Some media and customer commentary reviewing the 2019 New York State Fair have expressed frustration with state officials moving the goalposts in terms of admission prices.
Pre-Fair publicity listed criteria for free admission for various categories of patrons–seniors, students, military and others–while reduced admission prices for everyone were available on numerous days.
If you didn’t qualify for a free pass and it was a regular-admission day, you had the option of buying advance sale tickets for $6 instead of paying full price, $10 at the gate.
But after the Fair’s 13-day run began, the Cuomo crew announced more one-dollar days, rendering some of those advance tickets less valuable.
To counter the complaint that those tickets weren’t a bargain anymore, the Fair will accept them next year. But there have been some suggestions that admission should be standardized at a fixed price, perhaps as low as one dollar.
It seems likely that internal discussion of price practices will be held during the off-season with changes possible. That’s fine, but State Fair Hound places another consideration higher than consistent pricing. While the actual exchange of cash to gain entry to the Fair is the most obvious way to look at value, the more important method has to include a look at what you get for your money.
When you consider the bonanza of free entertainment available inside the Fair gates, you get tremendous value for you money, even if you pay $10 to get in. There are so many attractions and shows that are included in your admission price–starting with the incredible value of free concerts at Chevy Court and the Experience Stage–that whatever you pay to attend is dirt cheap. 
Go ahead–research what you would pay for a concert by Bad Company, the Mavericks, Grace Potter or Gavin DeGraw at another venue and you will be happy to hand over $10 to hear them.
Then add up what you could pay elsewhere for the many acts available from Hilby to K-9s in Flight, Circus Hollywood to the International Horse Show. There’s terrific entertainment in every corner of the grounds, from the annual pageantry of the Iroquois Village to terrific new displays like the antique boats.
So much is free–listening to music at the Pan African Village and other small stages, getting close to the powerful birds of Hawk Creek, seeing the amazing sand sculpture or visiting the stately Agriculture Museum, even a ride around the perimeter on a tram. All without spending another dime.
There have been ticketed acts inside the grounds over the years and they never seemed to do particularly well with Fair patrons who have gotten used to being entertained for free.
It’s a great deal. So take advantage of free or reduced-price admission days, but recognize how much you get for your money and don’t complain if it’s a few bucks. It’s still a bargain.
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