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.
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