The Wade Shows website reveals an interesting fact about their operation. During the run of the 2014 New York State Fair, Wade’s first appearance here, they will also be servicing the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island, Aug. 22 to Sep. 1, the Cumberland County Fair in Crossville, Tn., Aug. 25 to Aug. 30 and the Santa Cali Gon Days in Independence, Mo., Aug 28 to Sep.1. Will that mean fewer rides in Syracuse? The website lists 54 scheduled to make an appearance here.
While contemplating the midway, it also occurs to us that this year there won’t be rides and equipment arriving by rail as had been the case with the Strates Shows train, which pulled up behind the grandstand every year. It was wonderfully nostalgic and a marvel to watch the train being unloaded as the midway rose from the pavement.
Strates also serviced the Erie County Fair in Hamburg, which concludes its annual run the Sunday prior to the Thursday opening of the State Fair. That sometimes meant that rides requiring more set-up time weren’t ready when the Fair opened and some weren’t used at all. That doesn’t seem to be an issue with Wade, so they have greater flexibility to construct more labor-intensive rides, typically those of the roller coaster or wild mouse variety. Good news for sure, if those are your favorites.
But if you plan to walk the midway several times and would prefer to rides a few times each visit, there should be a way for you avoid paying individual prices each time. The Strates’ coupon or digital card systems supported that goal well, but we don’t know yet whether Wades has any multi-ride deals aside from the ride all day price.
The new midway operator is The Story of this year’s Fair and you can count on State Fair Hound to stay on top of it. We’ll also bring you some more photos like this one of last year’s midway by Nick LoPresti.
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