The State Fair of Texas will no longer be offering free tickets to high school students when it opens later this month, putting an end to a long-held tradition.
Starting this year's event, free admission will still continue for Pre-K through 8th-grade students and all teachers for Pre-K through 12th grade. However, the offer will no longer be available for high school students who are in the 9th through 12th grade.
Free Admission for State Fair of Texas
Officials working at the State Fair of Texas said that the change has been under consideration for years now because of rising costs and low redemption rates. Data also showed that more than 2 million tickets are printed and distributed every year, but only about 10% of these are redeemed.
They also said that school districts have already phased out "Fair Days" from their calendars, which is said to have contributed to the drop in usage and challenges in planning which days students will be attending the event, according to NBC DFW.
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Another factor for the change is safety, as the State Fair of Texas said that it experienced safety concerns with high school students attending the event. In the past few years, there have been several incidents involving high-school-aged students, "including disturbances that didn't contribute to the fair's mission of a family-friendly environment."
Despite the change, high school students in grades 9th through 12th will still have a chance to receive discounted admission for the State Fair of Texas. These will be on Mondays through Thursdays, when the price would be $12 for one-day tickets, using the promo code 2025EDU.
No More Free Tickets for High School Students
In a statement, organizers of the State Fair of Texas said that they are aware that the change will leave many families in the state disappointed. However, they noted that the shift will help them continue providing a safe, family-friendly, and sustainable Fair experience, the WFAA reported.
The situation comes as new city contracts require the State Fair of Texas to cover all the Dallas Police Department's expenses and security costs, which amount to more than $8 million for the 24-day event. This means that unpredictable attendance spikes from high school groups have become a bigger concern.
Despite the change, teenagers can still attend the fair on their designated school fair days and independently. However, they have to keep in mind that there is a daily curfew that is enforced after 5:00 p.m. This requires minors to enter with an adult aged 21 years or older, as per The Dallas Morning News.
