With six days of the 2016 New York State Fair down and six to go, State Fair Hound offers these mid-point hits and misses.

Starting with the hits, Kiddieland—or as Wade Shows call it, Lil Partner Land—is fabulous. Don’t believe those complaints published in our illustrious daily newspaper, most of the area is wide and grassy, with pathways and shaded seating. If you don’t like gravel underfoot, it’s easily avoided. This is a four-star upgrade.

The extra space created at Chevy Court by eliminating vendors and relocating the Chevy exhibit space has made a significant difference. There appears to be more seating and there’s certainly more standing space. With the addition of a large projection screen—now there is one on each side of the stage—it’s a much better fan experience and a big step in the right direction.

Beautification of the Iroquois Village continues with more archways over entrances and stunning landscaping. It was already one of the most appealing spots on the grounds and it’s getting better every year.

As for the misses, campers can’t be happy with the gravelly ground under their RVs. But it’s just this year as grass will be in place next Fair.

It doesn’t seem like our Fair without a country act or two playing Chevy Court. You can usually count on country performers, at least the mature ones, to avoid embarrassing the Fair and infuriating fans with the kind of childish outburst unleashed by Kesha. Live Nation deserves boos for this inexplicable omission.

The new entrance gate near the Pan African Village adds convenience for folks entering from that side, but the nearby observation deck is a puzzler. The deck is sturdy enough, but there’s nothing to observe. All you can see of the Fairgrounds is the backs of some buildings, a few rooftops and some parking lots. Maybe there are some plans for the future, but for now, it seems like a waste of money.

Overall, it’s an unforgettable year at the Fair, worth a visit, even several visits.