It’s official: Big Tex is back in Dallas, though one of the 55-foot-tall statue’s pairs of size 96 Lucchese boots is still in Washington, D.C. for a Smithsonian exhibit featuring state fairs from across the country. Back home, the State Fair of Texas is getting ready to kick off on Friday, September 26, bringing with it a Texas-sized lineup of live music, outrageous eats, livestock shows, rides and more.
With 24 packed days of activities and performances, here are the concerts to be on the lookout for when you make your way to Fair Park.
What to know about 2025 State Fair of Texas concerts
Before you start eyeing the lineup, there are a couple of things to know about the concerts at the State Fair of Texas. First off, all of the concerts are included with your admission to the fair, so there’s no extra charge for the live music. Also, visitors should know that there are four stages to catch the concerts at: the Chevrolet Main Stage, the Bud Light Stage, the Bank of Texas Stage and the Levi’s Denim Club @ Magnolia.
The Bank of Texas Stage will hold a Friday night comedy series called Deep Fried Comedy as well as hosting live music performances throughout the fair. The Levi’s Denim Club @ Magnolia is new this year, offering nightly concerts at 8 p.m. alongside a Levi’s activation that allows guests to buy and customize their denim.
Unmissable concerts at the State Fair of Texas 2025
Below are the shows worth checking out at this year’s State Fair of Texas. A full lineup of the nearly 100 musical acts is available on the fair’s website.
Kaitlin Butts at the State Fair of Texas
This opening weekend act is another must-see. Kaitlin Butts, featured on Flatland Cavalry’s “A Life Where We Work Out,” will perform at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry on October 7, but not before taking the Chevrolet Main Stage at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, September 26. According to Spotify, where she has over two million monthly listeners, the Tulsa, Okla. native “has an affinity for country music’s more theatrical side” and has a talent for storytelling with soul and wit.
TLC at the State Fair of Texas
Maybe you shouldn’t go chasing waterfalls, but you should chase a good spot in the crowd to see this iconic ’90s act. The “No Scrubs” and “Creep” singers will take the Chevrolet Main Stage at 8:45 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, for the fair’s opening weekend.
Jackie Venson at the Bud Light Stage at the State Fair of Texas
Austin native Jackie Venson’s blues-inspired rock sound is unmissable. Catch the singer — who made her “stunning” Austin City Limits debut in 2020 — at the Bud Light Stage at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 3, and get ready for a performance full of gritty guitar, genre-bending and danceable rhythms.
Walker Lukens at the Bud Light Stage at the State Fair of Texas
This genre-bending Houstonian, known for his blend of pop, rock, blues and funk, will take the Bud Light Stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 4. Free Press Houston called Walker Lukens “one of the best songwriters in Texas,” and according to All Songs Considered, he’s “a rhythmic sound effect master.”
La Mafia at the State Fair of Texas
The Grammy-winning Latin act La Mafia will bring their chart-topping hits like “Me Estoy Enamorando” and “Nuestra Canción” to the fair on Sunday, October 5. Fans of the Texas-born group that’s been dropping music and performing since the ’80s can catch them at 7:45 p.m. on the Chevrolet Main Stage.
The Band Perry at the State Fair of Texas
On Friday, October 10, catch the Grammy-winning trio who topped the country charts with their 2010 single, “If I Die Young.” The Band Perry will perform at 7:45 p.m. at the Chevrolet Main Stage, marking another performance in their 2025 comeback year. The band took a break in 2023, but they’ve been bringing bringing their familiar, Platinum-certified hit and more recent tunes to new audiences since returning to the stage in January for a Hurricane Helene benefit concert.
Paul Wall at the State Fair of Texas
Houston’s own rapper and DJ Paul Wall, famous for tracks like “Drive Slow” with Kanye West and GLC, as well as “Sittin’ Sidewayz (feat. Big Pokey),” is a headlining act. He’ll take the Chevrolet Main Stage on Saturday, October 11, at 7:45 p.m. If you can’t make it up to Dallas, he’ll be coming a little closer to San Antonio for a show at the historic Seguin Schoolyard on November 14.
Cold War Kids at the State Fair of Texas
If indie alternative rock is more your speed, there’s something for you as well. Cold War Kids, known for tracks like “First” and “Hang Me Up To Dry,” will perform on the Chevrolet Main Stage at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, October 12.
When is the State Fair of Texas?
The 2025 edition of the State Fair of Texas returns to Fair Park from Friday, September 26, through Sunday, October 19.
How much are tickets to the 2025 State Fair of Texas?
Season passes and single-day tickets are currently available. If you know which day you want to attend, daily admission is $19 to $29 for adults and $14 to $24 for children, with prices varying by the day. 1-Day Flex Tickets, which are $29 each, allow you to go to the fair for one day without picking the date ahead of time. There are also two-person and four-person FLEX ticket combos, which include $50 food and Midway ride coupons…