(Kerens, Texas) - Fair season is underway across Texas right now. But did you know Big Tex got his start in East Texas in 1949? State Fair of Texas State Fair of Texas loading...READ MORE: The Free Concerts for the 2025 State Fair of Texas Have Been AnnouncedREAD MORE: Get a Preview of the Wild and Imaginative Food at the State Fair of TexasGet our free mobile appBuilding the Giant SantaIt took about two weeks for the Santa to be finished. - Big TexKerens Santa Turned into Big TexAfter a year of work to turn Santa into a cowboy, including adding the ability to talk, Big Tex debuted at the State Fair of Texas in 1952. So there you go, Big Tex's humble start as an East Texas Santa to becoming an iconic Texas figure.