According to longstanding tradition, the New York State Fair has designated the first Monday and Tuesday each year senior days. But days six and seven this year weren’t, perhaps because golden-agers over 65 years are being admitted free every day of the Fair. The absence of special senior days at the Fair isn’t surprising as recently they seemed to hold less significance than they did in years gone by.

Going back decades, senior days at Chevy Court featured seasoned performers from years past, going back to Debbie Reynolds, the Statler Brothers, James Darren, Al Martino, Neil Sedaka, Rosemary Clooney, the Bowser oldies show and Lawrence Welk cast members. More recently, a classic country (remember when the Fair had classic country?) revue from the famed Grand Ole Opry appeared on the stage at Chevy Court. Senior-friendly concerts were a tradition to which Marketing Director Joe LaGuardia held allegiance.

Conversely, the incompetent agency that currently books acts at Chevy Court apparently didn’t get the memo that senior-favored acts fill the benches year-after-year, although the return of Herman’s Hermits (Tuesday at 1 p.m.) is a good, though unimaginative, choice.

When meal time comes, gray-haired fans are likely to notice that such State Fair classic food vendors as the Grange Ox Roast, Baker’s Chicken Coop and Gianelli are missing and certainly missed. Senior patrons who flocked to the now-missing stands, will have to adjust and there are certainly still many tasty choices for Fair meals. The Eatery Building remains a retiree-friendly dining destination.

If free admission leads us to regard every day as senior day, there are no doubt plenty of events, exhibits and treats for the over-60 crowd to enjoy whenever they come. For instance, such beloved favorite bargains as buck-a-spud potatoes and fresh milk–white chocolate and maybe even strawberry–are still present and very popular. Watch for additional daily specials to further stretch your funds.

One difference from days of yore that shouldn’t be overlooked is that there is considerably more walkable space within the grounds since demolition of the grandstand and paving over of the ground once occupied by the track and infield.

As Hound readers know, planning ahead is always recommended before pulling into a State Fair parking lot and that’s especially true for anyone who’s looking to conserve energy, regardless of age. Thus, seniors would generally be advised to avoid the massive middle ground–which is mostly rides and kids’ stuff–in order to avoid exhaustion, which can certainly make a day at the Fair less enjoyable.

Prioritize your favorite attractions, plan some rest time and keep in mind that you can always come back another day for free–or $3–admission.

Monday is designated Law Enforcement Day so any current or retired police officer can gain free admission by flashing a badge. A parade in their honor down Broadway starts at 6 p.m.

Wednesday is Opening Day of the 2022 New York State Fair. That annual first, fresh look at the clean, bright Fairgrounds is always exhilarating. You could call this a rebound year as it’s back to normal in many ways after last year when things were, well, not normal.

The Fair continues its infuriating policy of accepting no cash for parking or gate admission, so plan ahead. The brown and orange lots have EZ Pass lanes. Logically, you would think that handing the attendant a five-dollar bill would be fine, but for some ridiculous reason, they won’t accept it.

There is a positive change though. The gates will open each morning at 9 a.m., a definite improvement over last year’s Cuomo-inspired 11 a.m. start time that left people waiting outside for hours.

Visitors will be able to enter in time to hear roosters greet the morning with crowing and to enjoy breakfast at one of several stands that serve such favorites as eggs and doughnuts.

Major buildings still don’t open until 10 a.m., but you may be able to gain early entry to some of the livestock barns. It’s also fascinating to watch midway ride operators and other exhibitors prepare for a wave of customers on the grounds.

Beat the traffic and the heat by passing through the gate as early as 9 a.m.

Traditionally, the first day of the Fair is also Governor’s Day. This is Kathy Hochul’s second Fair in office after her assent two weeks prior to opening day last year. She may hear questions about the mysterious departure of State Fair Director Troy Waffner, something that she has not fully explained.

Customers will find it easier to breathe clean air at the 2022 New York State Fair as smoking will be severely restricted throughout the grounds.

While smoking is already prohibited under state law inside Fairgrounds buildings and by Fair policy at the Chevy Court and Chevy Park concert venues, starting this year smokers will be limited to lighting up in various designated outdoor smoking areas, which are shown on visitor maps.

The location of the astonishing sand sculpture has changed–yes, again–back to the Center of Progress.

On opening day the sculpture is usually still under construction, so if you enjoy watching the artists work, this is a good day to visit.

Llamas, the fascinating South American mammals, return for the start of the Fair. They take up temporary residence in the swine and goat building, beginning opening day.

They’ll be herded out Saturday afternoon, so stop in early. They’re stunning creatures, especially up close.

Don’t miss wild and hilarious llama costume contest scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m.

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.

There are fewer acts this year than usual, but look for them in Central Park–the grassy area between the midway and the barns–or further west in the Family Fun Zone–the lawn between the Youth Building and the New York Experience pond.

Bleacher space for the more popular shows can fill up fast, so grab a portable snack, arrive early and take a break as you await showtime.

The 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 have been absent from the Fair for several years and their encore will draw large crowds three times every weekday, four on weekends.

Make sure your camera is charged and ready as photos of the sideshows document some of your best Fair memories.

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 and Hilby who have both become Fair regulars.

If you’re planning a trip to the New York State Fair on Thursday, early arrival is recommended as there will be a concert at 7:30 that evening at the Amphitheater, complicating the traffic and parking challenges.

It’s bad planning by amp organizers, but they do it every year, at least a couple of times.

In addition to Thursday, concerts are scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27–a particularly stupid idea–and for Sep. 1, so plan ahead to avoid waiting in long lines of cars entering the lots.

We’ve heard that folks going a concert  won’t get free Fair admission this year, but it’s only three bucks, so stop complaining.

Precipitation Nation

The New York State Fair has barely recovered from saturated grounds after several days of heavy downpours prior to opening day, now there’s the possibility of more rain in the forecast for much of the next few days. But don’t stay home when it rains–add a layer of preparation and head out to the first-ever 18-day Fair.

In addition to the familiar buildings, many tents, food stands and pavilions offer shelter on the grounds.

While out in the open, you’ll find that dressing for wet weather always starts with a good jacket and water-resistant footwear, while an umbrella can be unwieldy in crowds, but still useful.

If you don’t already have some of those super-absorbent chamois towels, you can buy some in the Science and Industry Building. They’re great for drying off a place to sit whether on the tram, relaxing with a snack at picnic table or on a Chevy Court bench while taking in a show.

Speaking of shows, umbrellas will block views of those nearby, so try to do without them when the performance begins.

Remember that rain typically reduces crowd size, so it’s a good opportunity to navigate the grounds more easily. It’s all about your attitude. Let the rain roll off and savor another Fair experience.

One change in the 2021 New York State Fair that hasn’t been covered in local media reports is a new opening time that may cause consternation. Director Troy Waffner has confirmed to State Fair Hound that the new opening time, 11 a.m., is firm and that patrons will not be allowed in before that time.

There are several reasons that earlier arrival was popular with Fair fans, among them the opportunity to eat tasty food-stand breakfasts, avoid traffic jams and beat the heat when the weather is steamy.

But Waffner cites several reasons for the policy. “The first is we’ve gone to 18 days, 12 hours a day so it gives a little more of a break with our staff and everybody’s staff on the grounds,” he said. “A number of vendors have actually complimented the opening up at 11:00 because then they cut down on staffing and it doesn’t push them so hard over 18 days. The other part is just to make sure, as we go into 18 days, it gives us a couple of extra hours to get the grounds cleaned, get the roads cleaned, to get the wholesalers off the grounds before we open.”

Safety concerns over interactions between Fair visitors and delivery trucks was a consideration. “Human nature, at least on the Fairgrounds, is a person doesn’t get out of the way of a tractor-trailer,” Waffner explained. “So it created potentially bad incidents in the past. It gives us an ability to sweep the grounds of everything and open up for a real day at the Fair as opposed to opening at eight with tractor-trailers and everything driving around.”

It appears that this restriction is for real and gate staff will have to break the news to people who arrive early according to their–often longstanding–tradition. No doubt, many Fair customers will be disappointed that they can’t arrive on quiet morning roads to ease into their day as vendors set up, rides get inspected, animals receive care and the aforementioned alfresco breakfasts are served.

Maybe you had better tell your friends you saw it on State Fair Hound. We hope that other media outlets catch up in spreading the word, but it seems inevitable that a significant number of patrons will be surprised and angered when they arrive early, ticket in hand, only to be denied entry.

As with the no-cash ticket policy, a more moderate approach may have been better received by those who make the Fair a profitable enterprise.

Tickets for the New York State Fair went on sale, sort of, on Aug. 1. A tricky new policy has been implemented, unfortunately without public input, that makes buying tickets with cash impossible.

It used to be easy to be a Fair customer. You could buy advance tickets at supermarkets and banks. You could pay cash at the gates and in the parking lots. No more. Advance purchasing is limited to internet sales over Etix, which will, of course, tack on a service charge.

There will be kiosks at gates one and 10 (why not others?), QR code readers, and EZ Pass scanners. But no cash. Don’t have internet? No credit card? Making an impromptu visit to the Fair with no ticket, but a pocketful of greenbacks? Be forewarned. The Fair won’t take cash.

Likewise, parking in Fair lots will require a pre-purchased ticket or credit card, except for those using the EZ Pass lane.

Modernizing by taking advantage of technology is necessary and beneficial for 21st century efficiency. Anything that helps keep pedestrian traffic flowing through those gates on busy days is great. And with full admission price lowered to three dollars, they have to save somewhere, so may as well reduce costs by cutting out Wegmans and Tops. No problem.

But more flexibility would be a more customer-friendly approach. Really, what’s wrong with handing an attendant a five dollar bill as you drive in? It’s been working for decades. It can still work. At the gates, what could it hurt peddle a few tickets in exchange for real money? Low tech, but highly effective.

Flexibility is good for business and very good for loyal customers. If you agree, there’s plenty of time to call in your complaint about this troubling new policy to Director Troy Waffner at 315 728-4516 or email troy.waffner@agriculture.ny.gov. Be polite as it’s most likely not Troy’s plan. So maybe make a call to the Governor or your State reps.

It’s time to get going and search for those unused 2019 tickets to the New York State Fair. Maybe you’ve heard that they will be accepted for admission this year.

Some fans were upset that during the ’19 Fair, additional free or reduced-price admission days were added, leaving folks who had the foresight to buy advance sale tickets before opening day getting less bang for their bucks (Gate and Switch, Sep. 22, 2019).

It was then announced that those pre-Fair ducats would be honored in 2020, which–well, you know what happened, don’t make us say it.

Those tickets are good for admission any day this year, so search your drawers, purses, glove compartments or wherever you stashed them and you won’t have to buy a ticket this year.

Remember that everyone 65 and older will be admitted free every day, so you seniors can pass leftover tickets along to younger friends or relatives.

Fans of the Beach Boys know the phrase “Endless summer,” a celebratory term recognizing the joys of sunshine, parties, dancing, cookouts, soft breezes, friends and music. But summer does end and for Central New York, every summer culminates in the fabulous New York State Fair. Every summer that is, except this one.

Apparently we can have bowling, restaurants, malls, parks, beaches and some team sports with health clubs on the verge of joining the list. But Andy Cuomo has decided that we can’t have a State Fair, not even a radically modified, carefully limited, strictly regulated State Fair. It’s part of the Gov’s  stranglehold on the reopening of the New York State economy and the infuriating, silent acceptance of his dictates by other elected officials.

Let’s recognize County Executive Ryan McMahon for protesting some of Cuomo’s decisions while keeping a balanced approach and prioritizing the wellness of his constituents. You have to wonder if he would have endorsed opening of the expanded, 18-day State Fair, which was scheduled to run Aug. 21 through Sep. 7. Recent data has supported loosening of regulations in support of both economic recovery and social normalcy.

As previously reported here on State Fair Hound, the state of Delaware bucked the trend and opened its State Fair for business on  July 23. Since the closing of Delaware’s 10-day Fair on Aug. 1, feedback on how it went has been scant. From what information is available on the web, that event, which wrapped up on Aug.1,  got mostly positive reviews, despite having been modified from its usual format.

Sometimes you have to take a shot.

Delaware’s Fair is considerably smaller than New York’s in terms of acreage, attendance and running length, but the coastal state’s model could have been followed here. They spaced out patrons, mandated mask-wearing in most places and cleaned and sanitized rigorously.

It would have been a massive job to hold the New York State Fair under such guidelines, but The Hound still thinks it was possible.

Meanwhile, we’re awaiting word from the Fair on smaller events to be held on order to give Fair fans a taste of their favorite event. So far, there have been drive-up food sales and big-screen movies or concerts. That’s small consolation. There could be more, so let’s see what comes along. Whatever it is won’t be enough in a summer that never really started.

If you’re heading out to the New York State Fair on Saturday, make it an early arrival.

The Saturday before Labor Day has traditionally been one of the big attendance days each year and this year presents an unnecessary challenge, a concert featuring hip hop acts Mary J.Blige and NAS on the nearby Lakeview Amphitheater stage.

Even with changes made over the past few year–increasing parking spaces, paving the orange lot and changing bus routes, it’s unreasonable to expect a smooth drive into the State Fair when thousands of fans will also be converging on the Mistake by the Lake.

No need to stay home–just make it an early day at the Fair. There’s plenty of fun to be had for those arriving by mid-morning and you can be glad as you drive home that you’re not part of the inevitable traffic jam.