The Great New York State Fair: Everything You Need to Know

Iconic I Love NY sign (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski)

It is officially that time of year; summer is coming to an end, and with fall just around the corner, that can only mean one thing in Central New York: it is time for the Great New York State Fair! Whether you are a seasoned fairgoer or if this is your first time, we have put together a guide that covers everything you need to know.

General Information

The annual sand sculpture is shown in the Micron Center of Progress Building. (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski)

The New York State Fair runs from Wednesday, Aug. 21, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2. It is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day except for Labor Day, when it closes at 9 p.m.

Building Hours
Buildings will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with two exceptions: the Daniel Parrish Witter Agriculture Museum will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and the Wegmans Art and Home Center will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Otto enjoying the fun at the Great New York State Fair. (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski)

Midway Hours
The Midway will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, except on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 2, when it closes at 9 p.m.

Tickets and Parking

A Scottish Highlander in the Beef Barn (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski)

Admission to the fair is $8.32*, and free for those who are 65 years old and older or children 12 years old and younger. A frequent fairgoer pass is available for $25.70*; this option allows the ticket holder to enter once a day, every day during the fair. This ticket is nontransferable.

There are three ways to purchase tickets:

• Online: Via Etix
• Over the phone: By calling Etix toll-free at 1.800.514.3849 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday
• At the gate: Kiosks positioned at all gates will be used for electronic ticket purchases. Large signs featuring QR codes will direct fairgoers to Etix to purchase tickets.

Note: Ticketing is completely cashless. Machines that can convert cash into a usable card will be positioned at the fair’s main gate. Self-service kiosks will be available at all gates to purchase admission tickets.

Jordan Smith, of the Mohawk Nation, dances in the Indian Village. (Photo by Michael J. Okoniewski)

Lainey Wilson performed for free during the 2023 fair. (Photo by Warren Linhart)

There is special admission on certain days, including the following:

• Student Youth Day (Thursday, Aug. 22): Youth and students ages 18 years old and younger will receive free admission. In some cases, they may be asked for photo identification to verify their birthday.
• Law Enforcement Day (Monday, Aug. 26): Active and retired members of police and/or corrections departments will receive free admission with a badge or picture ID from the department from which they are or were employed.
• Fire and Rescue Day (Tuesday, Aug. 27): Active and retired members of fire, emergency services and EMS agencies will receive free admission with photo identification from that department or organization.
• Armed Forces Day (Thursday, Aug. 29): All members of the military—active duty and veteran—will receive free admission with proper military identification (Military ID card, form DD-214 or New York State driver license, learner permit or non-driver ID card with a veteran designation).
• Native Americans Day (Friday, Aug. 30): All people who identify as Native American will receive free admission.

The Gotti: Chicken cutlet topped with homemade riggies and parmesan cheese on a fresh sub roll (Photo courtesy of the Fair Deli’s Facebook page)

Parking tickets may be purchased for $12.41* in several ways, including the following:

• Online: Via Etix
• Over the phone: By calling Etix toll-free at 1.800.514.3849 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday
• At the lot: Drivers can pay for parking by credit card in each lot. However it is encouraged to purchase parking tickets in advance for easier entry into the parking lots. Fairgoers with advance-sale parking vouchers should have them ready to present for scanning by attendants prior to entering the lot, this will help to save time and get you to your parking spot quickly.

Chocolate and strawberry milk is available in the Dairy Building. (Photo by John Haeger)

Note: EZPass Plus is no longer an option for parking.

For directions and a parking map, visit this New York State Fairgrounds webpage.

*These prices include fees.

Transportation

There are three Centro bus park-and-ride locations, with the downtown Centro hub and Destiny USA being the closest to campus. Those buses will run directly to the fair from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The fee to ride the shuttle one way is $1 for adults and $.50 for senior citizens, children 6 to 9 years old and those living with disabilities. Children under 6 are free.

Visit the University’s campus shuttle webpage for information on Centro buses that stop at the Centro hub and Destiny USA.

Orange After Dark is offering free shuttles for students between campus and the fair from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 30, and Saturday, Aug. 31.

Food

Don’t forget to stop by the Midway for a ride on the Ferris wheel. (Photo by Stephen Sartori)

One of the staples of the fair is all the tasty treats for visitors to enjoy. Fairgoers will have nearly 120 different food and drink vendors to choose from this year, which is up slightly from last year. There are plenty of delicious staples to try, including Basilio Italian Sausage, Beak & Skiff Apple Farms Inc., Bold Coast Lobster Co., Bosco’s at The Fair, Fair Deli, Ma & Pa’s Kettle Corn and Lemonade, Toss & Fire Wood-Fired Pizza, Tully’s and many more. A full list of food and exhibitors is available on the fair website.

Live Entertainment and Attractions

Included with your admission to the fair is access to many different forms of live entertainment. Whether it is live music, street performances, a circus, pig races, sea lion show or daily parades, there is something for everyone. You can easily plan your trip in advance with the full listing of attractions and exhibitions on the fair website.

Finally, don’t forget to check out the midway, which is full of various rides and games for visitors of all ages to enjoy. For details about ride tickets, visit the New York State Fair website.