Every year, over 90,000 Texas and Oklahoma fans gather in Dallas, Texas, to watch their teams duke it out at the Cotton Bowl. The split burnt orange and crimson red look is an iconic image in college football.

But what really sets the Red River Rivalry apart is not the atmosphere inside the stadium; it's what's on the outside. The Cotton Bowl sits smack dab in the middle of the State Fair of Texas. To get to the stadium, you have to enter the fairgrounds first, walking past car shows, vendors and tons of fried food.

A day at the state fair on Red River Rivalry day is not just about football; it's about hanging out with family and friends. The couple of times I've been to the state fair on game day have been some of the most fun-filled days of my life. 

Have you Heard of Fried Beer?

When you're going to the Texas-OU game, you've gotta get there bright and early to try the best cuisine the Lone Star State has to offer: fried everything. You have your classic fried foods, but it gets obscure really quickly. Have you ever wanted to try fried bubblegum? Fried ice cream? What about fried beer?

I think you get the idea. Name any food, and someone has probably sold a fried version of it at the state fair. It's a unique, sometimes disgusting, but amazing tradition that takes place at the State Fair of Texas.

Howdy, Folks!

Like any state fair, there will be tons of activities for family and friends to take part in. But everything's bigger in Texas, and that includes the fair's attractions. The Texas Star Ferris Wheel and Top o' Texas Tower stand hundreds of feet in the air, and can be seen from miles away. 

You also can't forget about livestock on fairgrounds. There's nothing kids love more than seeing their favorite animals live in the flesh.

Of course, you can't leave the grounds before taking a picture with the always-friendly Big Tex. The 55-foot-tall cowboy is always there to brighten visitors' days with a simple "Howdy, Folks!" Except that one time he caught on fire(we don't talk about that, though). 

You Can't Find This Anywhere Else

There are many special rivalry games in college football. Ohio State versus Michigan, Army versus Navy, the Iron Bowl, etc. However, the only game you get this kind of experience is the Red River Rivalry.

Win or lose, football fan or not, you're going to have a blast, because who's not happy when they're at the state fair? There's something for everyone on gameday in Dallas, and that's what sets the Cotton Bowl apart from the rest.