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.

GATE DRIVE BYThere 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. RED TRUCK“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.