Big Tex, Big Flavor: How the State Fair’s Food Competition Became a Texas Tradition

If you’ve ever strolled the Midway at the State Fair of Texas with a deep-fried creation in one hand and a sweet tea in the other, you know that food isn’t just part of the fair experience—it’s the main event. And no fair food conversation is complete without mentioning the Big Tex Choice Awards, the legendary competition that puts creative concessionaires in the spotlight and brings some of the most jaw-dropping culinary inventions to life.

How It All Started

The Big Tex Choice Awards were first introduced in 2005, and in true Texas fashion, they were big from the beginning. The State Fair wanted to recognize and celebrate the wildly inventive (and often over-the-top) foods that had become fan favorites. At the time, fried Oreos and Twinkies were already gaining attention, but the Awards took things to a new level by adding structure and some friendly competition.

The idea was simple: let concessionaires dream up their craziest, tastiest, most creative fair foods and have a panel of judges select the best of the best. The categories? Originally focused on Best Taste and Most Creative, these awards quickly became the Oscars of the fair food world.

Why It Matters

Winning a Big Tex Choice Award is more than just a fun photo op with the iconic statue. For many vendors, it can be life-changing. A win means publicity, long lines at the booth, and often a significant bump in income for the entire fair season. People travel from all over just to try the winning items, and media coverage reaches far beyond Texas.

Some vendors say the exposure from a Big Tex win can make or break their year, especially since many operate solely during the fair season. It’s a huge honor, and it’s taken seriously.

How It’s Grown

Since 2005, the competition has grown in both scale and creativity. Over the years, we’ve seen everything from fried beer to bacon margaritas to deep-fried butter. (Yes, you read that right.) What started with just a handful of entries now draws dozens of concessionaires eager to fry, drizzle, and layer their way into history.

This year, 50 concessionaires entered the first round of judging, and just 30 have advanced as semi-finalists. These entries will be narrowed down again before the final winners are announced. And while we don’t know yet what new concoctions will take home the prizes, one thing is for sure: it will be deliciously unforgettable.

Stay Tuned

As the countdown to the State Fair of Texas continues, we’ll be watching (and drooling) as the Big Tex Choice Awards finalists are announced. Whether you’re a fan of savory snacks or sugar overloads, there’s nothing quite like fair food season in Texas.

Ready to see which wild creations make the final cut? Keep an eye on the State Fair’s website or check back here. We’ll be sharing our favorites once the winners are revealed!