South Texas State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Texas State Fair |
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|---|---|
| Genre | State fair |
| Begins | late March – 27 March 2025 |
| Ends | early April – 06 April 2025 |
| Frequency | annually |
| Venue | I 10 |
| Location(s) | Ford Park, Beaumont, TX 77705 |
| Coordinates | 30°0′35.68″N 94°10′50.78″W / 30.0099111°N 94.1807722°W |
| Country |  United States of America |
| Years active | 1907–1916, 1919–1941, 1946–2004, 2006–2007, 2009–2019, 2021– (Cancelled 1917–18 – World War I, 1942–1945 – World War II, 2005, 2008 – Hurricane Damage, 2020 – pandemic) |
| Founded | 1907 |
| Founder | City of Beaumont |
| Attendance | Estimated 500,000 |
| Member | Texas Association of Fairs and Events |
| Sponsor | Young Men's Business League (YMBL) since 1942 |
The South Texas State Fair is a super fun yearly event held in Beaumont, Texas. It's a big state fair that brings together people from all over the region. At the fair, you can see exciting animal shows, explore cool exhibits, and enjoy thrilling rides on the carnival Midway.
One of the biggest attractions is the food! You'll find classic carnival treats, plus special dishes from Southeast Texas. Get ready for delicious barbecue, tasty Tex-Mex, and yummy Cajun foods. Sometimes, you can even try fried alligator!
The South Texas State Fair is very popular. Over 500,000 people visit it each year. This makes it one of the largest fairs in Texas, second only to the State Fair of Texas in Dallas. The fair usually happens every year from late March to early April. To keep everyone safe, security guards, the Beaumont Police, and the Jefferson County Sheriff's office are always on patrol.
Contents
History of the Fair
The South Texas State Fair started a long time ago in Beaumont. The very first fair was held in 1907. It has been an annual event almost every year since then.
Changes Over Time
The fair has had a few different names. It was first called the Beaumont Fair. Then it became the Southeast Texas State Fair. Finally, in 1921, it got its current name: the South Texas State Fair.
In 1942, a local group called the YMBL (Young Men's Business League) took over running the fair. They are a non-profit group that helps improve the community.
Fair Cancellations
The fair has only been canceled a few times throughout its history.
- In 1917 and 1918, it was canceled because of World War I.
- From 1942 to 1945, it was canceled due to World War II.
- In 2005, Hurricane Rita caused a lot of damage, so the fair couldn't happen.
- In 2008, Hurricane Ike hit the area, leading to another cancellation.
- In 2020, the fair was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The "Victory Fair"
During World War II, many state fairs closed down. But the South Texas State Fair kept going! It was known as the "YMBL Victory Fair." The YMBL says the U.S. military even asked them to keep it open. This was to help cheer up soldiers stationed near Beaumont.
New Location and Schedule
For many years, the fair was held at the Beaumont Fairgrounds. But in 2004, it moved to a new home at Ford Park. This new location is right off I-10.
The fair used to happen in the fall. However, in 2009, it permanently changed its schedule to the spring. This change was made for a few good reasons. The weather is often better in the spring. Also, there's less competition from football games. The new schedule also worked better for the company that provides the carnival rides.
