It may make your trip to the New York State Fair easier to navigate if you check available traffic cameras before heading to Geddes.

For one site, you can go to the State Fair website, select “your visit,” then click “plan your trip,” then “parking and transportation.” You’ll see the 511NY logo, which will route you to that site. There are several cameras on the map that are near the Fairgrounds that will help you get an idea how things are looking around the parking areas.

The WeatherBug site also has several views of nearby traffic.

Timing matters when going to the Fair and knowing whether traffic is flowing smoothly or bogged down can help you decide he best times to go.

Car pool if you can and remember that taking a bus is always an option, too.

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.

The 2019 New York State Fair opens 10 weeks from tomorrow. If you haven’t begun planning your trips to the Fair, the time is here.

Of course, you’ll want to buy advance sale tickets to get a substantial savings on admission prices. Remember, though, that some days are free for certain groups of patrons, while other days feature drastically reduced ticket prices, available at the gates.

Full info on prices, promotions and ticket purchasing locations is available on the Fair website.

You can’t come close to seeing it all, hearing it all, doing it all or eating it all in one trip, so plan on multiple adventures at the Fair.

Watch State Fair Hound for ideas and advice on how to get the most out of your days at the Fair.

Let the countdown begin!

Wednesday will be a another steamy day on the grounds of the New York State Fair, so be sure to find ways to stay cool. The new Exposition Center is an especially refreshing oasis due to the state-of-the-art air conditioning system and the ice rink that occupies two-thirds of the building.

Nearby, National Grid has a tent full of cool mist as another way to combat the effects of the heat.

For photography buffs, the New York State Fair is a kaleidoscope of colorful subjects and exciting action. Of course, many Fair visitors carry a camera, if only a cell phone with photo capability. But getting the most out of your pictures, whether it’s the kids on a ride, an adorable animal or a memorable performance isn’t as simple as point and click.

State Fair Hound is here to help with these hints and tips from Hound photo editor Nick LoPresti:

When shooting a concert with a black backdrop, it is important to manually adjust your exposure to achieve proper lighting of the musicians. You can do that even if you have a point-and-shoot camera.

To shoot fireworks you need a tripod because you will be using long exposure times, from five to 10 seconds, impossible to hand-hold without blurring. Manually pre-focus.

Here’s a long shot that could become a portrait as illustrated in the next photo, simply by zooming in or cropping and reframing.

This is an example of an action shot taken after Nick pre-focused manually. You may have to try several times to get the proper timing.

It seems that into each New York State Fair some rain must fall. But when it does, there’s no reason to stay home. There’s so much indoors to enjoy and with some foresight, a wet day can still be a great one on the Fairgrounds.

OK, so you may not be able to ride your favorite midway contraption and some of the outdoor shows will be cancelled, but you’ll have the advantage of encountering fewer people crowding the grounds, shorter lines and less competition for many attractions.

Regular State Fair Hound readers know that the number one rainy-day tip offered here is waterproof shoes. Infrastructure improvements over the past few years have reduced flooding along walkways, but there’s no avoiding some puddles and soft spots on unpaved ground.

Add an umbrella or better yet a waterproof jacket or poncho, and you can cover a lot of ground without much problem.

Oddly enough, many of these same indoor-exhibit strategies can work to get you inside and cooled off on sunny, humid days. Most major buildings are air conditioned and there’s good airflow through the barns. Remember–Much of the Fair is indoors where it’s always dry.

Wednesday marks the opening of the 2018 New York State Fair. State Fair Hound will be on hand, of course, keeping you up to date with all of the excitement and pleasures of those fabulous 13 days. You should to expect larger-than-usual evening crowds arriving for concerts at the amphitheater Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Attending the Fair earlier those days is highly recommended.

As always, planning your day at the Fair before heading out is the best way to give yourself a chance to maximize your enjoyment. See you there.

Advance New York State Fair tickets are on sale, but before you stock up, search out any tickets you have left over from last year. They will be accepted at the gates every day this year. When unplanned $1 admission days were added during the 2017 Fair, many ticket holders wisely held onto their $6 ducats and were rewarded when the State validated them for this year.

It’s a great deal if you have a few tucked away–it’s like getting in free.

Don’t forget about all of the promotions that allow free or reduced-priced admission on various days this year. The complete list is on the Fair website, www.nysfair.ny.gov.

So do your inventory of 2017 tix, supplement with some 2018 advance sale and get ready to make it over to the Empire State’s greatest show.