We’ve officially hit the halfway point between last year’s New York State Fair and this year’s Aug. 25 opening day. There’s always tremendous anticipation as news about the coming Fair starts to trickle out, the first Chevy Court announcement, having come with the naming of the classic soul band the Commodores as the headliners for Aug. 30.

As Fair fans know, this year is especially exciting as major construction is underway to make improvements on the grounds. But before the bigger, state-of-the-art campground, the expanded, modernized midway and the automated, accessible main gate can be debuted, builders have to make a mess and that they have done. A recent visit to the grounds was somewhat stunning as demolition and excavation have rendered parts of our beloved Fairgrounds unrecognizable.

The entire infield and midway areas are leveled and fenced off. Surprisingly, even the Lottery Pavilion, formerly the Paisano stand, is gone. So far, the Chevy Court stage building is still standing. Looking at these exclusive State Fair Hound photos, it’s hard to believe that the new stage, along with all of the other first-phase projects will be completed for Syracuse Nationals, now less than five months away.

The New York State Fair Grandstand will go out with a bang on Saturday as explosives will be used to collapse the site of so many memorable Fair concerts, the Syracuse Mile harness racing series and more than a few Super Dirt Weeks.

The gaping hole left in the Fair infrastructure will, no doubt, provide a stunning view for longtime Fair fans. The excitement of new construction will follow close behind as crews move in to transform the area for next year.

The layout plan released by the Fair indicates that the new RV park will take up most of the vacated ground, with the enlarged midway alongside. For those locals who complain that the Fair never changes, 2016 will be your year.

As snow flurries pelt the Fairgrounds on this New Year’s Day, there may not be many people thinking about the Aug. 25 opening of the 2016 New York State Fair. But there’s going to be a lot of action over the next eight months, so true believers should be excited that this year at our favorite festival will be like none before it.

The clock has struck midnight for the soon-to-be-demolished Grandstand and track, and State officials are in the process of hiring a construction firm to renovate the main gate, expand the midway area and prepare the new, relocated RV park.

While State Fair Hound and all Fair aficionados always look ahead with anticipation, this year will be one for the history books and this winter will bring unprecedented activity during the Fair’s off-season.

We’re now just over three months since New York State Fair 2015 closed on Labor Day and the Fair’s website tells us that there are 260 days left until next year’s expo begins with the opening of a brand new main gate.

More exciting though, is the plan for a new midway. It will be larger with a different set-up location and modified orientation. More rides are in the plan, maybe some we haven’t seen here before. Wade Shows’ midway—seen here in Nick LoPresti’s overhead shot–has been impressive in its first two years here, so it’s not too soon to feel exhilaration over prospects for the big redesign.