Your Guide to the State Fair of Texas

Ghirardelli Chocolate Championship. The winner of this recipe contest gets $150 and a Ghirardelli gift basket. But the real reason to enter? The potential to score some free chocolate. One randomly selected entrant will receive a special Ghirardelli prize. 10:30 a.m. Contest Kitchen, Creative Arts Department.

Barnyard Olympics and Fun Contest. Tug-of-wars and other activities make up this kid-friendly event. 7 p.m. Swine Arena.

MUSIC

Mario. 3 p.m. Chevrolet Main Stage.

Click here to download the complete calendar for Sept. 25.

If you like clogging and folk dancing, this is a must-go day for the fair. All of these acts take place on the Hall of State’s steps:

-San Antonio Contra Dancers. 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
-Cadence Cloggers of San Antonio. 10:20 a.m., 2:20 p.m.
-Bluebonnet Scottish Country Dancers. 10:50 a.m., 2:50 p.m.
-American Turkish Association-Houston Folk Dance Group. 11:10 a.m.
-Fire on the Mountain Cloggers. 11:30 a.m., 1:20 p.m.
-Tusuy Kusun Peru. Noon, 1:50 p.m.
-Csardas Hungarian Dancers of Austin. 12:50 and 3:10 p.m.
-Nadi El-Raks. 3:40 p.m., 5:10 p.m. Hall of State Steps
-Plano Senior High German Folk Dancers. 4:10 and 6 p.m.
-Johara Dance Ensemble. 4:30 and 6:20 p.m.
-Nrithya Performing Arts. 5:40 and 6:40 p.m.

MUSIC

Matt Morris. 2 p.m. Chevrolet Main Stage
Brooke White. 5:30 p.m. Chevrolet Main Stage

Click here to download the complete calendar for Sept. 26.

Bacon and Egg Contest. Just as the name suggests, this contest will determine who has the best recipe containing two of our favorite ingredients. Take heed: the official rules sternly mandate that NO SAUCES will be allowed. Entries accepted at 9 a.m., judging at 10 a.m. State Fair Contest Kitchen, Creative Arts Department.

Story Time, Milk, Cookies with Elsie. One of our favorite bovines, Elsie, will entertain the kids with stories and treats. Noon and 2 p.m. SW Dairy Farmers Gazebo Stage.

MUSIC

Miss Devon & the Outlaw. This western music duo known for its intricate harmonies and occasional saxophone interludes (yep, you read that right) should be a hit with junior and senior audiences alike. 4 to 6 p.m. SW Dairy Farmers Gazebo Stage.

Click here to download the complete calendar for Sept. 27.

Dr Pepper 125th Anniversary Cake Contest. The stakes are high in this competition. The best Dr Pepper-inspired cake gets $1,250 and a year’s supply of Dr. Pepper. Second place takes home $125 and a half-year’s supply. And third place gets five 12-packs. Entries accepted at 9 a.m., winner announced at 12:30 p.m. Contest Kitchen, Creative Arts Department.

VoTexas Jeopardy Game. This game, aimed at encouraging people to participate in the November elections, tests the audience’s knowledge of voting-related matters. Noon, 2, 4, and 6 p.m. SW Dairy Farmers Gazebo Stage.

COOKING DEMOS (in the Creative Arts Department’s Celebrity Kitchen):

-Bruno Davaillon of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. 12:30 p.m.
-Bryant Currie of Le Cordon Bleu. 2:30 p.m.
-Jaime Corona of The Place at Perry’s. 4:30 p.m.
-Karen Kahn of Eden. 6 p.m.

Click here to download the complete calendar for Sept. 28.

-Scott Romano of Charlie Palmer. 12:30 p.m.
-David Collier of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. 2:30 p.m.
-Christof Syre of The Café on the Green. 4:30 p.m.
-Tom Welther of Hilton Anatole. 6 p.m.

Click here to download the complete calendar for Sept. 29.

DPD Animal Demo. Want to know more about the Dallas Police Department’s mounted police and canine officers? Here’s your chance to watch them in action. 3 p.m. Ranch Arena.

COOKING DEMOS (in the Creative Arts Department’s Celebrity Kitchen):

-Piyada Huatcharoen of Chow Thai. 11 a.m.
-Ken Cobb of Savory Specialties. 12:30 p.m.
-Chris W. Vogeli of III Forks. 2:30 p.m.
-Laurel Wimberg of Craft Dallas, 4:30 p.m.
-Bob Stephenson of Cool River Café. 6 p.m.

Click here to download the complete calendar for Sept. 30.