North Texas Fair and Rodeo — Local services in Denton

As a contractor working for the security company here for this event for 4 days, I can say the some of the staffing here is unprofessional. I came to the main gate on the night of Tuesday August 21st at 8:47 p.m. I didn't know I was supposed to check in and I drove past the gate trying to find a place to park due to a job interview request and that was the only address I received. There were two middle aged Caucasian men approached me to ask if I was a vendor I told them I was here for an interview. They were blasting at me that I was breaking all sorts of rules and can't be blowing through the main gate like that and to go right back up to the front so they can call their manager (mind you, I was driving an unmarked white van). My manager texted me to tell me to meet him in the Kroger parking lot so I pulled up to the front and parked on the side of the gate (not in anybody's way) and got out of my vehicle to talk to the same two men that rudely stopped me over and they aggressively came over to raise their voice at me again to tell me not to park there and I told them I only did that because I was going to tell them I am moving. On the last day of the event of Sunday August 24 2025, around the time of 9:30 p.m., I was on my way to the trailer community center to use the restroom just to have three men trying to fraternize with me one them shouted "Top flight Security" and the other one said "Don't worry I will spank him" and they laughed. I felt so uncomfortable with the encounter as I quickly walked the restroom. There was a small group of young people on my left-hand side as I walked in. There was one young female that was already using the restroom about to leave when I walked in. Within that two-minute time frame, as soon as I finished, I walked out of the restroom just to find all the lights cut out and I was locked in. Luckily, I have my cellphone and used the flashlight to find my way out. Just to find all the three men that fraternize with me were also gone. I only hope that was just pure coincidence and all those people inside "didn't see me". Smart thing the person with the key should do was conduct a courtesy check in all the restroom stalls to see if anybody was in there instead of quietly leaving and stealth fully locking all the doors and turning off the lights like that. I gave another star because at least a crew of women did come by every hour to offer water on the golf cart. had a random older gentlemen gave me a Jesus key chain leaving the exit gate. Other than that, working here was decent other than the staffing at the northeast gate did not communicate with me directly during the time posted. No sense of direction or training was received during the time. There was no structure how things were operated. I can't say being a patron there, but as a contractor security I did not like my experience there due to these reasons. If I got all of their names I would have filed a complaint instead, I am just leaving them a two-star feedback. I highly advise that you get all of the policies and procedures down and see what kind of people work here before...

Went Saturday night of the fair to see the Rodeo and Josh Turner. Unfortunately I didn't get too see either. To start all the food vendors and operators only take magic money, so if you load up your card you do not get any of the money back. Also well over half the kiosks to use the machines were out of order or took your money without charging your card. They charge you $2 just to have the card. So you had to wait in a 20 minute line to load your card and 20 minute line for food.

Looking past that we tried to go watch the Rodeo, but was blocked by event staff as they advised the Rodeo was full per the fire marshal. We tried to go watch the Josh turner concert which was crammed into this little viewing area where you could not move or get out even if you wanted to. God forbid you have asthma or something, because it was a smokers free for all. When people are that close together they get very aggressive and rude, and for some reason don't understand that it is a public space and you cannot reserve standing or sitting areas for people. Good luck getting to the bathroom, as there is only 3 toilets' for the entire event.

Icing on the cake was the Durham School Services shuttle driver that refused service for my coworkers visiting from overseas a ride back to the parking lot because she did not "trust them". So we walked the mile walk back to the parking lot down a road without sidewalks.

I went to the previous years and they were great, this one was just horrible. In a nut shell paid $20 to just have a bad time and get verbally abused. Probably won't go again and shame on the planners for the layout of the concert. Tons of other spaces throughout the fairgrounds. Get rid of the parking lot and force everyone to ride the shuttle, have the...

During the daytime it was boring, hot, and just expensive. The way you have to pay is rediculous. Buy a "Magic Money" card and load it with the price of admission plus any money you might want to spend inside on things like food or crafts, games, rides, whatever. AND YOU HAVE TO PAY $2.00 for the Magic Money card just for the privilege of making THEIR JOB EASIER. TOTAL B.S. Never again. Also I would bet that the amount of money spent inside is WAY BELOW what would be spent with cash or personal credit cards thus hurting the overall revenue for the fair. I've always loved County and State Fairs but this one definitely has soured my opinion. I can understand spending money to buy a Magic Money card if you at least got a discount on the things you buy but this is NOT the case. it is done for one reason only and that is to track and insure the Fair "Owners" get their complete share of the money. Also be wary of parking. Across the street from the front gate $20 to park, down inside the Fair Grounds $10. The take away is this is going to be expensive, so go in the evening to see the concerts and have bearable temps. There is not enough to do to be there all day at any rate. The rides are just ok Carnival type and the games are, well let's just say you'd probably have a better chance of winning something...