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The YMBL South Texas State Fair continues to be an extraordinary experience for the tens of thousands that attend. Now entering its 80th year, the 11-day amusement show serves as one of the largest as its kinds with 100s of vendors, carnival rides, live music, and of course, massive amount of delicious fair foods.
Funnel cakes, foot-long corn dogs, candy apples, deep fried Oreos and Twinkies, onion blossoms, burgers, turkey legs, stuffed pistolettes, kettle corn, pizza, baby back ribs, Italian and Polish sausage, nachos, crawfish etouffee, sirloin steak tip dinners, boiled crawfish and who could forget Rudy’s Kabobs?
Gates open Thursday, March 21, at 6 p.m. at Ford Park (5115 Interstate 10 South) in Beaumont. Daily opening times are March 22 (5 p.m.), March 23 (noon), March 24 (noon), March 25 (5 p.m.), March 26 (5 p.m.), March 27 (5 p.m.), March 28 (5 p.m.), and noon on March 29-31, which is Easter Weekend.
Tickets are $10 (for ages 5-64) and youth 4 and under, and senior citizens (65 and up) pay no admission fee. Parking is also free.
There are plenty of promotional nights through March 31 and discounts and details can be viewed online at ymbl.org. Those wanting to take advantage of the carnival midway can do so with a $40 Unlimited Ride Daily Wrist Band good for March 21, March 24, March 26, March 29 and March 31.
Some of the favorites are returning including the Motiva Kids Fun Zone; the Exotics Petting Zoo with nearly every animal you can think of — from the most exotic to farm animals, with camel and pony rides; Gator Country Reptile Show; Miller Lite Beer Garden; and don’t forget to visit the Exhibit Hall, which includes indoor shopping with more than 100 vendors selling collectables, home improvement items, cell phones, jewelry and purses, plus patrons can get up close and personal with the all new Ford F-Series of trucks.
A hidden gem within the fair is the quilt, photography and baking contest that shows off the local talents of Southeast Texas.
Another popular fixture of the fair is the livestock area, behind Ford Arena. Students from local schools show off animals they have raised throughout the years – pigs, cows, chickens and rabbits.
The United Pro Rodeo Association (UPRA) and Jerry Nelson will hold three rodeos and mutton-bustin’ events inside Ford Arena beginning Friday, March 22, at 7 p.m., Saturday, March 23, at 5 p.m., and Sunday, March 24, at 5 p.m. General admission seating is free with the purchase of a fair ticket. Those who want a reserved seat can pay $2 more at ymbl.org, and it too admits you inside the fair.
Though not open to the public, the YMBL also offers an evening for special need children to get up close and personal with the cowboys, rodeo clowns and horses. This year, approximately 1,700 youngsters from 25 school districts representing some 100 schools attended the Kids Day Rodeo on March 20 along with some 200 volunteers from the YMBL and from other community organizations.
This year’s bull-riding is scheduled for the following weekend, Friday, March 29, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 30, at 5 p.m. General admission seating is also free with the purchase of a fair ticket.
Since 1957, the South Texas State Fair, has attracted an estimated attendance of more than half a million annually from 10 counties in Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. Although a nonprofit committee of the YMBL, the fair provides its sponsoring organization with more than 90% of its total revenue, which the YMBL shares with the community in direct gifts to area charitable organizations, youth projects, civic programs and other efforts to aid the elderly and those in need.
Everyone always has a great time at the fair. See you there!