Fairgoers can feel the breeze on their favorite carnival ride, escape to a misting tent, duck into a cool exhibit hall, ice down with an old-fashioned fountain drink or slurp ice cream at least three ways — regular, beaded and fried.

DRC/David Minton

Workers set up a carnival ride in the midway ahead of the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo at the North Texas State Fairgrounds on Tuesday in Denton.

View larger More photos Photo store

The 2010 North Texas State Fair and Rodeo, which opens Friday and runs through Aug. 28 has lots of choices to stay cool, with 110,000 square feet of shade and cooling and misting areas.

In North Texas, the average highs begin to inch back down at the end of August, but it remains hotter than normal. However, high temperatures don’t discourage people from coming out to the fair, according to spokeswoman Nanci Kimmey.

On weeknights, the fair gates open at 6 p.m., and the grounds are especially pleasant as the sun goes down, Kimmey said.

“It’s in the 70s and 80s,” she said. “One year, I had to throw something extra on my arms.”

Either way, volunteers are installing portable cooling fans all around the grounds, Kimmey said. She pointed out other ways to stay cool, from viewing community and commercial exhibits inside the Bingo Hall and Fair Hall to enjoying frozen concoctions sold in the food court.

“If it’s not served here, it’s not worth eating,” Kimmey said.

Carnival rides offer many choices to feel the wind in your hair, although none of them include ways to get wet, she said.

Other attractions include several rodeos, bookended by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association on opening weekend and the Bull Blowout on closing weekend. Fair staff also booked live music on two stages, including nationally known country standouts, such as Mark Chesnutt (“Too Cold at Home” and “Brother Jukebox”), Moe Bandy (“I Just Started Hatin’ Cheatin’ Songs Today” and “It Was So Easy to Find an Unhappy Woman”) and Texas talent, such as Dale Watson and Sonny Burgess.

A one-day pass costs $12 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children younger than 5 are admitted free. A four-day pass costs $40; and a season pass is $90.

The full daily schedule can be viewed at www.ntfair.com. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ntfair.showclix.com .

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com .