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Entertainment - Fair Park

» The African American Museum » The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park » Cotton Bowl » Dallas Firefighters Museum » Gexa Energy Pavilion

» The Hall of State at Fair Park » The Music Hall at Fair Park » State Fair of Texas » Summer Adventures in Fair Park™ » Texas Discovery Gardens

Note: When planning an excursion, make sure service is available for all parts of your trip on the day and at the time you wish to travel.
The information links on this page are provided as a service to our guests. Dallas Area Rapid Transit is not responsible for the content found on these sites. Just two miles east of downtown Dallas, 277-acre Fair Park is the largest historical landmark in Texas, and it boasts the largest collection of Art Deco exposition buildings in the country. Since 1886, Fair Park has been the site of the State Fair of Texas. Events take place at Fair Park year-round.

Learn More

The African American Museum
3536 Grand Ave., Dallas
The African American Museum is the only museum in the Southwestern United States devoted to the preservation and display of African American artistic, cultural and historical materials. It also has one of the largest African American folk art collections in the United States.
» View more information at aamdallas.org
» Plan a trip to The African American Museum.
Trip Planner Tip: Use African American Museum as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail stations: Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station


The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park
1462 First Ave., Dallas
The Children's Aquarium at Fair Park is home to a varied collection of approximately 6,000 aquatic animals, including marine and freshwater fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The Aquarium also participates in a number of national and international conservation and research projects. It is a leader in the breeding of critically endangered Texas species, such as the Texas blind salamander and several desert fishes that are already extinct in nature.
» View more information at dallaszoo.com
» Plan a trip to the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park.
Trip Planner Tip: Use Dallas Aquarium as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail stations: Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station


Cotton Bowl
3750 Midway Plaza, Dallas
The Cotton Bowl Stadium continues to attract thousands of fans from all over the world. Cotton Bowl events include the State Fair Classic football game between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University and the Texas-Oklahoma AT&T Red River Rivalry football game. In 1994, the Cotton Bowl was chosen as one of six United States venues for World Cup Soccer, and it was host to international soccer games in 1995 and 1996.
» View more information at cottonbowlstadium.com
» Plan a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
Trip Planner Tip: Use Cotton Bowl as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail stations: Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station


Dallas Firefighters Museum
3801 Parry Ave., Dallas
The Dallas Firefighters Museum is located in one of the city's oldest remaining fire stations. Built in 1907, the station was originally the home of Hook and Ladder Company No. 3 and is found across the street from the Parry Avenue entrance of Fair Park. Included in the collection of old firetrucks is 'Old Tige,' a 1884 horse-drawn steam pumper named after then mayor W.L. Cabell, and a 1936 ladder truck. The museum is staffed Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. by retired firefighters who are always happy to show to individuals and groups and to give a lesson in fire saftey to the many groups of children who regularly visit.
» View more information at dallasfiremuseum.com
» Plan a trip to the Dallas Firefighters Museum.
Trip Planner Tip: Use Fair Park as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail station: Fair Park Station


Gexa Energy Pavilion (formerly SuperPages.com Center) (Fair Park)
1818 First Ave., Dallas
The Gexa Energy Pavilion, an outdoor performing arts theatre, features a covered performance pavilion and reserved seating for 7,533 patrons. Seating for an additional 12,578 is available on an attractively landscaped, grassy sloped lawn. The venue has hosted music's top artists, including Sting, Jimmy Buffett, Blink-182, Lenny Kravitz, Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac since its debut in 1988.
» View more information about the Gexa Energy Pavilion at livenation.com
» Plan a trip to the Gexa Energy Pavilion.
Trip Planner Tip: Use 1818 1st as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail station: MLK, Jr. Station


The Hall of State at Fair Park
3939 Grand Ave., Dallas
Built for the 1936 Texas Centennial Celebration, the Hall of State is one of Fair Park's several expansive exhibit halls. Collectively, it is the largest collection of Art Deco buildings in the United States. The magnificent structure has played host to presidents, heads of state and other dignitaries. It is home to the Dallas Historical Society and provides a splendid setting for special events.
» View more information at hallofstate.com
» Plan a trip to the Hall of State.
Trip Planner Tip: Use Fair Park as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail stations: Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station


The Music Hall at Fair Park
909 First Ave., Dallas
In 1925, the City of Dallas finished construction of this cavernous 3,500-seat music hall located to the south of the Parry Avenue entrance. The Lang and Witchell design incorporated Spanish Colonial Revival detailing, primarily in the dominant square towers on the building's north side and in the paired octagonal towers on the east and west facades. In 1972, the building was expanded by Jarvis Putty Jarvis, who utilized the octagonal shapes of the original building as a plan-generating device for the new additions. The Music Hall is home to the Dallas Summer Musicals, the Dallas Opera and the Texas Ballet Theater, as well as other musical and theatrical productions.
» View more information about the Music Hall at Fair Park at liveatthemusichall.com
» Plan a trip to the Music Hall at Fair Park.
Trip Planner Tip: Use Music Hall as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail station: Fair Park Station


State Fair of Texas
Held annually for 24 days in late-September through mid-October
Since 1886, Fair Park has been the site of the State Fair of Texas, the largest state fair in the United States with over 3.5 million visitors each year. Included each year is the State Fair Auto Show, the State Fair Musical at the Music Hall, livestock shows and auctions, creative arts, Midway rides and games, food, fun and much more!
» View more information at bigtex.com
» Plan a trip to the State Fair of Texas.
Trip Planner Tip: Use State Fair of Texas as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail stations: Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station


Summer Adventures in Fair Park™
Operations: May 4-26, 2013, Sat and Sun only
Daily operations start in June 2013
Summer Adventures in Fair Park just may re-define what cool is all about with more than 18 acres of rides, games, stages, water play pools, fountains, misters, and shade. Dallas' newest attraction offers rides, water spray grounds, interactive play areas, educational encounters, and plenty of room to relax with family and friends all at one low price. Discover Fair Park in an all new way!
» View more information at fairparkfun.com
» Plan a trip to Fair Park.
Trip Planner Tip: Use Fair Park Station or MLK, Jr. Station as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail stations: Fair Park Station and MLK, Jr. Station


Texas Discovery Gardens
3601 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Dallas
A year-round urban oasis, Texas Discovery Gardens was the first certified organic public garden in the state. Texas Discovery Gardens showcases beautiful native and adapted plants grown using sustainable methods that conserve water and protect the environment.
» View more information at texasdiscoverygardens.org
» Plan a trip to Texas Discovery Gardens.
Trip Planner Tip: Use Texas Discovery Gardens as your destination.
Nearest DART Rail station: MLK, Jr. Station

stay for the day!   minutes from downtown   historic art deco architecture museums & attractions Fair Park has a lot more to offer than just the State Fair of Texas. When the fair crowds have gone, you can soak up the science, history and art at your own pace.

About Fair Park
Fair Park is one of Dallas' hidden treasures. Designated a National Historic Landmark, Fair Park has the largest collection of 1930's Art Deco exposition architecture in the United States and is the only unaltered pre-1950's World's Fair site in the nation. Unlike past World Fairs, the buildings of Fair Park were designed and built to last, and they have. Many of these buildings remain today including those that house the Texas Hall of State, Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas Aquarium, Texas Discovery Gardens, D.A.R. Museum, and the Science Place and Planetarium.

The State Fair of Texas has been held at Fair Park since 1886 when the Dallas State Fair Board of Directors voted to purchase 80 acres of land and established the fairgrounds. Now the largest annual state fair in the United States, the State Fair of Texas is the largest tenant of Fair Park.

Esplanade circa 1936

In 1936, the city of Dallas was chosen to host the State of Texas Centennial Celebration; Architect George Dahl was hired to rebuild Fair Park for the event. Dahl worked to renovate the existing buildings in Fair Park and also designed new ones to create a functional and stunning site. He created a unique look by combining classic Art Deco designs of the period with a Southwestern flare that interjected elements of Texas history.

There are museums, performance halls and gardens located at Fair Park, including the African American Museum and the Texas Museum of Automotive History. Over 749,000 square feet of covered space can be used for conferences, exhibits, markets, festivals and sporting events.

Read more about Fair Park and learn more about year-round events at fairpark.org.

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