Visitors can discover ‘hidden gems’ at Fair

By Warren Black

For many people, the State Fair of Texas (Fair) is an annual family tradition. For devoted fairgoers, there are events going on that the average person or family, who may only visit once a year, may be unfamiliar with. Some call them “Hidden Gems.”

One of the best Hidden Gems at the Fair are the extremely knowledgeable ambassadors in the State Fair Hospitality Centers, which are scattered throughout the park. Housed inside iconic red booths are some of the true heroes of the yearly event. Not only can visitors obtain maps of the fairgrounds, but they can also meet the Fair’s hospitality ambassadors, many who have worked the booths for more than 10 years. This year, two loyal employees are marking their 40th year with the Fair. 

Ambassadors help guide guests through the massive 277-acre fairgrounds. The centers are managed by one of the longest serving employees of the Fair, Carol Burk. Burk started in 1975 and has worked every year since. She manages 70 employees, ensuring fairgoers get the best experience possible. Burk tells her staff, “The people walking in the gate are the ones signing your paycheck.” Burk was recognized for 50 years of service at this year’s Fair opening ceremonies. 

Every year, Burk oversees the management of the phone banks for visitors calling in, the guest relations booths, the will call windows and the fair guide distribution network, which serve 27 newsstands, the coupon booths and the Safe Kid Centers. 

Her husband, Ted, works at the distribution center suppling the coupon booths with Visitor’s Guides, ice and water. The Fair distributes more than 550,000 guides each year.

Another Hidden Gem is the nightly “Drive Like a Texan Starlight Parade.” The parade is filled with colorful floats, local celebrities and Texas music, and is always followed by the Shriner Band. Lisa Boubel, a born and raised Dallasite, has been working on part of the parade production since 1999. She has been to the Fair every year of her life. Boubel eventually became the Special Events Coordinator. She oversees the between 70 and 100 parade volunteers it takes to put on the nightly parade, including the food, drinks, uniforms and training. The average volunteer has been with the parade for more than 10 years, and one volunteer has been helping for 56 years. Boubel says the most important part of the job is safety. The ambassadors who guide the parade sometimes must be nice but firm when keeping excited guests safely back from the incoming parade as it travels through the Fair. 

The parade starts at 7 p.m. Boubel’s favorite parts are the lights and the sounds that transform the Fair from daytime to night.

Boubel also arranges for each evening’s parade celebrities — special guests and float riders featured in that night’s parade. She often reminds participants and volunteers that they are, “The face of the State Fair.” For many fairgoers, the parade is a family tradition. When they see the parade pass by, they know it is time to head to the fountains for the Illumination Station Sensation. 

The Illumination Station Sensation takes place every evening at 7:30 p.m. on the Esplanade. Live talent performs as bright lights, music and fireworks fill the air every evening. 

Another special Hidden Gem at the Fair are the Sensory-Friendly Mornings. The next one is on October 15, when the Fair focuses on guests who might enjoy a quieter, less sensory-involved experience. 

For visitors looking for a less expensive way to travel to the fun without paying for parking, the DART Green Line stops directly at the front entrance of Fair Park. Paid parking lots and shuttles are also available.

The 2025 Fair closes on Sunday, Oct. 19. Visit BigTex.com for more information and to find discounted ticket offers.

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