The State Fair of Texas is back in full swing, a sign of what’s to come at RodeoHouston next year
Upon entering the Dallas Fair Park, a familiar all-in-one scent filled the air, wafting from sugar to fried batter, roasted nuts and smoky meat. Big Tex greeted visitors at times with a booming voice and stood 55 feet tall in his cowboy clothes.
“This is a new one, you know, the old one burned down,” a young woman said to her friend, referring to the notorious electric fire in 2012.
The State Fair of Texas got back into full swing after skipping the 2020 event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When the fair returns, it will offer a glimpse of what Houstonians can expect at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, scheduled from February 28 to March 20, 2022.
RodeoHouston 2020 closed early as the virus spread in March. The organizers of the Dallas fair reduced their own event in 2020 to a drive-through experience with fair food preferred by fans and a photo opportunity with a masked Big Tex and created a virtual programming. But nothing makes up for the celebrations on the exhibition grounds.
“When I heard this was closing, it just broke me,” said Carson Dugger, a member of the Valley View National FFA Organization Chapter, who couldn’t envision her project of an adjustable five-height cattle feeder for different livestock. She was pleased to be able to present her design at the agricultural machinery competition at the state fair this year.
Despite the ongoing health crisis, the state fair didn’t look much different than it did before the pandemic. Crowds were moving through the grounds and lining up at rides with little social distancing. The wearing of masks was in short supply.
“I would say it’s an unnecessary risk,” said Dr. Ben Neuman, chief virologist at Texas A & M’s Global Health Research Complex, on attending such a large event while Texas virus cases are declining but still not particularly low. “At the same time, I understand that people need some kind of exemption from all this stuff.”
Karissa Condoianis, the show’s senior vice president of public relations, says a safety benefit of the Fair Park is that nearly 80 percent of the site is outdoors. The number of hand sanitization stations rose to nearly 1,000 scattered across the site, including one at each stand this year, and plexiglass signs were installed between staff and visitors at certain stands. Some events have been postponed to create more space in the auditorium.
Signs were posted in front of the buildings indicating that masks are required indoors, although most people did not wear a mask indoors either. Condoianis says they have forced the use of masks indoors only for sellers.
“It’s very difficult with trade fair visitors,” said Condoianis. “We don’t want to endanger our employees, so we decided not to enforce the wearing of masks for guests.”
Dr. Neuman said the hand sanitizer stations “do next to nothing” and called the plexiglass “completely useless”. He added that the outdoor event was helpful, but broadcasting was still possible and that signs without enforcement would not be effective. He claims that face masks are still the best way to protect people from contracting the virus.
The state fair required that all of its employees, more than 2,000 people, had to be vaccinated. The team strongly encouraged vendors to do the same, but did not mandate it.
The organization also worked with Dallas County on a tent just behind Big Tex and offers free vaccinations. Dallas County residents were given $ 20 in food and travel vouchers as an incentive. As of Friday, 1,345 people had been vaccinated locally, according to a spokesman for Dallas County Health and Human Services.
Limiting the risk of infection at large public events like this one is a challenge. A Chronicle investigation found officials were not acting fast enough to prevent the spread of coronavirus in RodeoHouston in 2020, which stayed open for a week after the first confirmed cases in the area. Public health officials suspect the event contributed to the spread of the virus.
“We continue to monitor the evolving health situation and protocols that have been implemented at other major public events in the sports and entertainment industry,” RodeoHouston said in a statement Thursday. “Health and safety updates will be announced closer to the event.”
Jennifer Wais said her family avoided indoor areas like the auto show and food court. They also decided to attend mid-week and morning to minimize contact with large crowds. Wais grew up watching the folk festival. Now that she has two young children, her favorite attractions are the farm animals and the games.
“When it was just me, it was just the corn dogs,” said Wais.
Friends Aby Barrientos and Chasity Johnson came to Mass mainly for the food. On Wednesday afternoon, they shared a large plate of bacon cheddar ranch fries while waiting for Johnson’s sister to finish a swan boat trip. Attending the state fair for the first time, Johnson was excited to try the Lobster Corn Dog next. Barrientos had a turkey leg in his eye.
State Fair Food is a huge draw for trade show goers, and competition for the bizarre creations can be fierce. A particular hit was the I-35 in the Gulf Coast Grill, a deep-fried kolache with brisket, canned peaches and a grill glaze from Dr. Pepper. Already on Wednesday at 10 o’clock there were crowds for the famous Fletcher’s Corny Dogs, which were written with a non-optional “y” at the end.
The state fair seemed largely a return to normal. Visitors to the fair strolled through the aisles, dressed in shirts that declared their loyalty to the college or sports team, or with messages such as “Best father ever” and “I’ve never met a piece of chocolate that I didn’t like”.
In the petting zoo, children fed goats, cows, ostriches, camels, kangaroos and donkeys. The crowds cheered as pig champions like Kevin Bacon and Hammah Montana sprinted across the finish line in the pig races. The Texas SkyWay and Ferris Wheels provided a bird’s eye view of Fair Park and downtown Dallas. Thrill seekers piled on the roller coasters and lined up in front of the haunted house.
In 2019, both the State Fair of Texas and RodeoHouston each drew about 2.5 million people. Condoianis said it expected the number of the former to be lower in 2021 due to the pandemic, but could not share data until the fair closes on Sunday. RodeoHouston 2020 saw more than 850,000 people before it closed on March 11, 2020.
Dallas County’s 62.19 percent of eligible residents – those 12 and older – are fully vaccinated. In Harris County, the rate is 66.37 percent. Dr. Neuman isn’t optimistic as these numbers don’t take into account young children. He would be more comfortable at large public events if more than 80 percent of the total population were vaccinated, with one caveat: immunity drops significantly five months after the second vaccination.
“I think everyone has a responsibility to take care of themselves and think of others,” said Yesenia Cedillo, who felt comfortable coming to the state fair because she was vaccinated. “We have done our part, I hope everyone does their part.”
As for next year’s RodeoHouston, Dr. Neuman the people to enjoy it with a mask.
emma.balter@chron.com
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