Grab something purple and meet us under Big Tex.
GayDFW’s annual LGBTQ Day at the State Fair of Texas returns Thursday, October 15, 2026, and this year we’re celebrating on Spirit Day, the national day when LGBTQ people, friends, families and allies are encouraged to wear purple in support of LGBTQ youth.
And there may not be a more appropriate soundtrack for the evening: The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA takes over the Chevrolet Main Stage later that night.
LGBTQ “GayDay” at the State Fair
Thursday, October 15, 2026
State Fair of Texas — Fair Park, Dallas
Wear Purple for Spirit Day
ATC The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA hits the Chevrolet Main Stage on October 15 at 7pm.GayDFW has brought the community together at the State Fair for years, and we’re continuing the tradition in 2026 with a day to meet friends, make some new ones, eat entirely too much fried food and enjoy one of Dallas’ biggest annual traditions together.
This year the date has a little extra meaning.
October 15 is Spirit Day, organized by GLAAD as a day to take a stand against bullying and show support for LGBTQ youth. People across the country participate by wearing purple — a color from the Pride flag traditionally associated with spirit.
So this year we’re asking everyone joining GayDFW at the Fair to wear purple.
Purple shirt. Purple hat. Purple boots. Purple wig. Go subtle or make Big Tex notice you from across Fair Park.
Just come be part of it.
Continuing the Celebration After National Coming Out Day
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Our State Fair gathering also comes just four days after National Coming Out Day on October 11, giving Dallas’ LGBTQ community another reason to get together during an important week in October.
National Coming Out Day and Spirit Day are separate observances, but both fall during LGBTQ History Month, making October one of the most significant months on the LGBTQ calendar.
We gave serious consideration to holding GayDFW’s LGBTQ Day at the State Fair on Sunday, October 11, National Coming Out Day, which would have been a great fit for the community and offered the convenience of a weekend. In the end, though, Thursday, October 15 felt like the better overall choice. It gives us the built-in meaning of Spirit Day, encourages everyone to wear purple in support of LGBTQ youth, and offers better value for people attending the Fair, including Thursday discounts and lower-cost evening admission options. Thursday should also be a little easier for parking, getting around Fair Park and meeting up as a group than one of the final busy weekends of the Fair. And with The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA performing that evening, the entertainment feels especially well suited for an LGBTQ community gathering. Coming just a few days after National Coming Out Day, it also lets us continue the spirit of that celebration while creating a day with its own identity.
Think of our Oct. 15 gathering as a continuation of that week’s celebration of being visible, supporting one another and making room for everyone in our community — whether you’ve been out for decades, just came out, aren’t ready to come out, or simply want to spend an evening with friends.
There is no requirement other than showing up and having a good time.
And Then There’s ABBA
This year’s date gave us another reason to choose October 15.
The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA performs on the State Fair’s Chevrolet Main Stage at 7:45 p.m. Thursday night. The performance is part of the Fair’s 2026 live music lineup.
If you’ve ever been anywhere near a gay bar when “Dancing Queen” starts playing, you can probably see why we liked this particular combination.
ABBA’s music has been woven into LGBTQ nightlife and pop culture for decades, and ending our Spirit Day gathering with songs like Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! and Voulez-Vous seems almost too perfect.
The concert also gives everyone a natural place to gather later in the evening after spending the afternoon exploring the Fair.
Make a Day of It — Or Come After Work
One advantage of choosing Thursday is flexibility.
The State Fair is open 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Thursday, so anyone who wants to make a full day of it can arrive early, while those working that day can join the group later in the afternoon or evening.
We’ll post the official GayDFW meetup time and location on our event page so everyone knows where to find the group.
Our plan is to have a central meetup, take our annual LGBTQ Day group photo, spend some time together around the Fair and eventually make our way toward the Chevrolet Main Stage for ABBA.
You don’t have to stay with the group the entire time. Bring friends, meet people there or just stop by for the photo and say hello.
What Is Spirit Day?
Spirit Day began as an effort to show LGBTQ young people that they are not alone.
Today, GLAAD describes it as one of the world’s most visible anti-bullying movements supporting LGBTQ youth, with businesses, celebrities, schools, media organizations, sports organizations and individuals participating by going purple.
For GayDFW, that makes it a natural fit for a community gathering.
The State Fair has always been a place where North Texans from every background come together, and we’d like LGBTQ people and our allies to be visible there too.
Everyone Is Welcome
Although we’re calling it GayDFW LGBTQ Day at the State Fair, this isn’t an exclusive event.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and nonbinary members of the community are welcome, along with friends, family and allies.
You also don’t have to be “out” to participate.
National Coming Out Day can sometimes unintentionally make people feel pressured to disclose something they aren’t ready to share. That’s not what this gathering is about.
Come as you are. Wear purple if you’d like. We know Dallas loves PURPLE!
Ride the Texas Star. Find the newest fried-food creation. Take a picture with Big Tex. Meet some people.
And when the sun starts going down, we’ll go find the Dancing Queen.
LGBTQ Day at the State Fair
Thursday, October 15, 2026
State Fair of Texas
Fair Park — Dallas, Texas
Theme: Spirit Day
Wear: PURPLE 💜
Evening Entertainment: The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA
ABBA Tribute: 7:45 p.m. — Chevrolet Main Stage
The 2026 State Fair of Texas runs through Sunday, October 18.
We’ll add meetup details, the group-photo location and any additional plans to the official GayDFW event page as they are finalized.
Until then, save October 15 and start looking for something purple.
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