shouldn't be hard to find this brand new attraction. Beer Haven is described as "the world's largest bar on wheels." The beer garden is surrounded by 18-wheelers. One 53-foot long truck will serve 60 different beers on tap, including Fair-themed brews. Beer Haven will be set up outside the Midway near the Texas Star ferris wheel. Look for live music and local brewer meet & greets on the weekend. 

News Roundups

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On the final weekend of the Fair, Oct. 17-18, look for the debut of an all-new Texas craft beer festival inside the Cotton Bowl with craft beers from 70 Texas breweries.

Funnel cake ale was a finalist in the 2014 Big Tex Choice Awards, the State Fair of Texas'...
Funnel cake ale was a finalist in the 2014 Big Tex Choice Awards, the State Fair of Texas' annual food competition. (State Fair of Texas)
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New and improved 

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Lone Star Horse Spectacular: Staged in the Pan-Am Arena, this new attraction tells the story of Texas with riders on horseback carrying the six flags of Texas. Add Texas music and narration by actor Barry Corbin (voice of 99.5 The Wolf) and this looks like a sure-fire crowd-pleaser.

Mattress Firm Illumination Sensation: The Esplanade dancing waters/fireworks show gets a makeover with bigger and better pyrotechnics, high-energy music and dancing, nightly at 8 p.m. The ZuZu African Acrobats will move to the Mattress Firm stage for their daily shows.

Big Tex Farmyard: Tried and true kiddie favorite moves west of the Lagoon, near the Kids' Boardwalk, for 2015. Besides petting barnyard baby animals, children can enjoy a magic show, cowboy puppet, games, crafts and face-painting.

Rooster Crowing Contest: How many times can you make a rooster crow? Find out in this quirky new contest that is open to all ages. The contest takes place on closing day, Oct. 18, in the Poultry Barn.

Music

The Fair's 2015 theme is "Passport to Texas" and two new exhibits are dedicated to music originating in the Lone Star State. Visit "Big Texas Music" in the Hall of State for displays, interactives and live music performances. In the Women's Museum building, Mundo Latino salutes "Guitarras de Mexico," showcasing the history of guitars including instruments made in the Guitar Capital of Mexico, Paracho, Michocan.

The Beach Boys, Craig Wayne Boyd and more will take the stage during the Fair. Here's the 2015 State Fair of Texas concert schedule.

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Mike Love, center, and Alan Jardine, right, of The Beach Boys perform at Verizon Theatre in...
Mike Love, center, and Alan Jardine, right, of The Beach Boys perform at Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie, Thursday, March 19, 2015.(Brandon Wade / Special Contributor)

Welcome Back

U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps: Daily performances at Marine Corps Square Sept. 25 through Oct. 6.

It's a Fair Deal Wednesdays: Discounted admission of $4 every Wednesday when you bring four cans of food to be donated to the North Texas Food Bank.