The State Fair of Texas Broke Some Seriously Ridiculous Food Records

The 2024 State Fair of Texas has officially come to a close, and if you’re not still recovering from that fifth Fletcher’s Corny Dog, were you really even there? Big Tex has waved his oversized hand goodbye, and we’re left with the memories of rides, food, and, let’s be honest, some of the most bizarre happenings in all of Texas.

In case you missed it (or were too busy balancing a funnel cake in one hand and a giant stuffed unicorn in the other), here’s a recap of the most ridiculously delightful highlights from this year’s extravaganza:

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1. The 2024 Fair in Numbers: Corny Dogs, Canned Goods, and...Peanut Butter?

The fair welcomed an estimated 2.4 million people who, in true Texan fashion, consumed approximately 550,000 Fletcher’s Corny Dogs. Let’s not forget the 1,800 gallons of mustard and 850 gallons of ketchup that accompanied this culinary masterpiece. Meanwhile, Tony’s Taco Shop rolled over 60,000 individual taquitos—because who can resist drowning taquitos?

As usual, it wasn’t all about fried food and fun rides. More than 180,000 canned goods and jars of peanut butter were collected for the North Texas Food Bank. The state of Texas thanks you, and so do the sandwich lovers everywhere.

2. Big Tex, the Cupid Shuffle, and 3,099 Activities (Yes, We Counted)

Big Tex had his busiest day on October 12 when the Allstate® Red River Rivalry brought more than 211,000 people through the gates. And what did those people do? Apparently, they joined the Showstoppers in the Cupid Shuffle 95 times. Was this a world record for synchronized line dancing? Who knows, but it sure made the Fair feel like one giant wedding reception.

And if that wasn’t enough, there were 3,099 activities across the fairgrounds. Yes, you read that right—3,099. From Steve Goodtime’s performances to a love bug horn that blew 4,000 times, there was literally something weird and wonderful happening every single second. But let’s not forget Sara Twister, who managed to split 33 apples with her bare hands. Take that, gym bros.

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3. Playing Cards, Animal Babies, and the Great Livestock Showdown

You think tearing a phone book in half is impressive? Try ripping 1,200 playing cards, as Mighty Mike did this year. We don’t know why you’d need this skill, but it’s certainly one for the books.

Speaking of impressive, the Livestock Birthing Barn celebrated 76 animal births this year—because who doesn’t want to see a piglet entering the world between bites of fried Oreos? Among the newborns were 43 piglets, 13 calves, 12 baby goats, and eight lambs. Meanwhile, over in the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction, the Grand Champion Market Steer sold for a jaw-dropping $180,000. That steer’s future is brighter than most people’s.

4. Rides, Ribbons, and a Bobblehead Frenzy

If you weren’t up for animal births or apple-splitting feats, maybe you found solace on the iconic Texas Star Ferris Wheel. Over 100,000 rides were taken on this giant wheel, but let’s be honest, most of us were just hoping the line wasn’t too long. If you’re more of a shopper, the Fair had you covered with 186 booths to peruse—just in case you needed a belt buckle the size of your head.

For the creatives out there, more than 4,434 ribbons were handed out in the Fair’s Creative Arts contests. If you entered a cookie this year, congratulations, you were one of 1,172 cookie contestants. We hope your snickerdoodle was as epic as this year’s State Fair itself.

So, there you have it—the 2024 State Fair of Texas in all its absurd, glorious, and very Texan splendor. Until next year, folks, when Big Tex will once again rise from his storage shed, ready to watch us do the Cupid Shuffle and eat our weight in corny dogs all over again.