At 52 feet in height, Big Tex has welcomed guests into the Texas State Fair every year since 1952. (Sidney Hollingsworth/The Daily Campus)

Big Tex is back. The State Fair of Texas ushered in its 125th season with a parade, an Elvis impersonator, fireworks and plenty of fried food. Friday marked the first official day of the fair season, and for many, it’s their favorite time of year.

“I like the smell, the looks, the lights, the everything,” Mike Stiffler, co-owner of the Stiffler Brothers booth on Nimitz Drive, said.

Stiffler and his brother have sold fried food from the booth for five years. From Oreos to MoonPies, and their new autumn pie, if they sell it, it’s fried.

But for Stiffler, it’s more than the food that keeps him going when “it’s wild and crazy.” The Rowlett man said he enjoys working the booth with his friends and family.

For many, the State Fair is a family affair. For the past four years, the Cantu sisters have visited the fair on opening night.

“It’s our little tradition,” Priscilla Cantu said.

On their must-do list are the fried s’mores, the Ferris Wheel and the cars.

Most people don’t think cars when they think fair, but the auto show is a popular attraction that doesn’t require any tickets to enter. The State Fair started presenting the newest car models in 1904, but the real car craze began after World War II.

Now there are two separate buildings and an outside truck area for all of the automobiles. All of the major car manufacturers show models at the fair and allow visitors to be hands-on with the car and ask questions.

Another popular attraction that is often overlooked is the Children’s Medical Center Barnyard. Kids of all ages flock to this free area, which holds around 150 animals. All types of animals are here: goats, kangaroos, camels, alpacas, donkeys and even a zebra.

From fried food to farm animals, there are countless attractions at the fair. SMU senior and Dallas native Mark

Butler has been to the State Fair of Texas around 15 times.

“I’m prideful of this tradition,” he said. “It’s good to be a part of something your home city puts on.”

But what keeps him coming back after all of those times?

“It’s just fun,” Butler said.

The unique combination of food, entertainment, animals, arts, automobiles, games and livestock are hard to come by anywhere else. This year, the theme is “125-A Timeless Tradition.” For many fairgoers it never gets old.

“I’ll be back,” Butler said.

The State Fair of Texas runs through Oct. 23.