The perfect State Fair weather we’re enjoying today comes three weeks from opening day, Thursday, Aug. 27, so it’s time to go over your checklist to get ready for the best event of the year in upstate New York.

The 2015 visitors guide is out in print form at all of the retail outlets where tickets are sold. You can also access it on the Fair’s website, nysfair.org.

Look forward to concerts and special events you want to attend and make arrangements for time off from work, child care, friends to go with you and whatever else you may need.

Got your tickets yet? Waiting to the last minute isn’t a good idea. Once the Fair opens, you’ll have to pay full price, at least on some days.

But when deciding how many tickets to buy, remember there are many chances to get in free or at reduced prices. Patrons 60 years old or older get in free on two dates. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, past and present military members and Native Americans all have free admission days. Of course, kids under 13 are free every day.

Reduced gate prices on both Thursdays allow entry for just three bucks, and on Labor Day they’re replaying the $1 admission that led to a record attendance day last year.

As you think ahead, consider the Best Bets Bargain Book, a collection of over 100 coupons for discounts on food, fun and various vendor items. As the name would indicate, it’s a great bargain at $4 advance sale and $5 at the Fair.

And your kids would want us to put in a plug for advance sale ride bracelet vouchers. If you have daredevils in the family, it’s an exciting deal.
20 days to go!

You may have seen a news report that two people were killed and 22 more injured in a weather-related tent collapse at a Walker Brothers Circus performance in New Hampshire. That same circus makes its return to the New York State Fair this year.

Should you be worried about your family’s safety while attending our Fair. In a word, no.

When you look at our history, it’s very impressive how few serious injuries or safety problems have occurred over the years. While luck plays a role, it’s mostly sound planning, attention to detail and hard work by Fair administrators and personnel that have led to an exemplary safety record.

Of course two people lost their lives in a freak windstorm that caused cancellation of the Fair on Labor Day, 1998. As sad as it was for the families of the victims, it could have been worse. Obviously, you can’t really prepare for that type of weather event.

But you can inspect rides, design buildings and tents, monitor safe practices in food preparation and show performances and prepare rescue and medical personnel for whatever may come.

When you attend, follow reasonable guidelines and supervise children from arrival to departure. If you do your part, you can be certain that the Fair is doing its part.

State Fair Hound is always in favor of more focus on the original residents of what is now New York State, so we look forward to Six Nations Day, Friday, Sep. 4.

Traditional dancers, long a fan favorite on the Iroquois Village stage, will perform in authentic Haudenosaunee garb at Chevy Court at 1 p.m. A performance by ethnically-appropriate Syracuse band the Ripcords will follow at 2 p.m.

Visitors to the Village will find newly-paved walkways where gravel paths had long been in place, a response to requests for more accessibility for people in wheelchairs and parents pushing strollers.

The deck on the cookhouse has also been improved, expanding space for dining and relaxing outdoors in the Fair’s most peaceful locale. Don’t miss the replica longhouse, agricultural exhibits, Six Nations artwork and those one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted items for sale by the native vendors.

One area we always visit but would like to see improved is the Department of Environmental Conservation’s nature trail. It’s located right behind the DEC’s cabin. It features a series of exhibits on New York’s state bird, state flower, state insect and so on.

The trail hasn’t changed in years and is generally less than inspiring. There are no bluebirds, for instance, at the stop on state bird, and no ladybugs at the insect stop. You can see the brook trout, the state fish, but you have to go over to the DEC aquarium at the colonnade.

There is a replica lean-to that’s nicely built and generally staffed, so the display, shown here in photos shot last year by Hound Photo Editor Nick LoPresti, isn’t a complete disappointment. But we think the DEC could do better and would like to see them do an update here.

This year represents a real changing of the guard in acts playing Chevy Court. There’s been gradual trend, but this line-up shows significant movement toward a younger demographic. On the other hand, there sure doesn’t seem like much to attract the over-40 crowd.

Let’s see, there’s perpetual teenager Bowser and the over-the-hill Oak Ridge Boys on senior days. Then count Steve Miller, Melissa Etheridge, and Rick Springfield. OK, add the Jacksons and Orleans. That’s seven acts.

Snoop Dog? He’s no kid, but you have to expect the hip hop audience that will seek out him and Salt-N-Pepper to be predominantly youngish. The real change is represented by newer or less-familiar acts like Nate Ruess, Dan + Shay, Cole Swindell, R5, Fifth Harmony and the Swon Brothers. Bigger names Meghan Trainor and Nick Jonas are likely to draw big crowds that will, no doubt, include mixed ages, but baby boomers are not storming those stages.

When you come down to it, Chevy Court is a young person’s venue. For popular shows, most viewers will be standing, often in crowded conditions, in unpredictable weather. So going new age may be a good call, as long as the quality of performances doesn’t diminish.

The real proof will be in the size of the crowds in front of the Stan Colella Stage, so watch attendance numbers. Should be interesting.

If you love classic rock, there’s no need to search out a stage show as wandering minstrel Bandaloni will once again bring his one-man band to you at the New York State Fair. He augments his karaoke tracks with a harmonica and guitar, drawing a happy crowd wherever he sets up, stomping out the beat of his familiar tunes with a back-pack drum kit.

He’s one of several favorite acts coming back to entertain in various spots around the grounds, adding to the wealth of free entertainment. Also returning are the living statues and the fabulous juggler/comedian/stuntman Hilby.

New for 2015 is Rexie, a costumed dinosaur who measures 8 feet in height and 12 feet in length. Don’t worry, he’s tame and friendly, ready to greet kids, shake hands and pose for photos.

Rexie adds to the cast of cuddly characters roaming the grounds as Fair good will ambassadors. So keep your camera ready as you never know when you might get a great close-up encounter.

It’s time to start practicing your free throw shooting, water gun marksmanship, balloon bursting skill and baseball throwing if you aim to win on the Wades Shows midway. These pics from 2014 remind us that there are plenty of chances to go for a stuffed animal or trendy little knick knack by playing the game of your choice.

The games and prizes change from year to year and we saw a lot of new personnel running the joints during Wade’s initiation last year, but the spirit remains.

One challenge we always take a run at is I Got It, a combination of tic-tac-toe and skee ball. It’s cheap to play, lasts a couple of minutes, so you get more entertainment for your money and someone gets a prize in every game. Never mind that the cheezy bric-a-brac you can claim is barely worth carrying home, it’s real Americana. And it’s a truly classic element of the New York State Fair.

State Fair Hound is planning to visit the new Equine Avenue early and often when the gates open. Last year we expressed disappointment that the horse barn was often closed for show preparations (Horse Sense, Aug. 31, 2014), leaving devoted equine enthusiasts frustrated in their desire to get close to some steeds. We even suggested that there be an exhibit where horses would be consistently available for visits from fairgoers. Maybe this development is just a coincidence, but we have it on good authority that Fair Acting Director Troy Waffner and Public Information Officer Dave Bullard are devoted readers of State Fair Hound. Hmmm.

Equine Avenue, new this year, will provide opportunities to stroll through a tent to see and learn about horses. Even better, horse pros will give talks and demonstrations on grooming, shoeing, veterinary treatment and other related topics. This will be a big year for horse lovers.

This year the Fair has designated so many special days that they’ve had to double and triple up on most of the 12 days of operation. Most are old favorites we’ve seen before, but among the new specials are Pride Day, Friday Aug. 28, which is also designated New Americans Day.

We’re told that the gay community has long organized an informal gathering of brothers and sisters to attend the Fair as a group. As our nation grows in acceptance of alternative lifestyles, the Fair has embraced this practice and formalized it with a ceremony, parade and flag-raising. Not coincidentally, singer Melissa Etheridge, who has come out as a lesbian and speaks out for LGBT rights, will perform the evening concert on the Stan Colella Stage.

That same day, 100 people from many other nations will be sworn as American citizens in the Empire Room. Doing it at our Fair also makes them new New Yorkers, don’t you think?

A rejuvenated Armed Forces Day, Thursday, Sep. 3, will honor military veterans and current service men and women with free admission and special events.
With senior days, Fire and Rescue Day, Women’s Day and, of course, Labor Day, among the other designated events, it seems that all of us are recognized in some way on at least one day. A visit to the New York State Fair is a terrific way to celebrate with your group.

A new vendor in the International Pavilion will stretch the menu of the Fair, adding more choices for diners who don’t eat meat or want a healthy break. Popular local restaurant Strong Hearts Café will cook up creative and tasty vegetarian and vegan fare as well as their popular non-dairy “milkshakes.”