YMBL fair features fun and flair

It’s the hottest ticket in town – and it comes with free access to Las Vegas flair and fan favorite rodeo fun – when the YMBL South Texas State Fair opens this week through April 3.

The YMBL South Texas State Fair has been an extraordinary experience for locals and visitors nearly eight decades. Each year, the fair continues to grow and make memories; because, whether it’s the delicious fair foods, fun rides, rodeos or strolling through more than 175 vendors, it’s a good time to have a great time at the fair.

Back to its original schedule in early spring, the 10-day fair will open for its 78th season on Thursday, March 24, at 6 p.m. at Ford Park (5115 Interstate 10 South) in Beaumont. Tickets are $10 and can now be purchased in advance online at fordpark.com, which also allows you to skip the line once arriving at Ford Park. Senior citizens’ and youth (3-12) pay just $5, while kiddos 2 and under are free.

When one speaks of the fair, the first thing that comes to mind is the food. Funnel cakes, turkey legs, alligator on a stick, pork kabobs, candy apples, popcorn and a plethora of fried snacks – fried Oreo’s, Twinkies, Ding Dongs and cheesecake. If it can be fried, you will find it at the fair.

This year’s action-packed midway is once again provided by the Fort Worth-based Carnival Americana, who provides a wide selection of the most thrilling and exciting rides available as they design every carnival midway to provide a well-rounded selection of fun and exciting rides for all age groups. The more experienced riders will appreciate wide variety of thrill rides like Alien Abduction, Alpine Bobs, Flipper, Cliff Hanger, Hurricane Fun Factory, Sky Flyer, Century Wheel and Wind Surf.

Unlimited carnival ride wristbands are also available for $35 and are available March 24, March 27, March 29, April 1 and April 3.

The Ford Park Plaza will host the Miller Lite Beer Garden, World’s Largest Stunt Dog Show, which has been featured on Animal Planet, plus the Sweet Southern Sound Plaza Sound Stage with live performances by local and regional bands including Sidecar, Crossroads, Bayou Sounds, Casey Chesnutt, Still Cruisin’, Foret Traditions, David Joel, Curse & The Cure, Larry Tillery Blues Band, Brad Brinkley, Cajun Harmony, Britt Godwin, Los Gavilanes and more.

Some of the favorites are returning including the Motiva Kids Fun Zone; the Double R. Exotics Petting Zoo with nearly every animal you can think of — from the most exotic to farm animals, with camel and pony rides; Exhibit Hall indoor shopping with more than 100 vendors selling collectables, home improvement items, cell phones, jewelry and purses. The Exhibit Hall will also be the home of the South Texas Ford Dealers Ford Show – patrons can see the all-new “Built Wild” Ford Bronco, as well as the 2022 Ford Expedition and truck of the year, the Ford Maverick.

New this year to the Kids Fun Zone is “The Bird Man Show,” straight from Las Vegas with Joe Krathwohl. See birds of all sorts fly over the crowd including a California condor.

Throughout the fair, relaxation stations will be placed allowing patrons to sit on covered picnic tables with plenty of lighting for night dining.

Catch all the thrills and spills of the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) as it showcases the country’s top cowboys and cowgirls on Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m. and 5 p.m. matinees Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27, inside Ford Arena. To ensure high standards of rodeo entertainment, Jerry Nelson, a native of Southeast Texas, will again be providing the stock for the rodeo. Owner of Frontier Rodeo, Nelson has the top stock in the rodeo world. Eight-time world champion Don Gay will provide the play-by-play. General admission seating for the rodeo is free with paid admission to the fair.

Rodeo goers will also have the opportunity to meet “Yellowstone” actor Forrie J. Smith after each rodeo performance. And, according to YMBL volunteers, more than 100 mutton busters have signed up to participate.

There are plenty of promotional nights, beginning Sunday, March 27, for Fair Share for Hunger Sunday. Fairgoers are admitted free by bringing six non-perishable HEB product can foods, which will be donated to the Southeast Texas Food Bank; Monday, March 28 is Provost Umphrey Free Fun Night (free admission, $2 carnival rides); Education First Family Fun Night is Tuesday, March 29 (free admission with a coupon from educationfirstfcu.org, $20 unlimited ride wristband); $2 Ride Night is scheduled for Wednesday, March 30; Military Appreciation Night is Thursday, March 31, as all members of the military/first responders along with dependents play no fair admission; Kids’ Day is Saturday, April 2, as kids 17 and under are in free from noon to 3 p.m.; and closing day is Coca-Cola/Dr. Pepper Cantasctic on Sunday, April 3. Those who bring in an empty or full six-pack Coca-Cola or Dr. Product will receive free admission. As always, parking is free.

“It’s good family fun. It’s a tradition in Southeast Texas,” said Pat Riley, media specialist of the YMBL. “You hear all the time from people that used to go with their grandparents, and now those people are grandparents and they’re taking their grandkids and great grandkids to the fair. It’s a great way to make some memories.”

For complete fair information and schedule, visit ymbl.org.