TYLER — The 103rd annual East Texas State Fair kicks off on Friday, and will run until September 30, 2018.
"The thing that I think is special about this fair, the entertainment is constantly changing, the setup is constantly changing so every year it's a new experience," said Director of Marketing for the East Texas State Fair, Cody Rosenbalm.
Before the fair kicks off Friday though, a celebration was held Thursday evening.
"The VIP party is the least we could do to give those people a little sneak peak of the fair before everyone else," Rosenbalm said.
Magician Sheldon Casavant and acapella group, Sound Exchange, performed at the party. Those are two of the new attractions.
The others include a lumberjack show called Timberworks, live music from different performers at The Summit and a sea lion splash show.
All of these attractions are free, but for the sixth one, a craft beer tour, it costs money and you have to be 21 or older.
While about 50 people saw the preview Thursday evening, Rosenbalm says that the East Texas State Fair will bring in about 25,000 people to the city of Tyler, which has an effect on Tyler and Smith County.
"The East Texas State Fair has approximately a $10 million economic impact," Rosenbalm said.
Part of that impact comes from some fair food favorites.
"All of our corndogs are purchased here local, turkey legs are all local and also funnel cakes which are your three most popular items all come from right here in East Texas," Rosenbalm said.
The fair opens at 2 p.m. Friday, and the carnival starts at 4 p.m.
"The environment that this is that the fair creates really the whole city comes together and it just brings the community together for a good time for 10 days out of the year," Rosenbalm said.
For more information about the fair click here.
