Onstage Systems returned to work at The State Fair of Texas this year after last year’s Fair was canceled due to COVID-19. The State Fair has been running annually since 1886, and 2020 marks one of the few years the Fair has been canceled in its 135-year run.
Hosted in Dallas, TX, Onstage Systems’ hometown at the historic Fair Park, the State Fair of Texas is an annual celebration of the Lone Star State. The State Fair promotes Texas agriculture, education, and community involvement with quality entertainment and family-friendly fun. It is one of the largest in the United States, with more than two million visitors each year welcomed by its iconic mascot, the world’s tallest cowboy, the 55-foot Big Tex.
Onstage Systems has worked with their client, Interlaced Productions and the State Fair of Texas since the ‘90s on the Illumination Sensation show. Originally held inside the Cotton Bowl, the show has since transitioned to the Fair’s water gardens.
The nighttime event is a dazzle of music and live performance complemented with light and video shimmering through the water gardens and illuminating the National Landmark Fair Park complex with washes of vivid color against the night sky. A sight to behold, the Illumination Sensation combines high-energy pop music, fireworks, dancers, acrobats, and lights with synchronized pyrotechnics to create a delightful spectacle.
Onstage Systems provides the audio, lighting, and video projection for the show, with this year’s run being sponsored by Mattress Firm. The show was created by Onstage Systems’ long-time event partner, Interlaced Productions. Onstage Systems and Interlaced Productions have been working together for over 30 years to bring this performance to Dallasites and visitors all over the country.
This year’s Illumination Sensation had a few extra challenges for the team. First were the added safety parameters due to COVID-19. With the live event industry rebounding this summer and Onstage Systems having two certified COVID-19 Compliance Officers on staff, the extra precautions are now second nature for all Onstage Systems events. Also, due to COVID-19 and the canceled 2020 State Fair of Texas, event budgets were a little tighter for the 2021 State Fair of Texas. However, Onstage Systems and Interlaced Productions came together to create a brilliant light experience for the millions of fairgoers.
Shows happen each night of the State Fair of Texas’s 24-day annual run. The Illumination Sensation is a must-see for anyone attending future State Fairs. Just be sure to arrive early to beat the crowd and pick out a great spot to see the show!
