Dallas Reddit Fumes Over 'Crazy' State Fair Pricing

This weekend brings the finale of the State Fair of Texas, and a commenter on the r/Dallas thread on Reddit kicked off a long discussion this week by posting the question, "Is the State Fair crazy expensive? Or is it just me?" Well, RoyalRenn, as the experts on everything Dallas, let us help you here with some answers: Yes, a trip to the State of Texas can easily get pricey. (We don't know you, so consult your doctor about your own mental health.) But is the the fair expensive? Pardon us for getting all high-falutin' here, but as Oscar Wilde said, "'A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing." We here at the dig the fair and are widely known as being among the least cynical people in Dallas — plus, we get media passes — so we're going to say the fair isn't crazy expensive if you know how to be a budget-conscious fairgoer. But let's take a peek at what other Redditors said. RoyalRenn got things rolling: Team crazy expensive had plenty of supporters: Well, that's pretty much the nub of it, isn't it? Your opinion about the price of the fair depends on what you value. Does a smoked turkey leg cost beaucoup $? You bet. But getting to feel like King Henry VIII while pigging out and coating my face (and neck and chest, honestly) in smokey grease in public where NO ONE IS judging me? Priceless. Others pointed out that the fair offers plenty of free attractions that you won't find elsewhere: Damn straight, Imadevonrexcat. What other entertainment venue includes awesome pig races in the price of admission? Not the Dallas Opera, that's for damn sure. Sheep dog trials? The animal barn? I got to pet a freakin' llama! A pig with testicles the size of rugby balls? Hey, people fly all the way to Egypt to see piles of rocks. Ginormous pig 'nads are also wonders of the world, and they're right here in town. I also once got to see Lucinda Williams in concert, which would rate even higher than pig races and nuts if not for the guy who talked over the entire show chatting up a woman who was clearly not into him, the douche. Plenty of commenters offered loads of tips for saving money at the fair: ride DART, bring a soft-cooler with drinks and snacks, learn to be a real Dallasite and never, ever pay full price for admission. But ewynn2019 had the comment that warmed my pinko heart: That's right, the money you spend on entertainment and food at fair isn't lining the pocket of some rich dude (looking your way, Jerry Jones). It's supporting small entrepreneurs. Plus, last year the State Fair of Texas awarded 225 college scholarships totaling $1.3 million, and the fair collects leftover food from participating vendors and donates it to food pantries. Small business enterprises working hard to help fund education and feed the poor at no cost to the state, plus pig races. You can't get any more Texan that that, RoyalRenn. UPDATE, 4 P.M.: Also: