I love living so close to the fair. I like to go every year. I don't really do the rides anymore but did as a kid. The Indian village is awesome and has some great mac and cheese. I love that they started including a Latino and Asian village. I personally love the chevy court concerts and they do often include Latino artists. So nice catching a free concert. It is fun seeing what special fair items Fair Deli and Toss n Fire come up with as they are newer fair staples. I have gone with my nephew and he enjoyed the exhibits in the expo center. read more

Deep fried ribs! Lawrence & Perry Barbeque @ NY State Fair. Cooked to order, tender, and meaty. Down home season/flavor and not greasy. Finger lickin' thicc bbq sauce. Deep Fried Ribs - (BBQ, Lemon Pepper, Sweet Chili, Jamaican Jerk, Carolina Mustard) www.lpquenc.com read more

New York State Fair - Deep Fried- Lemon Pepper & Carolina BBQ Ribs. - Festivals Near Me - Syracuse, New York

And that's a wrap for 2025 NYState Fair! Wound up this year with $1 Hot Dogs and $6 Gianelli sausage with peppers and onions regular price $10 at West End! Great prices! Definitely will be visiting them next year, they have a tent across from the food for beer, wine slushies, and cocktails. Live music was all around this trip, while enjoying NY brewed IPA's! Ellicott Blueberry was my fav! Steak Sunday from Shake it up and The Thing to go on my way out from it's a Utica Thing! read more

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All these years later and still an amazing time, amazing food choices and ANIMALS!!! PIGGYS AND COWS and so many things to do and see and buy and eat!!!! GO!!! YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!! Make the trip to Syracuse!!! read more

It's been a while since I've been to a state fair and I'd forgotten how there is a little of everything for everyone at these events. Exhibits, games, rides and tons of fried food are a given, sometimes there is a weird spin on the food but all in all, definitely intriguing. There are always a plethora of fried food at fairs, this was no different, fried oreos always get me started. I was told to get some alligator bites which may not have been the best choice, they were a little chewy. I did like the diversity in the options with Kdogs and lobster rolls making an appearance. The lobster roll for one was amazing which I never thought I'd say at a state fair. The strange BBQ meat sundaes posters definitely had me chuckling. Twenty five cent cups of milk from the tap, white or chocolate, was awesome. $2 mini ice cream cones were as well. Definitely a plus for the variety and quality of options in the food department. I skipped over many of the animal exhibits as I visited early and many were not yet open to the public. The state police lineup of cars was pretty cool, that 5.7 liter Camaro probably caught many speeders back in the day. I learned about maple syrup production in another exhibit. There was even a sea lion exhibit as well. The best exhibit at this fair had to be the dinosaur exhibit which even as an adult was awesome. Each of these dinosaurs was touchable and had movement, I had a couple of videos uploaded which showed how close you could get. There were so many and for the price of admission, definitely worth it. I'm sure the state fair can get crowded and I thankfully missed all of that by going on a weekday morning. Definitely reminded me of good times at other state fairs I've been to in the past and the NYS fair was definitely one of the best I've been to.. read more

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My second visit to the NYS Fair. FYI- This fair started in 1841! That's 184 years! There are plenty of things to see and something for everyone. I would say it takes me 2.5 days to visit the whole fair. This year it was $8 admission. Parking was $12; we purchase the parking online and that will speed up the process at the parking area. Pick the lot you plan to head for, some are longer walk and a long wait exiting duty to the traffic. The fair ground is huge so be prepare the walk a lot. Good shoes and hat will help. Get the map and plan you route with the events and entrainment happening around the fair. Impossible to see everything in one day. Must visit - NYS Lottery booth for a chance to win up to $50 $1 baked potato 25¢ cup of milk; regular, chocolate, strawberry (weekend only) Free tram that circle the ground (must do for first time visitors) Concerts; day and night Do book your hotel early for the best stay or you will have a difficult time because the August college visitors will be competing with you! read more

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They don't call it the 'Great' New York State Fair for nothing! The Fair has been around since 1841 and takes place on the New York State Fairgrounds in the village of Solvay, right outside Syracuse. The site is well-served by highways, city buses, and an Amtrak station. It is one of the largest fairs in the US, attracting about one million visitors each year. Ticket prices have remained affordable over the years, with admission at $8 as of 2024. Attending the State Fair is an end-of-summer tradition, and I always have a great time. There are so many rides, exhibitions, attractions, and food and drink options that one day doesn't feel like enough to do it all (good thing the Fair runs for 13 days!). The New York State Fair does a great job of representing the diversity of the state, with both local specialties as well as cuisines from around the world, along with many cultural performances. The Indian Village of the Six Nations represents the Native people of Central New York. The food hall in the Indian Village serves traditional indigenous food and as an added bonus offers the best deal on a bottle of water at the Fair. Not surprisingly, for such a massive and long-running event, the logistics at the Fair are top-notch. The traffic and parking attendants do a great job of directing cars and preventing traffic jams. There are several entry gates, and I have never had to wait at security or at the entrance. Even on high turnout days, the Fair does not feel overwhelmingly crowded, and lines for rides remain reasonable. While the end of summer is always bittersweet, the New York State Fair turns it into a celebration worth cherishing each year. read more

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My friend and I decided to make a spontaneous trip (planned chaotically the day before) to the New York State Fair on Labor Day, heading to Syracuse last minute - and boy, did we hit the traffic! Not surprising since it was the last day, but once we got there, it was totally worth it. For just around $8 admission, we were in, and for $37, we got ourselves the unlimited rides pass (note for newbies: don't get the unlimited pass! - get credits since rides are $1 on Labor Day, which we didn't know). The rides were so much fun, though I quickly realized that heights are NOT my thing. I get dizzy easily, but that just added to the adrenaline. You can't miss the iconic 25c milk. We tried both the chocolate and strawberry flavors, and I have to say, the strawberry milk was a total winner in my book - so refreshing! They also had a free phone charging station, which was such a thoughtful touch when you're out all day and your battery's on the brink of death. Like any fair, food was overpriced, but there were definitely some reasonable options if you looked around. We got to see some adorable animals - snakes, rabbits, and rodents, which were all equally cute. And when we needed a break, we chilled by the fountain, which was a perfect spot to relax. We caught some performances while sitting on the grass - it was so cool and laid-back, the perfect way to wind down from all the excitement. I'm honestly so sad I didn't know about this fair earlier in my college years, but I'll definitely be back for more in the future! read more

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Another great time at the NYS Fair. This time I went for the International Food Festival. Such a nice time. All different types of food to explore. I enjoyed the Jamaican jerk wings and the empanadas. Took home some baklava and spanakopita as well. On my way out I stopped by a spice stand and bought some ninja dust peanuts and almonds so good. All around great time. read more

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If you are an anxious person, do not go here. Also, Kathy, can we talk about how you don't allow cash ticket sales at the gate? Really? You don't take US currency at the state fair? Get real read more

What a time at the ny state fair! There is always great food here with lots of options of different items to choose from. Rides are safe. Staff is always so friendly and all the stands. The butterfly exhibit was BY FAR MY FAVORITE!!!! I could stay in there forever. See you next year NY state fair! read more

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Amusement park? Check Food Festival? Check Farm? Check Museum? Check Circus? Check Shows? Check Exhibits? Check Friends invited us out to the state fair and I'll say, I was BLOWN AWAY!!!!! I did not expect the state fair to be this amazing, we wanted to go again the next day. Admission and parking is reasonable, and food is not bad! Tried the following food, and most things were delish!! - brisket plate for $20 - blooming onion (so good omg) - gyro (near the horse competition area, this was not great too oily and lacked flavor) - lemonade - BAKED POTATO!!!!! in the horticulture building There is so much to see and do, I can see why my friends come multiple days every year haha. Kiddos really enjoyed it too, definitely a hit for the whole family read more

Wow ! Can't believe it has taken me 40 years to get to our state fair . I know State fairs tend to be larger/better than the county fairs I grew up with, but I'll list the 10 reasons why I was impressed with this one . 1. $6 admission now 2. $5 parking 3. Convenient to take an Amtrak train that drops you off right at the gate . 4. Free tram ride around the grounds 5. Many food and drink options are $3 or less (check out the potato booth for $1 potato with 50 cent toppings) 6. 25 cent samples of chocolate milk 7. Butter sculptures 8. Skyline ride 9. (Free) Charging station for phones 10. You can walk around the entire fair with alcohol (no designated areas) . Some beers are only $4! I plan on making this a yearly tradition read more

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More shade and tents for hot days Signs for directions List of events with their times and locations More fans or a/c read more

You really can't go wrong with the fair! $3 to park and $6/pp to enter. You can pay to park with ezpass. There's a shuttle bus if you park far and don't wanna walk that will bring you to the fairgrounds . Something for everyone! So many food choices, including healthy ones! Wine slushees everywhere. So many different kinds to chose from. Fried everything! Oreos, candy bars, bacon, etc. Prices for food was very reasonable. You'll definitely get your steps in walking around. You could spend a majority of your day here. The fair is always a good time! read more

The Great New York State Fair truly lives up to its name. Naturally held at the New York State Fairgrounds, this state fair is one of a kind and remarkable in both size and venue. I have been to plenty of "state" fairs across the nation, but none of which can level with the Great New York State Fair up to this point. Indeed, the fair serves as an iconic cultural event unique to the state of New York. This review begins with the location. Hosted by the city of Syracuse, the agricultural characteristics of the fair collide gracefully with the industrial footprint of the city presenting a beautiful collage of our nation's foundations. You can see the paths of these two drastically different livelihoods merge together in a symphony carefully orchestrated by the modern composer that is the New York State Fairground. The red-bricked mills and plants along the railway, stables and livestock pens surrounded by patches of green grass, and the modern architecture of the exposition centers clash perfectly together in this melting pot. Indeed, the fairground itself is a sight to behold especially when looking down upon it from the hills across the interstate. This aspect alone make visiting the fair worth it. All roads getting you to the venue derives from Interstate 81. Depending on whether you're coming from the northbound or southbound direction, you will be filtered into different lots scattered around the fairgrounds. The New York State Police manage the flow of traffic, while the access and parking into the actual lots are managed by the lot attendants. There is a $10 parking fee, which can be paid either with cash, credit card, or using the EZ pass in the respective lanes. Parking in the Orange B lot, it is a bit of a hike to the actual fairgrounds (requires you cross two pedestrian bridges). However, there are bus shuttles that will take patrons to the drop off point in front of the fairgrounds entry point. This will be an important consideration especially if you are travelling with kids, or with someone that requires wheelchair assistance. Paid admission to the park can be obtained either through pre-purchased tickets online, on-site kiosks, or an available QR code that is posted at parking lots and in vicinity of the fairgrounds. The fee is relatively inexpensive and nominal, which is another reason to visit this fair. The entrance is rather grand as you approach and enter through the fairground archways. Immediately, the immensity of the fair becomes apparent as the entrance opens up to a wide walkway straddled by the beautiful architecture of the fairground buildings on either side. There is no other fair that I have been to so far that compares in size and scope. Each of these buildings host a range of vendors, displays, exhibits, and sponsors. Indeed, it will be really difficult to explore the entirety of what is offered at the fair in just one day with the vast layout and amount of space the fair covers. There is a good variety of dining options available. In addition to the typical fair food (anything fried), you will find over a dozen unique ethnic cuisines (Italian, Chinese, Greek, Halal, Brazilian, African, Carribean, and many others). There is also a steakhouse at the fairground, along with other more permanent food vendors that will give you a culinary journey around the world. There are also plenty of alcohol that is served throughout the fairgrounds, serving local breweries, distilleries, and cideries as well. There are countless number of activities at the fair: carnival rides and games (these games also reward good quality prizes), circus, petting zoos, animal rides, static displays, merchandise vendors, museums, local agricultural exhibits, and countless others. Again, it will be hard to go through all of this in just one day. Overall, the Great New York State Fair is remarkable and a must! read more

Specifically rating for Porkys food stand. $15 for a skimpy potion of beef brisket on a cheap bun. This was the biggest ripoff of the day. I don't know how there could be no standards for food at the fair. I understand that some options are expensive because of the venue but this wasn't worth 1/3 of the cost. Avoid Porkys or toss your $15 in the trash. Disgusting rip off read more

To enter you do you need a credit card because they don't take cash three dollars per person five dollars to park but let me tell you it's worth it so many rides and so many different foods to choose from there's something for everybody you can walk around with your liquor if you'd like I have a soft drink Isis ice creams exotic foods like keto shark tons of animals to look at if you want to buy a bunny you can go on rides play the games win a prize if there's something for everybody there's even a milk bar a first for me. So make it a point to come down to the fair I only comes once a year and it's one of the best fairs in all of the Country. read more

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We always have a blast at the New York State fair. It's hard to say what I love better, is it the midway with all the fun games or the delicious food options or just seeing all those neat animals. This year we got to watch the llama limbo which was a blast. I always have to get the maple ice cream and the biggest corn dog I can find. Lots of fun things for kids to do so make sure you check it out. read more

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I love the fair. I love going to the free concerts. I have seen so many great performances! Lainey Wilson, Niko Moon, Chicago, Neon Tree, Blue's Traveler, Karmin, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, and more. The .25 cent chocolate milk is always delicious. There have been so many fun shows, like diving shows, animals, etc., to watch in the past. We enjoy seeing all of the animals, eating lots of tasty food, etc. This would be 5 star review for the FAIR. But I had a nightmare experience with their parking yesterday. There's this new Willis parking area?! 0/10 would NOT recommend. For some reason they decided to close the orange lot and direct us to the Willis parking lot. I asked one of the officers directing traffic and he said the orange lot was not full and he didn't know why they were redirecting. This was HORRIBLE. I was in traffic for an HOUR just to this parking lot. As I was waiting in traffic to get to that parking lot, I saw them open the orange lot again! Meanwhile, after waiting in traffic for an hour off the exit, we got to this dusty, bumpy, poorly organized parking lot. The line for the bus was disorganized and people were cutting in line left and right. There appeared to be no one working for the fair there to organize the situation. Then we stood there for 25 minutes without seeing a single bus! (You also cannot walk from this parking lot, there are signs everywhere to tell you that.) It was 1 1/2 hours from off the exit til I got off the bus and into the fair. And I had to pay $10.37 for this?? Not a fan. Will NEVER park in that lot again. (Also, the signs at the front of the parking lot say that it is only to be used on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Labor Day. So why was it being used on a Thursday??) read more

Great food, nice attractions, and plenty of amusement rides and games . Fairgrounds are super spacious with plenty of parking. read more

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Best fair ever....wait. I did not post pics... Okay,lol I have used Babes phone. I'll catch up, but this fair was amazing. I still have a milk token. read more

New York State Fair - Now every day can be NATURDAY! - Festivals Near Me - Syracuse, New York

We have attended many times as a family over the years. most recently my cousin and I saw Lainey Wilson (free with admission) we got there early and were seated in the main part of the venue which was great. My 4 year old tends to be done after 2-3 hours so the main highlights are the butter sculpture, fair food, seeing the animals (FFA/4-H), and the air tram. if you like Maple you can find soft serve and cotton candy in one of the buildings. We moved from Oregon and this fair is about two times as big. This year there was a dinosaur exhibit that the kids enjoyed. A yearly tradition for us! Buy parking and admission in advance for a smooth entry. read more

If I could give this experience 0 stars I would. Upon the oceans of mass amounts of people, there are no clear signs of activities/different areas with different amenities. You walk around for hours not knowing where you're going, you can't even see the path in front of you due to the mass amounts of people, in the boiling heat. I have never seen so many people at once. I'm not even someone who gets bothered by crowds, this was absolutely unbearable. Finally found the chocolate strawberries I've been dying to try, and while waiting on line, a Hispanic woman working the booth (it was called fresh mex) next to the strawberries place picked a fight with me (a customer at the fair in line to buy food) saying I gave her a dirty look. Then when I finally got up to chocolate taps, I was so excited and hoping all the horror was maybe worth this moment. They handed me a cup full of strawberries with a drop of chocolate unlike the ones they were handing customers next to me and the comparable viral video ones. Then they acted like I was glutinous for asking for more when I paid $18 for it, and wanted what I paid for. I will never go back here. Stick to small town fairs. read more

Safe fun and educational for the family!! I've been going to the fair since I was a little girl, over 60 years. Loads of food and great live music!! read more

Second time visitor, first time reviewer. I always love a state fair that writes articles about new food experiences, and this year they did us all a favor and dropped admission price to $5 parking + $3 entry. Welcome back present! Other than food, my favorite parts of the fair are the extensive animal barns and the NY State government exhibits - picked up a water bottle and tote bag this time around. So, on to the part that you're all waiting for, the food. You see the photos, but what of each dish and vendor? In star order: * 0 stars: Babcia's Pierogi, Poutine Gourmet - Both closed when I got to the food hall. The only two places that were closed, both next to each other, and I was going to get special poutine at both of them. I would have spent all my money there. Instead they get nothing and I get nothing. Sad. * 3 stars: Fried Specialties. The first thing I got in the fair was the Heart Failure, "a Hofmann hot dog wrapped in bacon deep-fried until it's crispy, served between a Twinkie topped with peanut butter sauce, cheddar cheese, and bacon bits." It sounds like 5 stars, but it ended up tasting like a hot dog - albeit a bacon wrapped one - in peanut butter sauce. Didn't notice the Twinkie, didn't notice the cheese at all, and the bacon wrapping the hot dog wasn't really crispy. Gotta remember to skip the trucks that can't spell chocoloate. * 3.5 stars: Nancy's Fried Dough. The second place I visited was a small step up. I got the deep-fried cheesecake chimichanga, which was just a rolled version of a deep-friend cheesecake. You get two to split with a friend, and you can get it topped with ice cream for $3 more. Given that the sauces they offer on top are all Smuckers or Hersheys, I assume the ice cream is generic corporate brand also. It was at least cheaper than other trucks, but the food, while tasty, was generic. * 4 stars: Porky's Pork Palace. I got the BBQ Sundae because it was a bit smaller than the BBQ Split, half as much money and I wanted to fit other venues in my stomach. It's good NY style BBQ, but that means it's not southern style, but not like I expect otherwise in NY... I recommend against the sundae format because it forces you to eat each item in the layer they put it in. I had to wade through several bites of cole slaw to get to the meat, and I ended up with a bunch of cornbread (powder) at the bottom. Splurge on the split and _split_ it with a friend. * 4.5 stars: Toss N Fire. An actual food truck at the event instead of a pop-up stand, this place offers a bunch of strange personal-size pizzas. The poutine pizza, because what else would I get, was a cheese pie with no tomato sauce, and then it's finished at the very end with fries, cheese curds, and gravy so that the curds stay whole. I love the concept, but the curds weren't that fresh (no squeak) and the gravy was fairly runny so it just soaked into the fries. It was a salty, delicious mess and I couldn't even finish it because it was my last meal of the day, but I wanted to so badly. I don't think I'll ever eat poutine pizza again, but I crossed one off my bucket list today. * 5 stars: It's a Utica Thing. Flawless execution on the EVERYthing! Sandwich. The bread is Utica tomato pie, the "meat" is Utica chicken riggies (though I caught a piece of yummy sausage falling out of my sandwich), and the "sauce" is Utica greens. The restaurant and the sandwich both live up to their name, and whoa was this an amazing item. The tomato pie is delicious, and this is coming from an NYC area pizza snob. The riggies are outstanding. These are the best Utica greens I've ever tasted by a wide margin. It came together flawlessly and while the sandwich was a bit messy, it was huge and I wouldn't let anyone else touch it for a sample. As soon as I had my third item of the day, I declared that I had found the benchmark to compare all other foods to, which is why you'll be impressed with: * 5.5 stars: Oh My Darling. Oh My Goodness. First of all, they have two tents, and one of them is for alcohol. So necessary at the state fair. At the food tent, get the chicken & waffles. I said it "looks special" and added this to my "must eat" list despite it being a basic dish. Well, Let Me Tell You Something. I asked the young cashier if I could add pimento cheese on top. She seemed confused, asked the manager what to do, and rang up a couple dollar charge for it. They handed over the chicken & waffles with an absolute slathering of pimento cheese all over the plate. I want to break this down because I keep running over it in my head. 1) Waffle base. Just one, I wish there were two waffles because it was crisp outside, tender throughout, very tasty, and a nice complement to the 2) fried chicken. There were two entire pieces! It was HUGE. And covered in 3) hot honey sauce. Actual heat detected. Love. And then 4) giant amounts of delectable pimento CHEESE. Must. Eat. Every. Day. Forever. And that's a wrap! Bring the kids, there's stuff for all ages here. read more

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Love this place! It's one of the best places to go at the end of the summer in CNY. They have great rides, food, shows, concerts, etc. You will always be entertained by coming here. You can walk through the midway. Sit (/dance) through a concert. Watch infomercials. See local dancers. And so much more! I'll definitely keep coming back here! read more

As a WNYer, growing up my only experience with fairs were the small local county fairs, the largest being the Erie County Fair. Going to college in Syracuse, I went to the NYS Fair for the first time, but hadn't been back in 10 years, until this summer when I decided to take my husband for the first time. Pros: -the Dairy Building is my favorite part, 25 cent cups of ice cold milk! I was sure the price had gone up in 10 years, but was pleasantly surprised to find out Tully's sponsors it to keep it at 25 cents a cup. Always an impressive butter sculpture and tons of ice cream, milk and cookies and other dairy dishes. -Cost. We came on a Sunday, and it was $1 admission! I tend to compare fairs to the Erie County one, and while they have special admission days too, it is always a week day, or before like 10 or 11 AM. Sunday $1 admission all day? That is awesome. I didn't look into how often they have reduced prices, but 2 thumbs up for making it accessible to everyone. -The sand sculpture is always impressive as well. This year it was wizard of oz themed and Apollo 11 on the reverse side. -Food choices, from typical fair faire to local favorites like chicken riggies and Dinosaur BBQ they have something for everyone. -Lots of rides, from a portable roller coaster to cable cars they have a huge selection! Can't say anything about price as we didn't go on any or look into it that much. -Lots of vendors and an awesome opportunity for people watching! -Great concerts. We didn't plan early enough to go this year, but in college I saw Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift. -All the animals! Cons: -The main disappointment was in the shows. While maybe I shouldn't compare everything to the Erie County Fair my husband and I really enjoy seeing all of the wonderful free shows they have from extreme trampoline artists, to Chinese acrobats, to the Cirque shows, to mind readers. We didn't find that here though. Sure they had the NYS Troopers do a demonstration, and maybe one or two other things but that was definitely disappointing, maybe it's just too big for all that? Overall we had a great time, and would highly recommend for anyone who can easily make a day trip out of it. read more

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The fair can be physically overwhelming on a hot summer day. You won't get to everything. I'll simplify this down to two must-visits (or three if you're going to see ZZ Top on Saturday). The half chicken dinner at Baker's Chicken Coop is spectacular, offering the "Cornell Chicken" invented by Robert Baker in the 1940s. You should also check the dairy products building, where the treats include cheesecake on a stick, and cups of regular or chocolate milk for 25 cents each. There is where you'll find the legendary butter sculpture. Transportation-wise, I've always shied away from driving. I've been pleased with the Centro bus service ($4 round trip) from the Destiny USA mall park and ride. There are several bus routes but the Destiny USA one seems relatively painless. read more

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The NYS fair is foodie heaven. On this particular day I was able to go back to some loved establishments from the past. #1 stop is always Peacheys! They have the best doughnuts and pretzels! This year they had the coconut cream doughnut, it was so very tasty, but I wish we had more people to share with since it was so big. #2 stop is always pickle barrel sirloin tips. I tend to get them with the mashed potatoes and onions but no mushrooms (but those are available there). #3 which I finally got back to because the line was short, was the baked potato from the horticulture building. I added bacon and cheese so it brought the cost to a whopping $2!And last but certainly not least was #4 the bold coast lobster Connecticut lobster roll! All great dishes, some a little pricey, but then again this fair comes around once a year so it's well worth it! And seriously as long as you can have dairy, you always need to stop for an ice cold glass of fresh milk from the dairy building. read more

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It's fun a lot to see and do it's so amazing and we are def blessed to have this every year the entertainment is outstanding the butter sculpt the milk the potatoes the everything ! read more

The fair itself is entertaining but the food vendors have ruined this experience. Most booths offer a sandwich for 15-16 dollars I literally got a hamburger bun with a few pieces of brisket on it with nothing else cost 16 dollars. will never purchase food there again ridiculous and are taking advantage of the patrons! read more

We love the fair!! There's so many wonderful things to find here! My favorite is to stop at Three Brothers for a wine slushee and head to the dairy building for milk bar and a hot beef sundae! Rides Variety of food and drinks Friends Music Culture all right here at the great New York State Fair! read more

This is my first time here and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. Thank God it was a high of 72 degrees today - this joint is huge and I probably would've been horrible company on an 85 degree day with humidity. Highlight of my trip: butterfly feeding ($2); the Pan-African section and focus on African American history as well as culture; attendants in every restroom (one behalf of all women, THANK YOU ); and the Indian Village. Deltas: troopers on horses with no poop bags. Although many of the activities are free or reasonably priced, if you're coming with kids your pockets will bleeeeeeed. The wristbands for rides? The cost per game? Sheesh! I'm an old fart so I don't want to get on the rides or play any games - at least not this year. Overall this was a great time and we're already planning to attend next year and stay for two days to get the whole experience. read more

New York State Fair - Butterfly Feeding! - Festivals Near Me - Syracuse, New York

Young and old will find something to enjoy at the fair, there's the farm animals, fantastic foods, rides, games of chance and shopping with unique vendors not to be missed.Theres also free concerts with top artists included in the admission price, some top name acts I have seen in the past include Culture Club, Styx, The Spin Doctors, Richard Marx and the Oak Ridge Boys. read more

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There's so much to see and do at the fair.For the adventurous there's the rides.For those that feel lucky you can try one of the many games or buy some lotto tickets in the lotto building.So many beautiful animals to go and visit and maybe learn something new about.Let's not forget about the fantastic smells at the fair coming from all the delicious foods there is to try including fried dough, waffles, kettle corn, fries, pizza and the wine stations.The highlight for me are the free concerts in the Chevy court with big name stars that I have seen including Styx, Culture Club, Spin Doctors and Shelia E, all fantastic concerts. read more

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As a family we always look forward to the NYS fair! Great food, tons of family fun, rides, games, vendors! There's truly something for everyone at the fair read more

New York State Fair - Ferris wheel and sky line ride - Festivals Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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I've gone to the Great New York State fair 3 times now. I usually spend the whole day there and the time does go by quickly. It's a day to enjoy the food, rides, games, concerts, animals and there large amount of vendors. There is something for everyone at the fair. This past year was more spread out then previous years but I always feel like I've missed something. There are so many buildings to enter and view different exhibitions and so many vendors. I never make it through everything in a day. I enjoy coming every couple of years and walking around having my wine slushy or beer and very unhealthy fair food that taste delicious. It's definitely an experience everyone should at least try once in there life. read more

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Attended the State Fair this year as I have many times in the past and had an excellent time. The list of Free Concerts this year was excellent. I came with my Father who was so excited to see Air Supply and they put on a great show. Get to the free shows in the afternoon at least 1 hour early and night shows at least 1.5 hr early to get a seat. It was almost 100 degrees the day we came and it was so refreshing to see that bottles of water most places were only $1. My Husband got a pulled pork sandwich and 2 sides for only $9 at Dinosaur BBQ and My Father had a Philly cheesesteak with huge refillable soda for $15. I really felt that the Fair tried to keep the costs down. They had numerous options for wine slushies and moonshine slushies and they were cheap! I recommend trying many :) I got a Blackberry Sangria with included Koozie for $4. There was an excellent State Police presence and it felt like a very safe and controlled atmosphere. Recommendations for next year if you are going: 1. Get there early (When gates open) and parking is much easier! 2. They also sold pre-sale tickets for $4 dollars less prior to the fair starting at a few locations such as Wegmans. 3. Remember your sun screen 4. Bring Cash, It's easier. Although many places still took Cards read more

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After COVID-19 and with extra unemployment from Federal government, many vendors were unable to pay for the now extended 18 day Fair and find workers to staff their spots from 11am to 10pm. This resulted in a very empty Fair, with a few new vendors, who I hope return as their fare was tasty and it is refreshing to have new foods and drinks as well as vendors with things to sell. Some past vendors put fresh items in the menu just for the fair, which entices us to visit them even when we have had their items. I feel there may have been at least a few more vendors if there had been a discounted rate give. The circumstances we have all dealt with in the past year and continue to have issues around, not the least of which being the Delta variant. We traditionally go every year and found the majority of people were complying with masking in buildings. I had the chance to try two places I had not yet been to and now am looking forward to patronizing after the fair. Will be nice when more photo spots are back and activities are taking place again. read more

New York State Fair - Black River Band - Festivals Near Me - Syracuse, New York