Everything Old is New Again

The countdown to the opening of the 2022 New York State Fair is down to the last few days and the headline story is the return of Sea Lion Splash. Everyone–with the possible exception of the seals themselves–enjoys the fish-catching, fast-swimming, ball-bouncing antics. The show starring those whiskered aquatic mammals is one of just a handful of new features this year as the big news is that the traditional Fair is back after two painful, pandemic-affected years.

“The new features that we have this year are the old features that we have this year,” Interim Director Sean Hennessey told State Fair hound. “What’s new is old. We have a full Fair this year. That’s what’s new about the Fair this year.”

So it’s back to all of the buildings fully open and operational, all of the livestock in the barns and some popular food vendors returning after taking 2021 off. The World of Horses stable and scientific exhibits in the Center of Progress and the Science and Industry Building debut. Eco-Magician Steve Trash performs for the first time in the Empire Theater.

Beyond that, new features will have to wait for next year, when a sparkling new sheep and wool center will be one of several permanent structures to open.

“There’s a refocusing on agriculture,” Hennessey said. “We’re going to be doing groundbreaking on three different facilities sometime during the Fair. There’s going to be a brand new, state-of-the-art, 365-day greenhouse that we’re going to be constructing here on the Fairgrounds. We’re going to be looking at alternative energy packages for that project.”

Mighty Mike and the Strolling Piano return for the second year, joining such longtime luminaries as Hilby, Bandoloni, the Hawk Creek Birds of Prey and Circus Hollywood to put a shine on this year’s Fair.

The make-or-break element this year is really how the public reacts to the grand reopening. Fair customers coming out in big numbers to find the Fair they love waiting for them inside the gates will be cause to celebrate.