Students get a rain check on free State Fair tickets after bad weather

Multiple days of rain have put a damper on the 2026 State Fair of Texas, but Fair officials are turning that bad weather into a rainbow by allowing students to use their free tickets any day of the event, including the final two weekends.

According to a State Fair release, student tickets have traditionally been valid only on weekdays. But after listening to feedback from parents and educators, they are making this year’s tickets valid on weekends as well.

Just as the Fair has done for decades, tickets were distributed to students in pre-K through 8th grade for multiple school districts within a 100-mile radius of Fair Park.

The ticket giveaway is a way to encourage families to experience the Fair’s educational exhibits, cultural programming, and family-friendly entertainment.

“We know the weather at the beginning of this year’s Fair impacted plans for many families, and we want to make sure students still have every opportunity to use their free ticket and experience the Fair,” said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber in a statement..