Take a balanced approach to winning a prize on the Wades Shows midway at the New York State Fair.
Month: July 2019
The New York State Fair has announced plans to open a new parking lot one mile from the main gate.
The 10.5- acre lot is still under construction on property purchased from Honeywell, just east of the Fairgrounds. Vehicles would have to enter on Willis Avenue at the intersection of State Fair Boulevard. Shuttle buses would then transport patrons west on the Boulevard to Gate 10.
The new lot has an estimated 1800 parking spaces, so its a significant and much-needed boost to Fair parking accommodations.
The usual $5 per car fee would apply while round-trip bus service would be free. 
The only practical way to approach the entrance to the lot would be to drive north on Willis Ave, which makes it most accessible from Solvay, Tipperary Hill and the western suburbs.
Other changes were announced that pertain to Centro Park-and-Ride service to the Fair, so check ahead before heading to your favorite parking site.
History is on display every day at the New York State Fair. This exhibit in the Iroquois Village recalls a way of life that’s centuries old.
Many of the favorite once-a-year experiences at the New York State Fair involve animals.
Patting a cow, riding a pony, petting a sheep, feeding a duck or cradling baby chick in your hands–as this boy is doing–are wondrous moments for many kids.
It’s a great chance for families to put down the smart phone and participate in a real life moment.
Time for a New York State Fair music quiz.
Question one–What do these musical acts have in common?
Rick Springfield, Grand Funk Railroad, .38 Special, Bad Company, Vince Neil, The Roots, Blood, Sweat and Tears and Jackyl.
If you said they’re all booked to play one of the big stages at the 2019 New York State Fair, that’s correct.
If you said they were popular acts before 2000, that’s also correct.
An evening in 2017 at Chevy Court.
Question two–What do these musical acts have in common?
Alabama, Brooks and Dunn, Vince Gill, Sara Evans, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Lorrie Morgan, Kathy Mattea, Diamond Rio, Pam Tillis, Steve Wariner, Lee Ann Womack, Marty Stuart, Suzy Bogguss, John Anderson, Joe Nichols, Rhonda Vincent, Alison Krauss, Ricky Skaggs, Trisha Yearwood, The Whites, Connie Smith, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Gene Watson, Johnny Rodriguez, John Conlee, Tanya Tucker, Janie Fricke, Asleep at the Wheel, Becky Hobbs, Radney Foster, Clint Black, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Ricky Van Shelton.
Yes–They also have decades of popularity playing shows from coast-to-coast. But none of these country acts will perform at the 2019 New York State Fair, although most of them appear to have some availability during the Fair time frame and several will be touring the northeast at that time.
Several of them are in the Country Music Hall of Fame while many are winners of awards including Grammys and Country Music Association awards. There are probably many more acts beyond those named above that would also be good choices for Fair stages.
A recent news report revealed that Live Nation is no longer booking Fair acts and that’s good news. The Triangle agency is back as the concert promoter, but improvement in results has so far been elusive. With the exception of the rock gray-hairs and a couple of other acts, fans beyond their thirties could add the prefix, “Who-the-hell-is” to the names of the acts booked.
Meanwhile, we’re still seeing few country shows, limited to young acts that flirt with country at best. 
One hot young act, the band Midland, will be a rare exception at Chevy Court. Otherwise, the loyal country fans who had packed Fair concert venues for decades continue to be ignored.
The big question is, if classic rock concerts can be successfully booked here, why can’t classic country? There is no acceptable explanation for such neglect. Country fans are tired of excuses.
The announcement came this week that the International Pavilion at the New York State Fair will take on a new name–The Eatery.
OK–you’ve got to admit, that’s more accurate. 
Aside from flags from various nations hung from the rafters, there’s not much that’s truly international about the building. Yeah, there are vendors selling Asian, Italian, Caribbean and German cuisine, but there’s also plenty of good old American chow and a tavern with New York beer and wine.
So, you could call it a re-definition of the place. But knowing the traditional nature of Fair regulars, it will be many years before the name takes hold. Some people still call the Art and Home Center the Women’s Building.
The addition of new food stands inside was also announced, so the name isn’t a big deal as long as the food is good.
Visitors to the New York State Fair can pick up the beat at the Pan African Village by joining a drum circle.
A recent tour of the New York State Fairgrounds revealed another vacancy where a food stand had been.
The newly empty spot is outside the poultry barn, between the Grange Ox Roast and Twin Trees. Remember Ox Roast moved last Fair after their corner stand was demolished, so that area is continuing to evolve.
A new vendor under temporary shelter will fill the spot this year, opening up those often-crowded walkways a little.
What’s this guy doing? Who knows–but it’s fun to watch. The New York State Fair has many scenes you won’t see anywhere else.