State Fair of Texas Guide: Oct. 21-Oct. 23

According to my talented photographer friend Brian Lopiccolo, these ladies make a mean gordita. Credit: flickr.com/photos/lopiccolo.

This is it. Your absolute last chance to watch pigs race, meet cows named Elsie and Beauregard, eat too many corn dogs, and ride the giant Ferris Wheel—until next year. We present your guide to the State Fair’s final weekend. Don’t forget to stop by Chevrolet Town Square to pick up a free VIP wristband for FrontRow Live on Nov. 3, which gets you exclusive event access and a cool swag bag. Since you’re joining us anyway, why not? You can track down the wristbands at the Cruze and Sonic Launch Pad.

Friday, Oct. 21

Celebrity Kitchen. Paula Lambert of the Mozzarella Company demonstrates her cheesemaking prowess. 6 p.m. Celebrity Kitchen/Creative Arts Building.

Pan Am Breeding Sheep Show: Fine Wool Breeds. We happen to have a Merino wool cardigan of which we are quite fond. See where your prettiest, softest winter sweaters come from. 2 p.m. Swine arena.

Texas Beekeepers Association: Cooking with Honey. Noon and 4 p.m. Food and Fiber Pavilion.

Randy Travis. 8:30 p.m. Chevrolet Main Stage.

Saturday, Oct. 22

Contest Kitchen. Believe you make the best bundt? Put your culinary skills to the test during the “A Fair Traditional” cake-baking competition. Bakers can enter in the layer cake and loaf, pound, or sheet cake categories. 10:30 a.m.

Celebrity Kitchen. John Tesar, D Magazine cover boy and the most hated chef in Dallas, will give a culinary demonstration. 3 p.m. Celebrity Kitchen/Creative Arts Building.

Pan Am Longhorn Beef Cattle Show. See who raises the superior Longhorn beef. 6 p.m. Livestock Judging Pavilion.

The Bangles. This band of `80 ladies will perform familiar favorites such as “Walk Like An Egyptian” and “Manic Monday” even though it’s actually Saturday. 8:30 p.m. Chevrolet Main Stage.

Sunday, Oct. 23

The last day of the fair. Stick around for the parade.

Traditional dancing. Ballet Folklorico of San Antonio (10 a.m., 12:05 p.m.), Raices del Peru Houston (10:25 a.m., 1:40 p.m.), Csárdás Hungarian Dancers (10:45 a.m., 12:50 p.m.), Chilean Folklife (11:10 a.m., 1:15 p.m.), Cadence Cloggers of San Antonio (11:40 p.m.), San Antonio Flamenco (12:30, 2:30 p.m.), Murphy Highland Dance (2:40, 4:15 p.m.), Holy Trinity Hellenic Dancers (3, 5:55 p.m.), Nrithya Performing Arts (3:20, 6:15 p.m.), Omkara Dance Company (3:35 p.m.), Mitotiliztli Yaoyollohti (3:45, 5:10 p.m.), Groupo Pakal (5:35, 6:45 p.m.)

Llueve. Noon, 1:30 p.m. Chevrolet Main Stage.

La Mafia. The Grammy-winning artists behind Latin/Tejano band La Mafia call Houston home. We’re touched they traveled so far to entertain us. 3 p.m. Chevrolet Main Stage.

DAILY ATTRACTIONS

Milking Parlor Demos. Watch cows from local farms demonstrate modern milking procedures. 11 a.m., 12:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30, and 6:30 p.m. Pan Am Barn.

State Fair of Texas Wine Garden. Enjoy wine by the glass and snacks daily, plus live music (including jazz) on the weekends. Experts will also conduct “wine talks.” 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays through Mondays, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Wine talks usually occur around 1 p.m.

The Texas Skyway. Can’t decide where to eat, what to ride, or whom to see onstage? This 1,800-foot aerial track is a great way to scope out the fairgrounds.

Cirque Shanghai. A group of Chinese acrobats perform amazing aerial stunts and contort their bodies into all sorts of insane positions. Noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.; additional performance at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Gateway Plaza.

To quote The Sound of Music, "so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night." Photo courtesy of the State Fair.

BMX Bike Star Show. Big Time 720 Action Sports team performs gravity-defying feats. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. The Thrillway.

Pig Races. Three times a night, visitors can bet on their favorite bovines as they trundle down the pike. 6, 6:45, 7:45 p.m. Pan Am Arena.

United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corp. Catch these guys, who came all the way from Washington, D.C., every afternoon from Sept. 30 to Oct. 17 at Marine Corps Square, as well as each night during the evening parade (excluding Wednesdays).

Illumination Sensation. This nightly show—likely to leave the kids (and some of their parents) with mouths agape—features lights, water, music, and fireworks. 8 p.m. Esplanade reflecting pool.

Reliant Starlight Parade. We love a parade, particularly one with lighted floats, drum and bugle players from the U.S. Marine Corps, and giant puppets. 7:15 p.m.

Chevrolet Town Square. Test-drive new cars and power up your mobile phone — a super handy feature that’s new this year. Activities for kids include a mini Texas Rangers wiffle ball stadium and a soccer shootout park. East Park Plaza near gate II.

Jump! Ultimate Dog Show. Dog lovers will want to check out this show demonstrating canine skills and agility at least once. 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m. Pan Am Arena.

Farmer Mike Pumpkin Carver. Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sundays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Greenhouse on the Midway.

Kroger Birds of the World Showcase. 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6 p.m. every day. The Band Shell.

Jeep Climbing Wall. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Jeep Show/Automotive Building.