State Fair Hound

An independent view of the New York State Fair

Curtain Call

The one factor that made the 2024 New York State Fair unusual is that it was, for the most part, the usual. When the most-hyped new features prior to the Fair are an act with guys scaling poles, MINIa dimly-lit, quiet room and an artist drawing on the pavement, you have to expect low enthusiasm. There just wasn’t much buzz around opening day. The last-minute addition of a small stable of friendly and charismatic horses turned out to be the best of the newbies on the grounds.

That no doubt contributed to the below-average attendance, especially on some days. There were a couple of mostly rainy days and one very hot one, but you can’t blame weather for not-great total attendance numbers, which fell far short of last year despite a rally on the last two days.

There were some new food vendor offerings worth tasting–particularly exotic and delicious dishes in the nicely-expanded Asian Village and the surprisingly popular first-year trailer hawking grilled cheese sandwiches. And there were culinary disappointments, like really bad, over-priced Italian food in the Eatery. Of course, Fair visitors did what they always do–go back to Horan’s, Bosco’s P-Z-O’s, West End, Omanii’s, Butcher Boys, Basilo, Alivero’s, King David’s, the Shamrock, the Iroquois Souphouse and all of the other classic stands that have been satisfying their carnival food cravings for so many Fairs.

HIAn unpredictable mixture of late-summer weather is never a surprise at the Fair, but this year’s rain emphasized the need for improvements in both the grounds and parking lots. While the brown lot quickly transformed from a dust-bowl to a swamp, lack of drainage made paved areas inside the gates into lakes, especially along restaurant row. Even when the rain wasn’t torrential, the result was problematic, so there’s certainly work to be done. When you’re charged 12 bucks to park, you deserve decent surface conditions.

Weather aside, the Fair was mostly problem-free, though traffic backed up disastrously on Aug. 24. Later that night, there was a knife fight near the Expo Center, the combatants reportedly importing a feud that started off-grounds. Anti-social media fueled rumors of violence the night of Sep.1, causing some tense moments and reminding us how much impact one or two morons can have these days.

When you have that many people over a 13-day stretch, there are always a few who can’t behave. Still, good will and harmony dominated, not getting as much attention but making for an overall positive atmosphere throughout the Fair’s run.

It’s certainly noteworthy that the culturally and socially-inclusive character of the State Fair seems to bring out the best in customers, vendors, exhibitors and employees. WADINGThe Fair warmly embraces and celebrates diversity from the Haudenosaunee reservation to the Pan African, Latino and Asian villages. There were pride day, Labor Day and women’s day events, while throngs of seniors came out as they have for a lifetime, forming lines for hot baked potatoes and cold milk. Notably, the brilliance of spunky kids in many areas deserves a round of applause.

With new features few and largely unimpressive, the old favorites stood tall with Hilby, sea lions, raptors and dinosaurs drawing big crowds. Sculptures of sand and of butter were, as always, surrounded by Fair art enthusiasts. The midway spun its traditional magic for young riders and ubiquitous music inspired one big dance party. Incredibly, much of the excitement was lost on people who couldn’t look away from their cell phones.

There were a few massive concert crowds at Suburban Park, while benches missing from Chevy Court may have turned up there. No doubt, both venues could use more seating, something else needing off-season planning.

CLOUDY SLA team of mostly-young workers in bright green shirts seemed to be everywhere and cleanliness of the grounds was impressive from one end to the other. Great job, Ninjas.

For some reason, the Broadway SkyLiner never seems to live up to its potential. It looks great and adds to the midway mystique for sure, but ridership seems pretty light, at least some days. The steel posts that support the moving cables will soon be chilled by fall air, as will Fair aficionados, who will savor memories of this year as they look forward to Aug. 20, 2025, next year’s opening day.

The Peter Principle

The Newsmaker program on Channel 9 recently focused on the cultural villages that are an essential part of the New York State Fair. It was good to hear from Van Robinson, a tireless advocate for the  minority community, about the origins of the Pan African Village. He referred to “the leaders at the time” when the village was set up, back in 1996. DRUMMING

It was disappointing that neither Robinson or program host Andrew Donovan acknowledged the monumental contribution of Peter Cappuccilli, Jr., who was the Fair Director at that time. But Randy Andy Cuomo, who screwed up the Fair in many ways, got a shout-out for naming the village after Robinson. Big deal.

Cappuccilli was also the director in charge when the Veterans and 9-11 Memorials were constructed, when the Iroquois longhouse was dedicated and when Fair attendance first exceeded a million visitors. Another Cappy legacy was significant infrastructure improvement including the addition of air conditioning to several buildings.

Other founders, including Ken Jackson and Bongo Hanslip share credit for starting the Pan African village. While it was great to see that State Fair jewel get recognition on television, it would have been better if credit was given where deserved.

 

On The Trail, Day 13–Labor Day Finale

The final day of the 2024 New York State Fair arrives Monday with the observance of Labor Day.

Labor union marchers begin their traditional parade near the cow birthing center at the western end of the grounds at 10:30. Following the procession down Broadway, they will rally down near Chevy Court.

RIDE OVERIt’s dollar day on the midway with all rides except the Broadway SkyLiner priced at a buck.

The Fair wraps on Monday with major buildings and the midway closing at 9 p.m.

On Labor Day, Chevy Court concerts start at 12:00pm and 4:00 p.m., while Jackyl’s Suburban Park concert starts at 6:00 pm.

In case you haven’t done everything, seen everything and eaten everything at this year’s Fair, here’s The Hound’s abbreviated State Fair can’t miss list:

The history and pageantry of the Iroquois village, a revered Fair tradition, tops the list.PRINCESS Don’t leave the Fair without seeing the fascinating dancing atop the Turtle Mound, daily at 11 a.m., 4 and 7 p.m.

If you haven’t gone into the Grange Building–next to the poultry barn–this year, don’t miss visiting the State Fair History exhibit. It should be an annual stop on the route for every Fair visitor, though it’s generally updated only a little from year to year. There’s plenty of history and much of it is on display. Still, it’s one of those features  where you may notice something different every year.

The stately Agriculture Museum is an architectural work of art full of fascinating artifacts and demonstrations of various old-time farming and homemaking skills. The Carriage Museum next door features a working blacksmith shop and a variety of wheeled vehicles that predate cars.

Among other highly-recommended favorites are Hawk Creek Wildlife Center’s winged wonders in the State Park area and the festive Pan African Village.LANDING

Some livestock has departed, but there’s still enough around to fascinate and charm visitors, while the final performances of the Circus Hollywood (11 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m.) are great fun for all ages.

Of course, many fans arrive focused on one or two last meals, following their traditions to favorite vendors and sampling new treats.

If you haven’t seen the sand sculpture, where have you been? It’s in the Center of Progress.

Meanwhile those ferocious dinosaurs are terrorizing the Expo Center to the delight of large crowds of kids.

It looks like the weather will be autumn-cool, but sunny. For those discouraged by rain over the past few days, here’s one last chance to savor the Fair.

 

On The Trail, Day 12–Town Square

The grassy expanse known as Chevrolet Court is the quintessential New York State Fair locale. Despite the emergence of the Suburban Park–formerly Chevrolet Park–stage as a concert venue over the past few years, the landscaped Chevy Court lawn surrounded by those stoic buildings, all approaching 100 years old, has ambience and character that’s hard to match.

COLThe sprawling courtyard is bordered by those six main buildings, forming a rectangle running south of the main gate, past the reflecting pool to the majestic Horticulture Building. The Fairgrounds’ original design, created by Buffalo architects Green and Wicks in 1907, started with completion of what is currently known as the Center of Progress Building the following year.

That design and construction of those major buildings reflects styles of the turn of the century, developing trends of the early 20th century and strong local influences.The first phase of construction took about 20 years to complete, culminating with the erection of the major buildings by the late 1930s.

While there are definite similarities to the buildings–a number of them are crowned by a cupola–each has its own character, particularly in terms of decorative touches. A stroll around the court reveals the varied look of the buildings at the Fair’s core. HORT AND POND

The two most similar buildings face each other bordering Cole Muffler Court to the east and west. The Center of Progress Building is the sister building of the Science and Technology and Dairy complex, stylistically and relative to the original design plan as both are bordered by full-length columns.

One important similarity from building to building is the combination of a functional interior disguised by a more aesthetically appealing exterior. There’s no denying that the look of today’s Fair is sharply different than some of its predecessors. No surprise there, given the ages of the buildings. But the sturdy structures have survived, including the stint during World War II, when the Fairgrounds were used as a  military base and today they are the very foundation of the New York State Fair, both beautiful and functional.

At one time, there were plans to replace the Chevy Court stage and the adjoining building, moving them back to increase space in front of the stage, deceasing overcrowding at the court that made it nearly impossible for many fans to derive maximum enjoyment. PETER FROM BACKBut that now seems to be unnecessary as placement of acts can be managed to steer the biggest crowds to Suburban Park, leaving moderately-sized audiences in Chevy Court.

Some acts still draw tens of thousands of fans to that area, but you don’t generally see the massive overflow of years past. In order to create space in that area, vendor tents were moved out of surrounding streets several years ago, likely sacrificing some revenue. Large projection screens now flank the stage to offer a view from afar.

Fair planners use an established method for estimating crowd size, based upon a grid system that looks at defined areas with previously-determined capacities and adding up the occupied areas. It’s still an approximation, but when you come down to it, the actual numbers aren’t as important as other essential questions with an enormous crowd performing there. BIG CROWD

Regulating the crowd has proven difficult. Attempts to control the spacing and movement of that many fans with temporary fencing has been largely unsuccessful, in some cases making the situation worse by creating barriers to people spreading out or moving out of overcrowded areas. The rule prohibiting smoking at Chevy Court, heartily endorsed by The Hound, is now being stringently enforced, with staff encouraging compliance with posted rules.

They even moved the Chevrolet display out of the venue named for it. In addition to creating a nice concert space, preserving Chevy Court  kept intact a Fair locale that is both prominent and pretty. The sprawling Suburban Park can’t match Chevy Court’s charming character. The grassy, tree-lined court area benefits from being surrounded by those handsome buildings and close to the wine court, restrooms and food stands.

There’s no feeling that says New York State Fair more than sitting on a metal bench guarded by those familiar buildings. If only the Fair would give us some acts worth seeing.

 

 

Gayle Force Performance

For many years, traditional country music was a dominant force on New York State Fair stages. CRYSTAL 4But for about a dozen years, it’s become exceedingly rare. So when Crystal Gayle, a classic country singer with decades of popularity, performed on Wednesday it’s was a real treat for those on the Chevy Court benches.

Many of those fans perked up upon hearing the familiar notes leading into the Grammy-winning song “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” one of the greatest singles in country music history and a crossover hit as well. Gayle’s impeccable timing and lush phrasing is still powerful 47 years after that landmark recording was paced by Country Hall-of-Fame pianist Pig Robbins’ lilting intro. That award-winning song, composed by Richard Leigh’s, came near the end of her hour-long set.

Earlier, Gayle sang fewer of her 18 chart-topping hits than may have been expected–she did “Talking in Your Sleep”, “Somebody Loves You” and “I’ll Get Over You,” among others. She also sprinkled her set with songs made famous by Patsy Cline, Johnny Rodriguez and the Osborne Brothers while also performing her rendition of “Coal Miner’s Daughter” to lead into a warm reminiscence of her famed sister, Loretta Lynn. She recalled how Loretta advised her to find her own musical identity, which worked out very well for little sister.

CRYSTAL 5Fans may have been wondering if Gayle still wears her famed brunette locks calf-length–she does. It’s her trademark look, much like Willie Nelson’s pony tail, Jimmy Dickens’ height or Dolly Parton’s–well, you know. Her sky blue tunic, tall black boots and plethora of gold and turquoise jewelry completed her fashion statement.

Her warmth and charisma are often traits of many country performers of her generation and should serve as a lesson for young artists, full of arrogance and attitude. For Gayle and her contemporaries, class and respect are as much a part of the show as fiddles and harmony. Let’s hope the Fair give us more classic country shows in future years.

 

On The Trail, Day 11–International Flavors

The New York State Fair building currently called the Eatery is still the International Building to generations of Fair regulars and some exotic cuisines are still represented inside. But some of the tastiest food from south, west and east of the borders is scattered among vendors in three popular villages.

Among the unusual treasures and soulful music of the Pan African Village, you’ll find delicious soul food, Caribbean fare, barbecue and homemade desserts from local restaurants and vendors. PAV DINERSThe 28th edition of the colorful block party, situated between the Center of Progress and the Art and Home Center, features bands and dancers on the entertainment tent stage. Near the stands serving a variety of terrific non-traditional food are welcoming vendor tents displaying clothing, jewelry, rare handicrafts and collectibles.

In addition to opening opportunities for minority-owned businesses, Pan African adds a dimension of excitement and personality that reflects New York’s diverse culture. The festive Village has since become a mainstay for the Fair, a popular annual tradition beloved by visitors of all races and backgrounds.

ICE

Visitors get into the spirit by taking a drumming lesson, viewing historic exhibits or dancing to the day’s featured musical acts. Shoppers browse the vendor tents for unusual gifts and keepsakes. It’s certainly one of those not-to-be-missed State Fair favorites, near Chevy Court and the State Parks area, easily accessible from tram stop 2, just inside gate 11A.

 

The State Fair Latino Village is gradually developing a similar vibe, one mile west of the Pan African, capitalizing on the availability of the Talent Showcase stage to ignite exotic rhythms. Spicy Mexican and Caribbean cuisine join with souvenir vendors under colorful flags. SOMBRERO Check the Fair website for event schedules.

The fledgling Asian Village returned for its second year, bringing back the vendors, music and dance that opened last year. As with its predecessors, its vendors and exhibitors will need some time to promote familiarity with patrons. ASIANWhen it comes to Fair fans, food is always a good place to start. Asian village cuisine shined with a tasty variety that included stir fry options and an exotic coconut drink that seemed to catch on quickly. Vegetarian diners will find several hearty choices on the menu.

Again this year, the Latino and Asian share space near the Youth Building and Talent Showcase stage, Asian for the first five days and Latino now underway through Labor Day. As they get more established with Fair visitors, they should grow into 13-day spots with their own identities menus and character. That way they can make their marks as their Pan African counterparts have done.

On The Trail, Day 10–Fur Away Places

Beyond the excitement of the midway, the popularity of the building exhibits, the many great food options and the entertainment spectacles, leisurely strolls through barns full of farm animals lie at the heart of the the New York State Fair. And there are many types to see.

Goats are always a favorite of of animal lovers as they’re often friendly and within reach as they stretch to peek above their stall fencing. GIRL WITH GOATThe goat pavilion, just outside the main barn on Iroquois Street, hosts shows and judging and will frequently exhibit baby goats, under three months old.

Inside, photographers will find the back end of the barn, nearest the Expo Center, better for shooting with brighter lighting, less intrusive enclosures and multi-goat areas offering good opportunities for getting nice pictures.

The goat milking parlor, close to the western entrance is often active with young handlers hooking up the animals to milking machinery.

After four years without a permanent home on the Fairgrounds, sheep owners have to hold out for another year or two before getting a new barn in which to display their animals. You may recall that the covered-but-not-enclosed stalls that had stood for decades near restaurant row were demolished prior to the 2019 Fair after having been damaged by a storm. SHEEP CUDDLEPlans for a replacement were announced for next year, but now The Hound has been told they may take until 2025.

Sheep are being housed in a tent at the western end of the grounds. Short-sided enclosures make them accessible to cautious petting and they are reputed to be gentle and friendly. The accommodations in their west-end tent may be different from their now-demolished barn, but there’s a common area used for judging in various categories and they usually supply bleachers for spectators, so stop by.

The nearby Wool Center will likewise hold on for another season or two before becoming part of the new sheep and wool center when it opens. Volunteers staff the center, educating the public about wool products and promoting their uses.

While rows of beautifully-attired animals in the sheep tent represent a New York state farm industry, WEAVERthe little shack at the end of Restaurant Row demonstrates the next steps of the wool industry. There you can witness the just-sheared raw material being processed and spun into wool fabric, ready to be knitted and crocheted into sweaters, hats or blankets and talk to the pros doing the handiwork.

Just as you can drink the milk produced in the dairy cattle barn and have an omelet at a stand near the poultry barn, feeling the soft, warm wool on exhibit completes another agricultural circle, all within the Empire State.

A cacophony of clucks, crows, quacks and squawks make the poultry barn the noisiest building at the New York State Fair. PONDMost chickens, turkeys and pigeons are caged, but a small pond right in the center of the floor provides a lighthearted look a some aquatic fowl.

There’s also the quieter side, where the rabbits and cavies–also known as guinea pigs–sit huddled in their cages. The diminutive critters don’t seem to be having a great time, stuck in small cages in a strange environment, but people enjoy them anyway. The furry ones come in amazing variety of colors and shapes to fascinate visitors and delight the kids.

Sometimes they’re plucked from their confinement for a little maintenance or veterinary care, allowing those touring the barn to become spectators to the process. Stop by for a visit, but be careful about petting–they can bite.

LLAMASAfter the llamas’ depart the Fair on Saturday, the pens in the eastern half of the barn the currently share with goats will be utilized to accommodate pigs.

That’s a big change for visitors as the woolly, mountain-dwelling llamas are popular for their exotic appearance and haughty image. But the hogs are not to be outdone, especially considering the squeal appeal of litters of piglets that always draws a crowd.

The little guys are adorable, whether scurrying around the pens, playing, snoozing or nursing. There always seems to be a crowd watching with delight. They’re particularly popular with kids, who can peer between the bars to get an eye-level, close-up look at the cute, chubby babies. Pigs will be around for the rest of the Fair, starting Sunday.

It’s always been the unspoken paradox at the New York State Fair–families delight in touring livestock barns where they love to get close to cattle, goats, sheep, chickens and all of the other animals brought in every year by New York farmers. BUNNY SIPEveryone loves seeing all of the fascinating and often lovable critters.

Minutes later, those same patrons belly up to the counter of a food stand to order up meals featuring meat from some of the same breeds of animals they just encountered alive in barn stalls. They probably don’t think about the process by which the animals go from cute and adorable to juicy and delicious.

But they should think about it because ultimately consumer demand determines how farm animals are raised and treated.

On The trail, Day 9–Past Yer Eyes

The marquee attractions of New York livestock–dairy cattle–return to the New York State Fair, taking up every inch of the 92,000-square-foot Exhibit Center. CHILLINFarmers bring their cows in every summer for judging and competition, allowing visitors to stroll past these bovine superstars, maybe taking a photo or two or reaching out to pat their furry shoulders.

Both youth and adult exhibitors come in from all over the Empire state to display thousands of animals including such breeds as Guernsey, Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey, Ayrshire and Shorthorn in barns on the grounds. The tradition goes back to the earliest fairs when farmers brought animals to market for sale. The cows were compared to each other, eventually leading to the more formalized judging done today.

The judging and competitions are open to the public, but most fair-goers simply enjoy strolling the hay-strewn floors at a leisurely pace. There’s also an opportunity to observe milking take place in the modern, glass-enclosed parlor.

The sprawling structure becomes a temporary home to farm owners and families while their animals are exhibited. GROOMINGKeeping an eye on their animals makes dairy farmers available to field questions from curious visitors. People walking through the barn often stop to ask questions about the cows that make such a profound contribution to their lives or the industry. Common questions include “Do You have to milk them daily?” and “Is this cow pregnant?”

Although exhibitors may enjoy their time at the Fair, farming is their livelihood and business comes first. There are more than trophies and ribbons at stake when judging takes place. A cow’s value will actually increase if she wins in her class.

The primping that farmers do on their cows may make it seem like a beauty pageant, but the prettiest bossy isn’t necessarily most likely to take a blue ribbon. The judges are looking for a cow that will produce a lot of milk over a long period of time. A panel of experts scrutinizes the animals for several qualities that make it the most perfect example of the species in the ring that day.

Baby calves are very popular, both in the main barn and in the calf birthing tent, down past the Expo Center. Watching the actual births is not for everybody, but the newborns are irresistibly cute, photogenic and often within petting range. That adorable factor makes a visit worth the effort. S MILK

Just across from the main cow barn is the Dairy Products Building, home to the Fair’s signature artwork, the butter sculpture. About 800 pounds of real New York butter is carved into statuary with each year featuring a different theme and design.

A few feet away, customers flock to the milk bar where chocolate, white and sometimes strawberry milk are sold in 25-cent cups. Ice cream and cheese vendors and the popular Belgian waffle stand are building mainstays.

 

Young Hearts

Stage shows, science projects, artworks, journalism, dog training, livestock raising and lots more are featured by the bright minds from across New York that are featured daily in the Youth Building.

COOKING DEMOWhile participation presents great opportunities for the 4-H kids, they love to involve visitors in petting their dogs, trying out their projects, creating artwork and, most famously, holding baby chicks.

It’s a thrilling and delightful opportunity for the youngsters and their enthusiasm is contagious. Be sure to pay a visit–you’ll leave impressed.

After Noone

You know the New York State Fair has reached the midway point every year when the perennial oldies concert by Herman’s Hermits has ended and one-man circus Hilby has begun his traditional three-a-days. Well, Peter Noone and his Brit mates played Monday afternoon and Hilby is juggling his pins, tossing his torches and peddling his unicycle in front of the Science and Industry Building, so we’re about there—seven down and six to go. PETER SMILE

Blessed with mostly good-enough weather, the Fair is rolling along smoothly for the most part. The 4-H horse barn—now closed for the year–was a terrific addition, the Nerveless Nocks pole-climbing act, not so much. It was good to see Groovy Guy back and the dinosaurs, the birds of prey and the Sea lions are as popular as ever. The new village set-up for the Asian and Latino cultural fairs is a definite improvement. The Hound can’t help but wonder why there are fewer benches at Chevy Court this year. Security staff has been asked, but they say they don’t know.

Aside from a rainy opening day, the low point so far was the huge traffic jam on the afternoon of Aug. 24. It wasn’t the result of a massive crowd at the New York State Fair. Fair attendance was an entirely manageable 83,240. So why the mess? It’s because the nitwits who run the amphitheater on the other side of I-690 held a concert that night.

TRAFFICAs you’ve been hearing from The hound for several years, this is the definition of insanity. Two large events that depend upon the same roadways for access and the same lots for parking, running simultaneously will inevitably sow chaos. We’ve seen it before and we’ll see it again, perhaps on Aug.29, when the same dueling-events scenario comes up.

Central New York weather is generally conducive to outdoor concerts from late spring to mid-fall, roughly four months every year. The State Fair runs for 13 days of those four months. The corporate money-grubbers who run the amp have demonstrated in many ways over the years that they have no regard for the convenience and safety of their patrons. So we shouldn’t hold out hope that they’ll change their ways. It’s time for State and County government to exert influence to put concerts on hold during the Fair.

On The Trail, Day 8–Home Sweet Home

Women’s Day is Wednesday at the New York State Fair. Home base for some of the observances is logically the Harriet May Mills Art and Home Center which will host various activities throughout the day. FIRST PLACEThe classically-designed, pillar-enhanced structure, long known as the Women’s Building, hosts traditionally female-centric homemaking skills with artistic handicrafts, dresses, quilts, rugs and artworks prominently exhibited, while culinary masterpieces compete for ribbons.

While you’re in the Art and Home Center you can take a break at the Empire Theatre, located a few stairs above the ground floor, for a stage show. STEVE BLADEThe dimly-lit auditorium offers comfortable chairs and air conditioning where you can relax and enjoy entertainment from local music, dance or acting troupes. The variety of acts, often presented with youthful enthusiasm, are generally free of charge. Eco-magician Steve Trash performs daily at 11 a.m., 3 and 5 p.m. The schedule of acts is listed on the Fair’s website and may be posted outside the building entrance nearest the Pan African Village.

Go upstairs to the musical instrument museum to enjoy some vintage pieces including several keyboard instruments. Follow the sound of music to the classic organs and a player piano. Downstairs, authentic model circuses and carnivals bring back historical memories of fairs past with colorful posters lining the surrounding walls. ORGAN

If attending the New York State Fair means missing your favorite television cooking show, you can get a live chef lesson in the high-tech demonstration kitchen. The schedule is on the Fair website and posted outside the northern entrance to the building.

Hip Hop Heaven

Baby boom-generation visitors fondly recall childhood trips to the original Suburban Park, a classic amusement park in Manlius that held magical appeal to kids. The tacky fun house, the zesty pizza, the miniature train, the rock ‘n’ roll bands and the rickety roller coaster made the trip an indispensable part of every kid’s summer. SP ACROSS PONDThose former thrill-seeking youngsters are now senior citizens who would like to enjoy entertainment in front of the big stage at the western end of the New York State Fair now known as Suburban Park.

But there’s precious little to attract them as shows booked there have skewed almost exclusively toward much younger fans, who will identify the new moniker with ear-shattering, pulsating beats of acts that feature drums as lead instruments. For seniors–really for many folks who love music and value actual singing and playing talent–there’s been little reason to spend a summer evening on the sloping lawn. As usual, that’s especially true for country music fans.

Meanwhile, transportation to Suburban Park continues to be challenging, as the daunting acreage of the Fairgrounds often requires fans entering for a concert on the big stage to hike a long way. Savvy concert fans can seek parking in the adjacent gray lot or park across State Fair Boulevard in the brown lot and enter gate four. SUB PK ENT.But it seems that most patrons entering will also seek out tasty Fair meals and exhibits and entertainment far from the pond and arrive breathless.

While the lengthy trek on foot can take some of the fun out of the whole experience, again this year there’s not much fun to be had there anyway. If this pathetic lineup is the future of the stage, it will never live up to the name Suburban Park.

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