Jam Sessions
When it comes to scheduling Lakeview Amphitheater shows, Live Nation may be starting to get the message as only two concerts are scheduled during the Fair’s 18-day run.
Visitors to the New York State Fair will have to compete with concert fans for driving lanes and parking spaces on Aug. 22 and Aug. 27, reminding us of the monumental mistake made by Andy Cuomo in erecting the concert stage where it will cause problems every Fair. The now-paved orange parking lot and newly-constructed access ramps won’t help enough when a popular act draws thousands of fans to the Fairgrounds-adjacent shell as Fair faithful are arriving.
If you’re not going to an amp show on those two dates, your best bet is to avoid the inevitable traffic jam by making it an early day at the Fair. It’s easy to do, but it takes some planning, especially now that opening time has been pushed back to 11 a.m. It may, however lead to a difficult choice if the showtime of an act you like on the Fairgrounds approximates the start time of an amp happening.
Be forewarned about these Lakeview conflicts and plan accordingly.
Go With Less Dough
Attending the New York State Fair on a tight budget is always a challenge, but you really don’t have to spend a fortune to have a great day, especially now that regular adult admission has been reduced to 3 dollars.
The expenses start before you get to the gate and there’s really not much opportunity to get there without paying either the five-dollar parking fee (pre-paid ticket, EZ Pass Plus or credit card required) or bus fare (mask mandatory). It’s a daunting hike from any free parking, but there is a little in Solvay and gate 11a makes it feasible. 
Your best bet is probably to remember that the parking cost is applied per car, so share your ride and split the charge to save some cash.
Of course there are many free or reduced admission deals, so go on whichever day is cheapest for you, whether you’re a student, a vet, a firefighter or whatever gets you in.
Bringing in your own food and drinks is allowed within guidelines–no alcohol or glass bottles. But there are also some food bargains if you seek them out, starting with the classic baked potato. Lines can be long and are annoyingly slow, but you can buy as many as you want for one dollar each.
If you’re drinking water, you’re limited to buying bottled tap water for the mandated price of two dollars, but Six Nations vendors will sell you one for a buck in the Iroquois Village.
From there on, you have to shop around for food bargains. The Pan African Village has some good deals and others are scattered around.
Break Time
When you need to take a breather on a hectic New York State Fair day, the serene reflecting pool in front of the horticulture Building is a good choice. 
It’s the focal point of the tree-shaded State Parks area, offering plenty of benches and picnic tables where you can relax with a drink or snack while you review your day’s itinerary, study your Fairgrounds map or just enjoy the rippling water.
If break time finds you at the other end of the grounds, the New York Experience pond area and the Iroquois Village are also peaceful spots to relax before hitting the midway or visiting the livestock.
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