It’s day two, so start your weekend at the New York State Fair.
Opening day gave the youngest visitors a chance to try out their farming skills at Tractor Town, where we saw this little guy peddling around. Kids can climb on a miniature International Harvester or John Deere for free in front of the Youth Building.
While new attractions are exciting, most of the best features fall under the category of classic favorites. One we’ve always felt is underrated is the Pan African Village, which dates back to 1997. Much of the food, music, artwork and artifacts, reflective of African and Caribbean cultures, isn’t seen anywhere else on the grounds.
We always love chatting with Jerk Hut proprietor Irvin “Bongo” Hanslip, who we regard as the mayor of the Pan Af Village and a champion for those who enjoy unapologetically spicy food. Bongo and his colleagues there represent the diverse backgrounds that make up the Empire State in a colorful and charming way.
A question we’ve heard is whether the Sea Lion Splash is appearing this year. Acting Director Troy Waffner confided to State Fair Hound that scheduling constraints on the part of the sea lion show made it impossible to book them this year. Waffner said he recognizes the popularity of the whiskered ones with Fairgoers and will try to bring them back next Fair.
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