Among the variety of entertainment on the menu at the New York State Fair is the traditional parade, this year marching down Broadway on five of the Fair’s 13 days. While they aren’t exactly theme events, each of them occurs on a special day with honorees prominently represented among the marchers.

All parades with the exception of Labor Day kick off at 6 p.m.

The first parade rolls along on Friday, which is pride day. Some of the participants of festivities held earlier that day can be expected to be part of the procession.

Don’t panic if you hear a siren on Aug. 26, law enforcement day. Police officers and vehicles will catch the spotlight for the parade that day.

Fire and Rescue heroes get their recognition on Aug. 27. The sun will glisten off those brass buttons as they march in step.

Armed forces day, Aug. 29 will have military vehicles and marchers carrying flags throughout the parade route.

Union members will be chanting for the final parade, the traditional Labor Day event, on Sep. 2. The Labor Day march begins at the special time of 10:30 a.m.

The parade route is easy to locate as Broadway runs in the shadow of the Broadway SkyLiner. If you time it right, it may be fun to watch the procession as you soar over it on the Liner.

Looking Back

After the parade has passed, you can go just off Broadway to enjoy displays of vintage items from hardware and tools to fabric, cookware and furniture in the Agricultural Museum. While there, you can take in talks and demonstrations by exhibitors who have solid expertise on the artifacts on display and are there to answer questions and chat with visitors. It doesn’t change much from year-to-year, but you always seem to notice something different.

Right next door is the the Carriage Museum, home to fascinating antique vehicles including wagons, buggies, carriages and sleighs. For the past couple of Fairs we’ve missed Cowboy Doug’s authentic western chuck wagon exhibit.

The clanging of hammer on anvil shaping red-hot iron highlights a live blacksmithing demonstrations in the back of the building.

There’s often live entertainment on the front lawn, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.

When the gates swing open Wednesday for opening day of the 2024 New York State Fair, that exhilarating first tour of the grounds will find some vendors scrambling to be ready and patrons energized to enjoy old favorites while seeking out new features. This year is the first under the stewardship of new Director Julie LaFave.

One long-established food stand will be serving from a brand new building as the old Basilio Sausage stand (pictured) has been replaced in its traditional location on Restaurant Row. Meanwhile, Toss & Fire Pizza moves into its new location in front of the Dairy Building. It’s good to see the Fair show faith in popular vendors.

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. Most buildings will be open from 10 a.m. to  9 p.m. daily, except Labor Day, when they close at 8 p.m.

Unfortunately, you’ll need credit cards or prepaid credits at entrances. Same goes in parking lots, as EZ Pass scanners will be conspicuously missing, so expect slower processing as cars enter. 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. Traditionally, the first day of the Fair is also Governor’s Day, so she may attend.

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 return of Dinosaur Expedition will bring animated, lifelike dinosaurs back to terrorize Expo Center visitors every day starting at 10 a.m. They were a huge hit last year, so the return engagement is an obvious decision. Story times and fossil digs will add to the fun.

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 costume contest, scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.

4-H will welcome you for an intimate visit with a variety of horses in the compact stable near the Iroquois Village. Dog lovers can also take in the 4-H dog obedience competition in the Coliseum, opening day only.

There aren’t many new acts on the agenda this year, but most of the traditional favorite exhibits and events are back. Musicians, stunt performers, talented animals and wacky comedy provide a wide variety of free-of-charge shows sprinkled liberally throughout the day.

Sea Lion Splash is back in the Family Fun Zone. The chubby, whiskered mammals have drawn huge crowds the past two years. The show itself is pretty dull and it’s troubling to see wild animals compromised for entertainment. But the stars are adored by Fair audiences. They’ll take the stage three times every day.

2024 is the sophomore year of the Asian Village, which will run from Opening Day through the first weekend from 9 am to 10 pm., recognizing the contributions, history, and experiences of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. The Latino Village will take over the same spot–at the far western end of the grounds, near the Youth Building–for the last five days.

Several food stands along Broadway and Restaurant Row present bands and solo acts that are often terrific, 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 rock star Bandaloni, the Strolling Piano and Hilby who have become Fair regulars, something to which returning Groovy Guy may aspire.

New this year is an acrobatic act called the Nerveless Nocks Sway Pole Show. It takes flight daily at Noon, 3 and 5 p.m. in the Central Park area.

Family fishing day is back, hosted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The free fishing event runs from Noon to 4 p.m. Friday 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.

Opening day will close with fireworks exploding over the grounds at about 9 p.m.

The final day of the 2023 New York State Fair arrives Monday with the observance of Labor Day.

The traditional parade kicks off near the cow birthing center at the western end of the grounds at 10:30. Following the procession down Broadway, unions will rally down near Chevy Court.

It’s dollar day on the midway with all rides except the Broadway SkyLiner priced at a buck.

The Fair wraps on Monday with major buildings and the midway closing at 9 p.m.

In case you haven’t done everything, seen everything and eaten everything at this year’s Fair, here’s The Hound’s abbreviated State Fair can’t miss list:

The history and pageantry of the Iroquois village, a revered Fair tradition, tops the list.

If you haven’t gone into the Grange Building–next to the poultry barn–this year, don’t miss visiting the State Fair History exhibit. It should be an annual stop on the route for every Fair visitor, though it’s generally updated only a little from year to year. There’s plenty of history and much of it is on display. Still, it’s one of those features  where you may notice something different every year.

The stately Agriculture Museum is an architectural work of art full of fascinating artifacts and demonstrations of various old-time farming and homemaking skills. The Carriage Museum next door features a working blacksmith shop and a variety of wheeled vehicles that predate cars.

Among other highly-recommended favorites are Hawk Creek Wildlife Center’s winged wonders in the State Park area and the festive Pan African Village.

Some livestock has departed, but there’s still enough around to fascinate and charm visitors, while the final performances of the Circus Hollywood are great fun for all ages and lady Houdini makes her final thrilling escape on Labor Day.

Of course, many fans arrive focused on one or two last meals as fabulous Fair food never fails to make taste buds tingle.

If you haven’t seen the sand sculpture, where have you been? It’s in the Center of Progress. Meanwhile those ferocious dinosaurs are terrorizing the Expo Center to the delight of large crowds of kids.

Future additions

The Governor’s office and the Fair announced several major agricultural projects during the Fair last year, improvements expected to cost over $34 million. Some changes were evident this year, including the new Tully’s stand and infrastructure changes–not sure they were improvements–near the cow barn.

A 2,500 square foot, solar-powered goat pavilion, providing an open-air space for goat shows, is slated to replace temporary facilities. It’s among the changes that were scheduled to open next year, but now projected for 2025.

The one-and-a-half to two-acre greenhouse and Horticultural Education Center, projected to be a state-of-the-art glass structure facility, powered by solar panels and featuring a rainwater collection filtration system. The greenhouse will allow for the on-site growing of local New York products and will double as an educational center.

A 15,000 square foot sheep barn and wool center, which will replace tents as housing for the sheep. The adjoining Wool Center, staffed by volunteers who educate the public about wool products and their uses, will be located inside the sheep barn, bringing the two elements under one roof for the first time. This new building is scheduled to open in time for the 2024 Fair.

Also planned are three 9,000 square foot stables will be built to supplement the Fair’s existing, older stables. They will be utilized during off-season horse shows as well as the Fair for 2024 and beyond.

The marquee attractions of New York livestock–dairy cattle–return to the New York State Fair, taking up every inch of the 92,000-square-foot Exhibit Center. Farmers bring their cows in every summer for judging and competition, allowing visitors to stroll past these bovine superstars, maybe taking a photo or two or reaching out to pat their furry shoulders

Both youth and adult exhibitors come in from all over the Empire state to display thousands of animals including such breeds as Guernsey, Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey, Ayrshire and Shorthorn in barns on the grounds. The tradition goes back to the earliest fairs when farmers brought animals to market for sale. The animals were compared to each other, eventually leading to the more formalized judging done today.

The judging and competitions are open to the public, but most fair-goers simply enjoy strolling the hay-strewn floors at a leisurely pace. There’s also an opportunity to observe milking take place in the modern, glass-enclosed parlor.

The sprawling structure becomes a temporary home to farm owners and families while their animals are exhibited. Keeping an eye on their animals makes dairy farmers available to field questions from curious visitors. People walking through the barn often stop to ask questions about the cows that make such a profound contribution to their lives or the industry. Common questions include “Do You have to milk them daily?” and “Is this cow pregnant?”

Although exhibitors may enjoy their time at the Fair, farming is their livelihood and business comes first. There are more than trophies and ribbons at stake when judging takes place. A cow’s value will actually increase if she wins in her class.

The primping that farmers do on their cows may make it seem like a beauty pageant, but the prettiest bossy isn’t necessarily most likely to take a blue ribbon. The judges are looking for a cow that will produce a lot of milk over a long period of time. A panel of experts scrutinizes the animals for several qualities that make it the most perfect example of the species in the ring that day.

Baby calves are very popular, both in the main barn and in the calf birthing tent, down past the Expo Center. Watching the actual births is not for everybody, but the newborns are irresistibly cute, photogenic and often within petting range. That adorable factor makes a visit worth the effort.

Just across from the main cow barn is the Dairy Products Building, home to the Fair’s signature artwork, the butter sculpture. About 800 pounds of real New York butter is carved into statuary with each year featuring a different theme and design.

A few feet away, customers flock to the milk bar where chocolate, white and sometimes strawberry milk are sold in 25-cent cups. Ice cream and cheese vendors and the popular Belgian waffle stand are building mainstays.

Young Hearts

Stage shows, science projects, artworks, journalism, dog training, livestock raising and lots more are featured by the bright minds from across New York that are featured daily in the Youth Building.

While participation presents great opportunities for the 4-H kids, they love to involve visitors in petting their dogs, trying out their projects, creating artwork and, most famously, holding baby chicks.

It’s a thrilling and delightful opportunity for the youngsters and their enthusiasm is contagious. Be sure to pay a visit–you’ll leave impressed.