Speaker 1: 0:08

Welcome to the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson and it is hard to believe, but the State Fair of Texas is just around the corner. As longtime listeners know, my family and I love the State Fair and always are excited to share tips to make it super fun for everyone. And this year I'm excited to announce that the Bubble Lounge is the official podcast media sponsor for the State Fair Saddle Up, the charity event that supports students in Texas. And, best of all, the event is coming up on September 10th at the Rustic. The charity event helps kick off the State Fair with music, fun, live auctions, midway games and a lot more. So to tell us about what is new at the State Fair and more about this event, we have invited Carissa Condillanes, senior Vice President and Spokesperson of the State Fair of Texas, to join us to tell us and share all things going on this year. Carissa, welcome to the show. Thanks for having me. Well, the State Fair is coming up in just a few short weeks. Walk us through what's going on this year.

Speaker 2: 1:07

I just have to say it's A it's amazing to be here. Thank you for having me. B I cannot believe that the State Fair of Texas is right around the corner. We always talk about, you know, the runway that we have leading up to it. As we close off the prior year's fair and head into the new one, and to be just weeks away from the 2025 State Fair of Texas, we're all very excited. The grounds are abuzz with excitement, things are going up every day. It looks different every time I drive into work in the morning and it's just really exciting to see everything that we're going to have at the fair for all of our fairgoers this year.

Speaker 1: 1:37

Well, something that I think is interesting, and I don't think a lot of people know, is you're actually a not-for-profit organization. Tell us more about that.

Speaker 2: 1:45

That's right. You know, when you come out to the State Fair of Texas and you get a Fletcher's Corny Dog or go get your favorite candy apple at the candy apple stand, know that a portion of what you're spending out at the fair is helping to support Texas students year-round through our scholarship program. We have a farm right on the Midway that you can actually visit during the State Fair of Texas, where we grow produce year-round, and we donate all of that to South Dallas to help feed families in need. Then we have other programs through agriculture education, as well as helping to engage with our South Dallas partners to help provide funding to other nonprofits in South Dallas, whether it's through community sponsorships or grant funding. We provide a significant amount of funding more than half a million dollars just through that cause alone. So the fair is doing a lot to uplift our community, not only for 24 days each year, but also during the entire 365 days a year.

Speaker 1: 2:38

Okay, I think that is amazing and something that most of us didn't know, and I didn't know anything about it until last year, and I'm so impressed. I absolutely love that. What are some of the organizations that you guys support?

Speaker 2: 3:04

to some of the bigger funding opportunities that are out there, where we're providing them opportunities to receive funding from the fair that really help to give to grassroots programs that are happening directly to benefit our South Dallas Fair Park residents right around Fair Park where we've lived for nearly 140 years. Oh, wow, Okay.

Speaker 1: 3:18

See, this is so fascinating, so many things that most of us don't even know. But you're gearing up for a really big event that I am super excited to be a part of. I am going to be the podcast media sponsor for this year's State Fair. Saddle Up at the Rustic, tell us what's going on there, that's right.

Speaker 2: 3:35

Coming up, on Wednesday, september 10th, we will have an event called the State Fair Saddle Up at the Rustic.

Speaker 2: 3:40

This is our second year for this one-of-a-kind state fair themed event. We have live music, we're actually going to have Cash Buyers as the opener for this year's concert and then we will have our headliner is Little Texas. Of course, if you were raised in the 80s and 90s, you know, you remember Little Texas, you know some of their hits where you can come and just sing and dance along as they perform that night. But we'll also have some fun midway games there and other activations that are very state fair themed that you can enjoy and just really help us kick off the fair season, help raise some money. This event all the proceeds actually go to our Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Programs. This program is to help fund kids to go to college throughout the Lone Star State. We give to kids who participate in our youth livestock programs, as well as DISD kids who attend schools within the Fair Park area, so that they can have an opportunity to receive funding from the State Fair to go to college and further their education.

Speaker 1: 4:34

Well, I love what you just said because I showed horses growing up. I'm from Fort Worth and I mean, as I always say, what else were you going to do in Fort Worth? And so I traveled all over the country showing horses. I showed at the state fair of Texas and the one in Waco and Oklahoma and all the places. So I definitely can relate to that and I think it's wonderful because there's always so many young kids out there with their livestock and you know it takes a lot of money to raise the livestock and participate in these events.

Speaker 2: 5:04

It does, and so they have this opportunity, not only through the Big Tech Youth Livestock Auction, to receive funding from the fair, but then they can also apply for our Big Tech Scholarship Program. Whether they've participated in one or 10 competitions over the years, like you did when you were younger, they now have a chance to receive more funding to go towards their education, to just whether they want to go into ag and livestock or whether they want to go into medicine and helping. In that case. It's just to help continue education and grow educating and growing our agriculture programs throughout Texas and also help support those in our areas.

Speaker 1: 5:37

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Speaker 1: 6:39

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Speaker 2: 7:40

Well, it's going to be. For anybody who purchases tickets they start at $200 a person and know that that includes dinner, that includes full open bar, includes the concert. You just come and have a lot of fun and all the activations are there. You'll just get to come and bring your friends and have a great night and know that you're helping raise money for a great cause.

Speaker 1: 7:54

Well, I think, anything at the Rustic that involves country music. You know I am on board with, so I literally can't wait.

Speaker 2: 8:01

Good, I can't either, and thank you again for being a sponsor of our great event.

Speaker 1: 8:05

Absolutely so. Is this a come with your friends situation or bring the family? What are we looking at here?

Speaker 2: 8:10

It's really everybody, as long as they're adult age. Okay, 21 and up. Yes, we want 21 and up to come to the event. So bring your friends, bring your family, bring your colleagues. It's a great way to introduce, especially for people maybe that have relocated to the DFW area. A great way to introduce them to some Texas-sized fun, because, you know, we do things big at the State Fair of Texas and that includes our fundraising events. They're very special. We also are very unique in that the State Fair itself covers all of the expenses of the event. So any money we raise through ticket sales, through the live auction that we'll have at the event or through any other events that we have that night, that all goes to students. 100% of what is raised. We don't take anything out of that. So that separates us a bit from some other events like this that you can attend and know that you're writing a check or scanning your credit card to make a donation. 100% of that is going directly to the cost.

Speaker 1: 9:04

Oh my gosh that is so incredible. I love that. Well, I always love to hear, when we do charity event, episodes about the live auction. Everyone is so generous in this town of Dallas and gives the most amazing things. Tell us what's going on in the live auction.

Speaker 2: 9:21

Well, I can't give everything away. We will be announcing some of the auction items ahead of the event. But, I can tell you we do have several incredible hunts that will be included in the auction. We also have Southwest Airlines has come in as a sponsor of the event, so of course with that comes some amazing Southwest Airlines tickets that are international that you could have a chance at winning as well.

Speaker 1: 9:46

So we'll also have lots of other options for you to be able to help contribute to the Big Tex Youth Livestock Auction and Scholarship Programs. Okay, well, we all love Texas food. What are we looking at for the food? What's on the menu?

Speaker 2: 9:52

We're working on finalizing the menu for the event as well, as we just announced some of our finalist foods for the actual State Fair of Texas that's coming up soon. So we are all about food at the state fair. That's one of the main reasons people come out to the fair. So of course at our fundraising events we try to incorporate some of our fair vendors into these events as well. So we're working on securing some surprises that might pop up that night and hopefully we can really just make everybody happy and have a great time.

Speaker 2: 10:36

I love that Well. So at the fair going back to the fair for a minute here and the food, because that is such a focal point of the whole thing, the program we normally have five savory finalists and five sweet finalists, and we just announced that we've added a new category that our concessionaires can enter and win in, which is our sippers category. So that is beverages. That the beverage category and the creativity that happens in that category has just continued to expand. So we've decided to split that off into its own category within the competition and our vendors are now vying for these titles of Best Taste Savory, best Taste Sweet, best Taste Sipper, and then overall they are judged upon which one is the most creative. So really excited because all of these will be offered during the State Fair of Texas. So really excited because all of these will be offered during the State Fair of Texas. But here coming up, we will have our actual awards ceremony, where we have celebrity judges who taste everything and end up deciding the winners that get those trophies and titles.

Speaker 1: 11:32

Oh wow, this sounds amazing. So I've never actually gone to the awards ceremony and seen who won what, but I always enjoy tasting new things. It's just so fun, because every year you guys always have new things.

Speaker 2: 11:44

It is, and that's an event for media, so you should definitely come this year and come and you actually will get to taste things too and know what's coming ahead of the fair this year. I would love that.

Speaker 1: 11:53

Yeah Well, sticking with the state fair for a minute. Do you have any insider tips? We always love to share those on the podcast. Before the state fair happens. It's such a big time. It goes on for about a month and everyone loves to go. But is there any tricks and trades that you have to share?

Speaker 2: 12:11

First off, I would say buy your tickets online, because then you don't have to. It's about reducing the number of lines that you need to wait in. So there's a chance. You can buy your tickets at bigtexcom to come to the fair. You can also pre-purchase coupons online. Now, when you do that, you just have to bring your credit card you purchased them with and your ID to a booth at the fair to pick them up. It's a much shorter line.

Speaker 2: 12:30

I would also say come earlier in the day. When you come earlier in the day, you're going to get the prime parking spots. You're going to get into the fair and get to enjoy it before it gets crowded, so you can have a great time at the fair. And then, if you have a chance, I would say at least one night during the fair plan, a date night to be able to come out, or a friend's night to be able to come out and enjoy the fair at night. There's nothing like it.

Speaker 2: 12:51

Once the sun goes down and all the twinkling lights around the grounds, the smell of cotton candy and Fletcher's Corny Dogs in the air, you have the parade that goes by every night. We end the night with fireworks over on the Esplanade, and then, of course, everyone ends their night on the Midway or listening to a concert at the Chevrolet Main Stage, and all of those things are included with your admission to the fair. So I would say come early. That's great, especially if you're going to bring the kids out to have a great day at the fair. Get there right when we open at 10 am, get a prime parking spot, come in and enjoy the day and then set aside an evening for you to come back out with your spouse or significant other and just enjoy the fair at night.

Speaker 1: 13:27

Okay, I usually clear out before it gets dark. So I mean you're painting such a nice picture of, like all the things that go on after dark. I've never stayed for the parade. Usually I'm leaving and they're lining up and I can see how beautiful it looks, but I'm never there for it and that sounds amazing.

Speaker 2: 13:43

It's spectacular and we actually work with a company out of New Orleans to build all of our parade floats. No way, it is the Kern family, which they are known for making the big spectacular floats that are in the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. So they actually build our floats for our parade. So it's one of a kind they're built for us and you. Actually, we have opportunities for different volunteers and donors to ride in our parade as well and maybe auctioning off something special. That might include that at the Saddle Up coming up my gosh.

Speaker 1: 14:12

I love that. Well, many years ago I was an event planner for Citigroup and I got to tour some of the warehouses that had the floats in New Orleans.

Speaker 2: 14:21

Me too. It's amazing, and to go see. That is incredible, and I love that you're working with them, because that means your floats are really over the top and beautiful they are, and they love to invite us down there from Arte Grat to come actually ride on the floats. That's a dream of mine, it is.

Speaker 1: 14:36

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Speaker 1: 15:43

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Speaker 3: 16:05

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Speaker 1: 16:33

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Speaker 2: 17:18

I would say again it's one of those days you want to get to the fairgrounds early. The game is at 2.30 again this year, so expect for that. I'm a Sooner as well. We were Sooner, Married to a Longhorn. My mom was a Longhorn as well, so we definitely have the house divided on our side too. So I get it. But that's a fun day in our house because it's a really friendly rivalry that we get to have. Maybe I'm the friendlier one.

Speaker 2: 17:38

He likes to rub it in but you know that's okay, but I have a feeling that OU is going to make a comeback this year and, you know, maybe we'll see even though Texas is currently ranked number one. But it's always a fun day to come out and enjoy the fair before you go into the game. Depending on what side you're on, you may or may not want to stay after to have some more fun, but it's. You know, it's one of those one-of-a-kind events. There's nothing like it in sports, and so to come and experience it at least once is again another bucket list item, because the Cotton Bowl, as you know, sits right in the middle of Fair Park and State Fair, so you have the Midway happening and you can hear all the great sights and sounds of that. Then again you have all the great scents of the fair and you get to have all that fair food before you head into the stadium.

Speaker 2: 18:24

The stadium is undergoing a multim-million dollar renovation right now and it is going to be complete in advance of this year's fair. So those coming to the game this year know that you are going to see. For half of the stadium it's been completely redone. We don't have these huge ramps anymore. Now there are escalators, which makes the concourses much wider.

Speaker 2: 18:42

If you've been in there on Texas OU Day the Red River Rivalry you know that it can be like a can of sardines sometimes trying to get anywhere. Well, now I got to actually tour it yesterday and got a sneak peek of it with the schools came in town to take a look at the renovations and we walked through the stadium and got to take a look and I was in awe at how wide this concourse is, new concession stands, and this is all in the west side of the stadium and then eventually the goal is to redo the east side of the stadium over the next several years. So it is unbelievable the work that they have done and the impact it's made to this historic stadium that we have the honor of having right here in the city of Dallas.

Speaker 1: 19:22

Well, I am so excited. I knew it was in the works. I didn't know. Some of it was already ready to go, that's right, super exciting and I'd encourage everybody.

Speaker 2: 19:30

You know we'll open the stadium probably three hours before kickoff. So start trickling in and getting into your seats and figuring Don't wait until the last minute, don't wait until the last minute. If anybody learned during the construction last year, do not wait until the last minute to enter that stadium or you might not be in there for kickoff. So go ahead and start making your way in and get your seat and there's concession stands inside as well and so you can enjoy and take a look at all the renovations that have happened, because also that they've been able to preserve a lot of the Art Deco design on the interior. I love that. It is beautiful and Brian Truby, the architect, really took a lot of care in this project and you can see that as you walk through.

Speaker 1: 20:08

Well, I do. I love the Art Deco everywhere and all the other buildings outside of the stadium is something that I've always just really enjoyed looking at, and I think sometimes people get so set in the midway and the rides and all the things maybe they miss that part.

Speaker 2: 20:23

That's a great point and, you know, when it comes down to what the fair gives back to Fair Park is a huge piece of that. We are just a tenant out there and we take over in August and we turn it back over to the city in November, but year-round we are pouring money back into Fair Park. If you look at just last year alone, the state fair contributed $19.5 million through our philanthropic and Fair Park giving. So that includes all of those community initiatives I was talking about earlier as well as our giving to the city of Dallas to help upkeep and the historical preservation of Fair Park. So again, when you come out to the state fair whether it's just for any regular day at the fair, whether it's a night at the fair, like we talked about, or whether it's for the Red River Rivalry or the State Fair Classic that happens opening weekend know that just coming out to the fair and having a good time, you are helping give so much back to our community, both locally and statewide.

Speaker 1: 21:15

Yeah, I never knew that and I'm so excited that we're sharing this right now because I think if I didn't know it, most people didn't know it either. But what can we do, like during the course of the year, to get out there?

Speaker 2: 21:26

I would just say talking about it is really where it starts To know that this is what the fair is about and that the fair is about giving back. It's about community. It's about bringing people together from all walks of life to leave all the noise at the gates and just have a great time, because we don't have many places like that anymore. We just get to go, have fun. You get to go be a kid again at the fair. It's to come and just enjoy, support the fair, attend our other events. That helps us be able to continue contributing that significant amount back into the community year round.

Speaker 1: 21:57

No you're so right Because so oftentimes on the podcast I'm talking about all the community things that we do right here in the Park Cities and that's like a big reason. I love living here and being a part of it. And what you're saying, like here we have this opportunity to do this for the bigger part of Dallas, I think is amazing and to just give back and improve and make things better for everyone around.

Speaker 2: 22:20

We're very fortunate that so many of our volunteers live in the Park Cities, so I'm hoping many of them are listening to this right now and taking pride in getting to hear us talk about all the great things the fair are doing, because they're helping us raise the $2.1 million that we're trying to give away to Texas students this year the $1.3 million we've already given away through the scholarship program, as well as all of these other events that they're helping support and fundraise for and they live right here in this community and understand the importance and the tradition of the State Fair of Texas, how it's been here for 139 years and we are only here for a moment in time and need to be great servants to it so we can pass it on to future generations.

Speaker 1: 22:58

Yeah, to keep it going. Absolutely Well, let's get back to the State Fair Saddle Up event, because I am so excited about this and it's coming up like really soon. What if somebody is on the fence? I mean, we are in charity season now. In the fall, what if somebody is on the fence and they're not sure if they want to go? Let's convince them why they should go.

Speaker 2: 23:20

Let's convince them. My goodness Well A an event at the Rustic is like none other.

Speaker 1: 23:25

It's so much fun.

Speaker 2: 23:27

It's such a great venue, unlike anything else that we have in the area. It's very Texas-themed, which is very on-brand for the State Fair of Texas. You'll get to see little Big Tex, whereas if you've been to the State Fair of Texas you know how hard it is to track him down for a picture. Well, he's here at this one, our walk around Big Tex mascot that you can take a photo with. We will have Big Texas boots at the event.

Speaker 2: 23:48

Now we have sent his other pair of boots up to Washington DC. They're at the Smithsonian Renwick Gallery for the next year, so we don't have those, but we do have a pair of boots that we will have out there. It'll be things that you just don't get to see at any other charity event that you go to, because they are specific to the State Fair of Texas and it's about coming and really helping us kick off the fair season, because we'll just be a few weeks shy of opening day to the State Fair. So I'm sure we normally sometimes maybe give a sneak peek of things or let people in on a little secret that you might be able to get if you come to the Saddle Up event.

Speaker 1: 24:21

Oh, wow, well, it sounds perfect. So what is the best place for people to follow along and just keep up with all the news?

Speaker 2: 24:28

If you're interested in the news at the State Fair, you can follow us on social media as well, as, if just more so, like the breaking news that's at Big Tech's News on Instagram, we post any of the breaking news that's coming out related to the fair new attractions, new foods and events like this we'll talk about, and also our community events foods and events like this we'll talk about, and also our community events. Then the state fair is always talking about different things, but to buy tickets to the event, you want to go to bigtexmuradbidcom and that will help take you directly to, and we have a few sponsorships available that are still left, and then we also have tickets available. You can purchase general admission or you can purchase VIP Perfect.

Speaker 1: 25:05

And, as always, I will include a link so you don't have to remember what she just said. That's right. Well, this is so exciting. I've loved hearing everything about the fair, about Saddle Up. I can't wait to be a part of it. I can't wait to go to the fair. Thank you so much for being here today.

Speaker 2: 25:21

Thank you for having me and I can't wait to have you out at Saddle Up this year.

Speaker 1: 25:24

Absolutely Well, that's been another episode of the Bubble Lounge. I'm Martha Jackson and I will see you next week.