August | 2023 | State Fair Hound

The 2023 New York State Fair opened on Wednesday, kicking off a baker’s dozen of sensational days of Empire State excitement.

A unusually large day one crowd crashed the gates as opening day weather was near-perfect.

While a reunion with old favorites is State Fair gold, new features and freshening make every year a little different from its predecessors.

Among the most visible new events are the premiere of the Asian Village, just outside the Youth Building and robotic dinosaurs in the Expo Center.

A 1,600 square foot concession stand opened behind the Eatery (International Building), the first new such stand built in decades. It’s home to Tully’s Good Times, a veteran regional restaurant and popular longtime Fair vendor.

Nearby, renovations outside the dairy cattle barn have eliminated longtime food stands in favor of temporary vendor shelters forming a street median as part of a beautification project. Restaurant Row is largely unchanged, but also brighter, with familiar names and enticing aromas tempting customers.

This year’s version of the famous butter sculpture was unveiled Tuesday in the Dairy Building with a whimsical depiction of a train being driven by a little cow, while the latest edition of the sand sculpture is under construction in the Center of Progress, this year touting the 10th anniversary of Taste NY as a theme.

Twelve great days remain, so head on out.

Pole Cats

Family fishing Day was a late addition to the special days lineup.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will hold the free fishing event on Friday, Aug. 25 from Noon to 5 p.m. at the pond in the Experience Area, near Suburban Park.

No fishing license is required and loaner rods are available. All ages and abilities are welcome.

Game Time

Sports-minded visitors can enjoy some friendly competition every day of the New York State Fair with a visit to the Sports Activity Center, home to a variety of exciting events.

Girls and boys basketball tournaments, gymnastics, the New York State Fair Wrestling Challenge, roller derby, Moving Along Flyers Wheelchair Basketball Tournament, and even competition in the fast-growing sport of pickle ball.

Be sure to check out the schedule so you can grab a bleacher seat to watch your favorite sport.

The Sports Activity Center is located in front of the Coliseum, easily accessible by tram. All events are free to watch.

On The Trail, Day One–Leapin’ Lizards

By State Fair Hound

On August 22, 2023

In On the trail

Wednesday is Opening Day of the 2023 New York State Fair. That annual first, fresh look at the shiny clean, bright Fairgrounds is always exhilarating and this year also comes with a new director, Sean Hennessey having been given the assignment on Monday.

We’re still trying to get back to what had been considered normal operation, though there are still vendor changes initially caused by pandemic restrictions and staffing shortfalls, while new wrinkles have come up that are attributable to increased fees and the rising cost of doing business.

Once again this year, you’ll be able to beat the traffic and the heat by passing through the gates as early as 9 a.m. each morning. It looks like this year buildings will be closing at 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, still 10 p.m. on Fridays through Sundays.

You’ll need credit cards or prepaid credits at entrances, unfortunately. Same goes in parking lots, except where EZ Pass is scanned, while vendors almost universally welcome cash.

Entering early is a good way to start your day, to watch the set-up and feast on breakfast Fair-style until major buildings open at 10 a.m. Traditionally, the first day of the Fair is also Governor’s Day and this year Kathy Hochul is expected to arrive as the state’s first elected woman governor.

The perennially astonishing sand sculpture will be under construction in the Center of Progress, so if you enjoy watching the artists work, this is a good day to visit. Meanwhile, the heralded arrival of Dinosaur Expedition will bring animated, lifelike dinosaurs to terrorize Expo Center visitors.

The limited appearance of those amazing llamas will be in the goat and swine barn early in the Fair. Though the beautiful wool-bearers are native to the Andes Mountains of South America, New York farmers have found that they’re amazingly adaptable to local pastures. The llamas’ visit features competitions and special events before they’re herded out Saturday afternoon, so stop in early to see these stunning creatures up close. Don’t miss the wild and hilarious llama costume contest scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Dog lovers can also take in the 4-H dog obedience competition in the Coliseum, opening day only.

While visitors to the New York State Fair have their traditional favorite exhibits and events, every year the itinerary of special performers and entertainers staging shows around the grounds varies. Musical acts, stunt performers, talented animals and rib-tickling comedy provide a wide variety of free-of-charge shows sprinkled liberally throughout the day.

One marquee attraction this year will be the return of wet and wild performances by Sea Lion Splash in the Family Fun Zone. The chubby, mustached mammals returned in 2022 after several years away and drew huge crowds. Their encore hit the stage three times every weekday, four on weekends. Escape artist Lady Houdini will break out at 3 p.m and 7 p.m. daily in Central Park–the grassy area between the midway and the barns.

New this year is the debut of the Asian Village, which will run from Opening Day through the first Saturday, August 26 to recognize the contributions, history, and experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Festivities will include traditional Asian cuisines to sample and singing, drumming and the Lion Dance—a traditional dance performed at celebrations and festivals with performers working together in stylized lion costumes. Plans also call for a Fashion Show with models showcasing attire representing 20 different nations.

The Asian Village is located in the western end of the grounds, near the Youth Building. On the first day of the Fair, Asian Village will run from 9 am to 10 pm. Look for a complete schedule of events on the Fair website.

Several food stands along Broadway and Restaurant Row present bands and solo acts that are often surprisingly talented, adding an element of night club atmosphere to your Fair dinner.

Check the schedule and stay alert for appearances by such terrific wandering entertainers as Bandoloni, the Strolling Piano and Hilby who have become Fair regulars, something to which newcomer Groovy Guy may aspire.

The New York State Fair is One Day Away

By State Fair Hound

On August 22, 2023

In Around the grounds

Last chance to get advance tickets. The Great New York State Fair opens Wednesday--one day earlier than the traditional opening day. Don't miss it!

Get ready–The Great New York State Fair opens Wednesday. Don’t miss it!

Check back daily for an insider’s view of the Fair and dozens of new photos from State Fair Hound.

Jammin’

By State Fair Hound

On August 20, 2023

In Uncategorized

As in the past few years, State Fair Hound is warning readers that there will be several nights when they may encounter extraordinarily heavy traffic on the roads leading to the New York State Fair due to concerts on those dates at the Mistake-By-The-Lake Amphitheater.

While the Fair is in full swing on Aug. 24 and 25 and on Sep. 1 and 2, arriving music fans will be squeezing their vehicles into the notoriously-tight orange lot spaces for the privilege of paying exorbitant prices to sit on toxic waste beds for a show.

Amp showtimes are all in the 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. range, so the best way to avoid issues is to arrive for your day at the Fair as early as possible. That way, you can depart prior to the worst of the traffic jams.

Scream For More in 1 Week

By State Fair Hound

On August 16, 2023

In Midway Madness

The Wades midway opens in just one week at the New York State Fair.

The spectacular Wades midway opens in just one week at the New York State Fair.

Pink Out

By State Fair Hound

On August 15, 2023

In Hound's view

The recently-reported kerfuffle resulting in the withdrawal from the New York State Fair of the Carol Baldwin Fund and its pink recycling bins is more evidence of the Fair being hamstrung by political nitwits and incompetent bureaucrats in Albany. Newschannel 9 aired an interview by reporter Andrew Donovan with Executive Director Elizabeth Baldwin, who was clearly exasperated by what she termed “non-communication and mistreatment” by the state. The cancer-fighting agency’s annual booth in the Science and Industry building will also be absent.

There’s been no comment from the state, but take it from The Hound, this mess oozed right out of Albany. Decades of experience covering the Fair have made it clear that this type of stupidity is always forced upon Fair administrators by overzealous lawyers and political hacks. The director and his team can’t say so if they want to stay employed, but we’d bet you a two-dollar bottle of tap water (thanks, Albany) that is the case.

Will reporters on the scene when the Gov shows up, perhaps on opening day, ask her about the needless meddling that made a simple operation benefiting a very worthwhile cause into an impenetrable tangle of red tape.? More important, will she answer? Probably not.

Someone should remind the politburo that this event belongs to us. Nobody asked regular folks what they think about bureaucratic meddling chasing this important fundraiser off the Fairgrounds. But they should already know the answer.