New York State Fairgrounds

Henry Lanouette

8 months ago

Our First New York State Fair – And Definitely Not Our Last! We’ve lived so close to the Eastern States Exposition that we never thought about making the trip to the New York State Fair. But this year we decided to give it a try—and wow, are we glad we did! From opening day to today, the experience has been nothing short of incredible. Highlights? Too many to count: • A calf being born right in front of us, with a farmer explaining how the calves and moms are cared for—such a special, educational moment. • Racing pigs that had the whole crowd laughing and cheering. • A fascinating performance by mentalist Jon Stetson, who had us all scratching our heads in wonder. • Inside the Empire Theatre, we listened to an amazing organist playing a theater organ—complete with sound effects like sirens, bells, and whistles. Nearby, I even got to pump a player piano by foot to make the music come alive! • The Canine Stars show stole our hearts—rescue dogs performing unbelievable tricks and stunts. Truly inspiring. And then, of course, the food! We indulged in cream puffs, frozen cheesecake, pizza-in-a-cone, and corn dogs (both classic and Korean-style, topped with crunchy Fuego cheese puffs). Delicious doesn’t even begin to describe it. On top of it all, my wife scored an amazing deal on a brand-new phone thanks to some helpful folks at the Verizon booth—another unexpected perk of the fair. Tips for First-Timers: • Take the free shuttle around the grounds early in your visit—it’s a great way to get the lay of the land. • Bring water bottles (but leave the cooler at home). • Be ready for all kinds of weather—pack a hat for the sun and a light windbreaker in case of drizzle. There’s so much to see and do, you simply can’t cover it all in one visit—but that just means we’ll have to go back. This was our first New York State Fair, but definitely not our last! 🎡🐖🎶🐶

Erin Tierney

7 months ago

Convenient parking in the orange lot. Shuttles to the fairgrounds main entrance every 10 minutes or less. Security seemed pretty safe. Cool displays to see: sand art, butter sculpture, fish, and animals, among others. Really enjoyed the live butterfly 🦋 exhibit in the horticulture building. Lots of yummy fair food. My son loved the ice age exhibit. Shuttles also within fairgrounds if your feet get tired or want to get from one side of the fair to the other.

Travelling Druid & Cats

Edited 7 months ago

Pricey but cool 😎 Its all about the company. Also see Red Hot Chilli PIPERS whenever/wherever! A special time. They rocked, I actually danced, with a great partner ♡ …

Brenda Lutz

8 months ago

What more can I say that I haven't already said? Crowded, yes, but there are areas for chilling as well. Even areas for kiddos to unwind, sensory stations all over the park. Very family friendly, even affordable food areas that don't break the bank.

Jennifer McDonell

8 months ago

We walked so much and saw so much! It was a lot of fun for myself and my husband. We love seeing all of the animals, especially rabbits and ducks. There is a huge variety of food - something for everyone!

Ingrid Hill

8 months ago

The state fair seems to be declining in size despite new builds in the past several years. It is still a fun summer outing for families and friends. Be sure to bring your little ones through the 4-H Youth Building for some fun hands on activities during the afternoon. Dougs Fish Fry is a favorite eatery!

PagesAndPlacesWithDestiny

8 months ago

Always a fun time at fair. I recommend going on a weekday. Parking can be atrocious on a busier day. However, once you're in the fair there is so much to see and something for everyone. Live music, animals, rides, food you won't find anywhere else and so so much more.

Rach Nas

7 months ago

Such a fun place to visit!! We love going to the fair every year and checking out all the new food, seeing the animals, and listening to the music. I love how they support the local vendors. This year we especially enjoyed the 1911 slushees and fried Oreos. We also got to see a cow give birth! What an incredible experience.

Hannah Bettis

8 months ago

Well maintained, bathrooms clean, huge selection of goods, foods, demonstrations. Tons of educational materials on arts, science, animals, products, local events and services available. Animals all treated well, kept clean and safe. The fair grounds gave us plenty of warning as well to safely seek shelter during a severe thunder storm that went through. Staff was super friendly and security/State Troopers made great rounds and monitored everyone very well.

Jill Platts

3 months ago

The NYS fair is excellent. Very worth the price, with lots of activities and food options. Just fun in general. Highly recommend!