Admission is cheaper than the county fairs and there is so much to see and do! Vendors are plentiful and crowds are light if you go when it first opens(wait until later and yes, it'll be busy, naturally). Highly recommend the taking the ski lift(Skyline) across the fair! read more

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I've been to several State Fairs. This one is just mediocre . The cost is very reasonable as State Fairs go...$8.00 per ticket, and children under 12 or adults over 65 get in for free, and that is better than most. Everything is cash or card or both so ask which one they take. The exhibit buildings are spacious and easy to walk around in. Depending on what day you go the music entertainment can be good. Food is ok nothing special to get excited about. They should hand out maps as you enter so you can get a feel for where things are to see it to find that favorite food or entertainment; their online maps are not very informative. read more

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Very good atmosphere this year. Food and drink prices are cheaper than a restaurant, and you can spend a good couple of hours here without busting your bank. Live sound is great. My only problem is the fact that they let people in the seats for the Chevy Court stage right when the fair opens, so naturally you'll get the entitled elderly people who want to sit down in the very front, and complain when you walk right up to the pit in front of them. read more

As always a great time great vendors rides perfect grounds .So many options to choose from you have kangaroo elk boar lobster corn cooked every way . Delicious deserts wonderful drinks of every kind . Pip bars juice stands just be prepared to walk or rent a scooter . See the assortment of livestock. Endless amounts to do. read more

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We went to a concert here, and NEVER AGAIN!!! It is soooo far to get into the amphitheater! And there's porta potties most of the time! I don't spend hundreds on concert tickets to not have working bathrooms! Yuck! When I bought the tickets, I didn't even realize it had anything to do with the fair. Down by the main seats, there were two sets of actual bathrooms. All the food available was also food trucks, and crazy overpriced. White Claw was $21! And parking was $10 and so far away! We saw Impractical Jokers, and they were great. But I'm never dealing with this place again. read more

I look forward to the NYS Fair every year for the past 45 years. Starting back when the Race Track, Tractor Pulls, Demolition Derby were removed "AND" the Progress Building turned into a Government Building. It Has All Gone Downhill. "This Year Chevy Court" seating was reduced instead of expanding the seating. I am 77 years old and stood 45 minutes before the concert and 90 minutes during the concert (Never Again). Every year the "Selection of Bands or Group that play at the Chevy Court are worst and worst. Some I have "NEVER" heard of. You have the Toyota Coliseum that has barely used and never advertised, people could sit in there. We should be able to use E-Z Pass to park we used it for the NYS Thruway But Not The NYS Fair..... For the good news "Very Clean", Lots of Security, Handy Maps are nice, but a daily printout would be nice too. read more

Overall our experience at the fair was good. It was extremely busy, but parking was easy and well organized by the parking attendants. We liked the variety of food vendors and seeing the animals is always a hit. Leaving the parking lot was also easy. Our only big complaint was the cost of the rides. You had to buy a ride bracelet from a kiosk at $45 per person. This is pricier than going to an amusement park and I could not justify spending $90 for my two teenage boys to ride a handful of rides. I inquired about other options, but the two ladies who were working near the kiosk did not offer any and were really pushing the bracelets. read more

I have now been here twice. Since the first time was the State Fair, it wasn't really right to just review the fairgrounds themselves. But now that I've been back for something else, I can give the whole place a fair shake. * Parking: Both times, we parked on the north side of I-690 while everyone was stuck in traffic getting over to the south side. NO traffic on the north side. Park in the lot up there, walk across a couple of bridges, and yeah it takes a few minutes but you get exercise and save on gas! And then you can get right out pretty easily too. Nice to have that alternative in place. * Layout: I'm a fan of all the historic buildings. Like NC it's an expansive place and unlike NC I haven't gone enough times to really place where everything is, but the multiple buildings being close to the entrance mean that crowds will naturally be drawn into those exhibits instead of all being outside all the time - something NC doesn't do quite as well. The one building had something going on even this second visit, and while I didn't go inside, it was well attended and nice to see the event was not just standing alone outside. * Events: Hard to say exactly since I don't know how many there are throughout the year. #2 was a food truck festival. More expensive admission than the fair! But that's the event's fault. It was well laid out around the entrance pavilion, no issues at any truck, a nice musical setup in the middle - the venue clearly aced the layout and power needs for this and I have faith they can do it any given time. If I lived around here I'd go more often, but I will say it's gotta be some nice stuff year-round! read more

Fun time checking out all the animals. The only negative was the price of food at all of the concessions.

This was a big disappointment. While it's just $8 and change per person and about $10 for parking, entry and exit were each an hour's process. The fair was quite congested with people and walking to avoid others a constant nuisance. The food was grossly overpriced too. The exhibits were ho-hum. If you live south of Albany, try any of the county fairs. They are all better. Perhaps if you live in the north country this is it, but downstaters should beware. read more

We wait all year to go to the fair. The first place we stopped is the candy maze where you can pick out candy and place it in a wicker basket. We eat this candy while waiting in line for rides. I always have to get something fried for dessert. There is so much to see.. do.. and eat read more

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Was at the fairgrounds for the Syracuse National Car Show. The grounds were clean and the restrooms were also clean and had free mini bottles of hand sanitizer. What a great place! read more

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 large amount of vendors. There is something for everyone at the fair. This past year was more spread out but I always feel like I 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 or so 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

This is a great state fair. They've got it all: butter sculptures, tons of different farm animals, carny games and rides and tons and tons of beer. I highly recommend the 25 cent chocolate milk and (but not necessarily with) an order of salt potatoes ($3 for about 6). Delicious! read more

New York State Fair Grounds - The Hot Beef Sundae. Mashed potatoes, shredded beef, cheddar cheese, sour cream and a cherry tomato. Clever. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Syracuse, New York

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This place used to be fun when there was a infield and 105 year old racetrack. My great uncle harness raced here, many cousins were in the tractor pulls and of course numerous friend were in the demolition derby. Not to mention this was home of super dirt week. Gone are the days of the grandstands and concerts. Instead of continuing these rich traditions the fair grounds roached it all and built a lame convention center and they are progressively knocking over other barns for the sake of parking lots. Enjoy a fairground they ripped the heart out of. read more

A State Fair for any state is likely the last place I would be. As a NYC native, it is clearly not what I am accustomed to. A state fair, in my expectations, should be a display and celebration of all the state currently has to offer as well as displays, activities that reflect the history of the state. If I had to present a report of the history and current activities of NY state based on the state fair offerings, I could sum it up as: fried foods-sausages-cheeese steaks-funnel cakes- farm animals and some forlorned crafts. The smell of farm animal shit wafting throughout only made me sooooo hungry. I can only assume the state fair is exclusionary of all things NYC based on the fact I couldn't find the Goldman-Sachs booth. This should be called the Upstate only NY Fried Food Fair. Overall, this had the feel of an oversized street fair, carnival, and 4H farm show. I do note that the farm animals I had the pleasure of seeing were beautiful, extraordinarily well cared for and their owners very dedicated people, Kudos to them as they make my steaks, burgers, ribs, bacon, milk and other delicious foods..I fully appreciate our farmers.We would perish without them. Vendors dominate the Fair and little distinguishes one from the other.( just how many versions of sausage and pepper sandwiches can one endure?) I skipped the evening showcase activities that centered around second rate, has been performers and other assorted country singers who charged premium prices in a sub-standard venue. I enjoyed my one time experience to see what so many adore but, I assuredly do not anticipate setting foot on these fairgrounds ever again. read more

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Everything I do usually involves a food tour. I was at the fair for the food. Also, it was my first time. The positive is that I might have burned the calories off walking around all day. I also had a friend who grew up near Syracuse and went every year. She was a great tour guide and knew all the things we had to see. In seven hours, we hit all the top spots, ate some great food, picked up a couple crafts, and learned a little bit more about NY. Overall, I liked to see the fair promoting local NY products and agriculture. The Taste of NY tents featured some good local vendors like Red Jacket Juice of Geneva, Cortland Brewery (the IPA was awesome - fruity and hoppy!), Casa Larga wines, etc. Surprisingly, for a Saturday, the crowds didn't show up until later in the evening around 6pm. Perhaps that had something to do with the Carly Rae Jepson concert (people who buy the main stage concert tickets get free admission to the fair the day of the show... and they didn't sell too many tickets). Either way, I'm not complaining. We got there around 11am and it was great. We avoided long lines and got great views of all the attractions. Things you need to try: - Hot Beef Sundae - mashed potatoes, gravy, roast pork, cheddar cheese, sour cream, topped with a tomato. A savory sundae! It was probably my favorite food item of the fair that reminded me of mom's comfort food pot roast dinners. - Donut Fried Chicken Sandwich - why? Just because. It's the fair and you have to do it. For $7, split it with a friend so you don't have a heart attack right then and there. Soak up all that gluttony. - Wine smoothies - there's a huge tent where you can get samples. Taste them all and pick your faves. Sure $4 for a 12oz. cup seems a bit high, but it was refreshing and thirst quenching. My top picks were the Peach wine slushie and the 1000 Islands Winery slushie (combo of their red and white wines). - Go on the Ferris Wheel - it's $5 a ride (10 tickets), but a great view of the whole fair. - The cows were SO cool. I don't think I've ever seen a cow that close, but they were pretty and massive. Refrain from petting them. I had to hold back because I didn't want them to kick me in the gut. - Butter sculpture - this year it was all the seasons of NY. Then you think about how that's all butter... gross, but impressive. - Sand sculpture - how do they do it!? It's so smooth and well-sculpted. (See photos). - Food demos at the Wegmans kitchen. This was awesome! The demo we attended was presented by Exec. Chef Steve from Vernak Farms. He was funny, engaging, and offered great tips on taking advantage of local produce and how to use it year round. - Pan African section - I found unique jewelry on the cheap. The baskets were also well-crafted. As I write this, I regret not buying one. Although, at that point I was tapped out of all my cash. - Grab a cup of $0.25 chocolate milk! I didn't stay for any of the bands because I'm not a huge country fan and I think it was Phil Vassar who was playing the free show. Oh, and Carly Rae Jepson on the main stage. Not paying for tickets to hear her sing songs no one knows and encore with Call Me Maybe. But, the weeklong schedule looked good and the list of performers like Florida Georgia Line was impressive. It's all worth it if you're a New Yorker! read more

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I went to the State Fair on Labor Day in the rain and still had a blast. Plenty of greasy but tasty fair food and there were at least two stands selling hotdogs for a buck and burgers for 2. Make sure you check out the rides before buying tickets so you don't buy more than you need since most rides cost 4 tickets (cost a dollar each unless you buy 40). My favorite part of the fair was checking out all the great animals and walking a llama ( and I got a great free souvenir in the process). Next year I will plan to check out a concert or two. My tips 1. Wear very comfy shoes 2. Bring appropriate weather gear (sunscreen, glasses, hats, umbrellas, ponchos, etc) 3. Check out their website to figure out where you want to go before you get there. 4. Bring water and a decently healthy snack to prepare your stomach for all the grease and sugar. read more

My husband (a Syracuse native) drags me here every time we visit Syracuse around Labor Day. It is best summed up in Haiku form. The only good thing About the New York state fair: Memories for Matt The other good thing About the New York state fair: Butter sculpture, wow! read more

My favorite part about the NYS Fair? Two words: wine slushie. The Fair is THE spot to stuff your face with fried foods of all kinds, snag lots of free samples, and watch obese familes from the sticks drag their screaming children away from the midway. It's not really a day at the fair until you pass at least one large woman with frizzy hair and a camel toe snarfing down a fried twinkie while her Nascar Tshirt-wearing hubby engages in a spirited game of "I Got It!" read more

This is basically the only venue in Syracuse for large crowds. The New York State Fair is held here, people say how crazy it is, but I think those people have never been to a state fair before. This review is not of any particular event that occurs at the State Fair Grounds, but the grounds itself. Although really large, the parking is inconvenient, chances are you will have to take a shuttle to your car. Buildings are not marked all that well, so when looking at a map of the premises you can easily get confused. The buildings, although interesting on the outside are nothing more than a warehouse on the inside. I guess this allows them to cram as much as they can in them, but better design would be nice. The place manages to get a three mostly by default. Again, it's the only venue for large crowds (meaning multiple thousands of people) in the Syracuse area. read more

The New York State Fair is an annual event for me. As a kid: tons of carnival games, rides, hanging out with friends and family, fireworks, and the occasional good band or two. As an adult: Dinosaur BBQ, beer, carnival games (yes, still), friends and family, the occasional good concert, chuckling at the free concerts (think stars of yesterday like Boyz II Men, Styx and stars that never quite were like Catherine McPhee)... All in all, it is what you expect out of a carnival, plus a bunch of shops and buildings showing off what NYS has to offer from clothing to agriculture to food/beverage. Despite a move to Houston, the wife and I still managed a trip to the fair with family. Good times. read more

From the $1 potatoes to the fried ho hos. A trip to the NYS fair should be one of decadence and bliss. There is always an amazing line of music to catch, a lot of the time even their free shows have great acts. Last year they had George Clinton and Salt N Peppa just remembering two off the top of my head. You can also easily go hang out outside of the grand stand, lay back and jam out while listening to the concert other people paid $70+ to attend. Parking is a snap with shuttle busses to take you right to the door if you're not close. From agriculture shows to talent shows, there is something for everyone! Petting Zoos, dog shows, sports shows, magicians, music, food! There is no reason to ever miss. The Great New York State Fair! Macaroni and Cheese Hotdogs FOR EVERYONE !!!! read more

It's so fun! So much to do and see, and the food is great! Been going for years now as an annual tradition with mom and grandparents.

When NYS Fair is one of my favorite August things to do, aside from Brewfest. There are tons of vendors, loads-upon-loads of people. And, all the friend food you can eat until your arteries clog up. This year they has a Dinosaur exhibit which looked cool, but we did not get a chance to go in :-/. All-in-all, its a great time. read more

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The New York State Fair is one of those yearly events that you have to attend when you live in the Syracuse. I have gone to the fair when I really did not want to but it was better than doing nothing. Once we hit drinking age things really changed. It turned out that they sold beer at the Fair. I have been meaning to go to the Fair but it has not happened in many years. I guess it just does not rate a special trip. I suspect that not much has changed. Even though I have not been to the fair in more than 10 years I bet I could list what is going on in each building and list who is going to be playing the grandstand. It is not a bad place to spend a Saturday afternoon. Do not forget to try the Gianelli Sausage! read more

Great time at the fair today. 13 hours of non-stop fun with some of the most decadent food in the world. Deep fried everything. Cow licked my face and I loved it. Nothing about the fair not to like. read more

New York State Fair Grounds - Just one of the many high quality food items. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Syracuse, New York

This was my first time at a state fair. I must say...I really enjoyed it. I wish I had much more time (it was actually only supposed to be a short stop, as I was on my way driving to Toronto from NYC). There was so much stuff to see! The lifestyle that was here was so vastly different from mine. I always knew people living elsewhere were just as happy without all of the stuff city dwellers live with, but seeing them happy was very nice. So many animals, things to learn...it was quite nice. Definitely worth the $20 admission, and the "loss" of 2 hours. I plan on stopping at more state fairs on my road trips! read more

I just thought about the New York State Fair recently, after seeing a commercial for it on TV. I went to the State Fair once, and this was a million years ago now. My college roommate was from Syracuse and she dragged a bunch of us to the fair the weekend after we showed up at college. All of us were from downstate and had never been to the fair before. I'd actually never heard of it. Sure, I'd been to county fairs in my area before, but never the State Fair. Until that point I'd assumed that State Fairs were the unique business of Iowa and Indiana and other states populating the Midwest. State Fairs brought to my mind images of corn and cows and items related exclusively to farming. That's not entirely far off the mark, but the New York State Fair is a sprawling, massive amount of fun where you can overload on items of all kinds. They offer enough fried food - yay fried dough! - to clog every artery in your body; so many rides that you can throw up just looking at them; ridiculous games where you can win stuffed animals and generally cheap crap; and a large number of facilities relating to animals, dairy products, and every agricultural product produced in every corner of New York State. In a word: farming. But lest you think that such displays are boring, I'm here to tell you that they're not. The farming and agricultural products are housed in nice facilities where you can browse at your leisure and even purchase what you wish. It's really interesting to see all that items that New York produces, from the wineries to the apples to everything else. And if you don't love visiting the Dairy stand, with its air conditioning and the giant cow sculpted out of butter, then you're not human. Yes, the State Fair is crowded with people of all kinds, from all over the state, but if you can't handle that - or don't like crowds in general - then don't come here. It takes forever to park your car too, so be prepared. But the average Joe isn't the only person who shows up at the State Fair. I was at the Fair when Hillary Clinton was running for the state senate, and she and President Clinton were making the rounds of upstate New York, and they ended up stopping by the fair. It was something to see the people line up to shake their hands. I didn't envy the Secret Service, who not only had to barricade off certain sections of the Fair so the former president and his wife could stroll and shake hands with people, but they basically had to pat down hundreds of people in mere minutes to make sure that they weren't potential assassins. Should you ever find yourself in this situation, please know that the Secret Service are not especially gentle. If you don't move fast enough for them, they'll move you. But I did get to shake President Clinton's hand, which was pretty cool. My favorite memory from the State Fair relates to the Clintons. After shaking hands with the crowd, they disappeared into the Dairy stand, presumably to have a look at the butter cow. As a consequence, the Secret Service blocked off the area around the Dairy stand and people couldn't walk past it. This totally pissed off one man, who began shouting, "What the hell is this shit? All I want is freaking corn dog!" Ah, memories. The New York State Fair: where you can have a wine slushy, gorge yourself on bad food, ride fun but potentially unsafe carnival rides, win random meaningless stuff, see the butter cow, potentially shake hands with a world leader, and listen to people swear openly because they don't have access to the corn dog stand. Fun abounds. read more

I am as big of a fan of the Great NY State Fair as they come. I no longer live in Syracuse, but I still come home for the fair. I try to go several times during the long run of the fair. I love bringing my children and doing the same things with them that I did as a child. The same foods, rides and even attractions or buildings. The day is always filled with a lot of sun, fun and food. 2 HUGE THUMBS UP for the Great NY State Fair. read more

they all came in unison aloud to see the mage and his shows and the freaks and their clothes they all came in unison and proud vagabonds and seniors children and smiles crowded spaces and restrooms teaming with vagabond, senior, and child. read more

The Fair was more crowded than Mid-town Manhattan--maybe back in the day it was better but the crowds and the tawdriness of the vendors takes over anything that was interesting (and I'm including letting my kids pet cows and sheep and see how soap is made)--the coolest thing I saw was the NYS Police demonstration of rappeling--I'm sorry I missed the dog demonstration. We made a special trip to see it and I wouldn't recommend it for that but if I was in the area already it may be more worth it read more

This is where The State Fair is hosted, I remember having fun looking at animals and random stuff here! It's really big and there's a lot of fatty carnival food stands and amusement rides. read more

I think the last review could use a little expanding. I think the NYS Fairgrounds is an amazing place. It is run by the State and exists mainly on revenue from events held all year. The Great NY State Fair attracts almost 1 million people every year during a 10 day span at the end of August thru Labor Day. This is not the only event however, since every week one or more shows or exibitions are taking place at the different buildings. There is a dirt race track, an inside skating arena, along with the multiple buildings that house different livestock and arts. I have never had any probem with parking for an event even at the fair. During Labor day weekend when 100000 plus arrive taking a shuttle is not unexpected. Many other venues I have been to require the same. The other critcism about the buildings I think is a little off base. Of course I have been to the Fairgrounds many times and find the buildings easy to locate and very interesting. If you get a chance do not hestitate to visit one of the events. read more

I'm over 50 and grew up in central New York. As a child I remember sitting in traffic in the hot car for over an hour as my parent's tempers simmered in the heat. That was before Route 690 and car air conditioning. I can't say for sure how many times we actually ended up at the fair. Mostly instead we had car trouble and ended up going home. Those days are over(thank god). People complain about the parking etc...they probably never went in the 60's or 70's. I now go at least a couple of times a year with the husband and kids. Yes the rides are expensive, but one day we dedicate to the midway and ride all day wrist tickets for $25 a pop. Not as bad financially as a few rides daily buying tickets. The 2nd day we see the animals ( i love the bunnies) and take in a free concert or 2. Styx, Joan Jett, REO,and Blue Oyster Cult are some of the concerts I have seen for just the cost of admission. There are the just hatched chicks you can hold, the beautiful arts and crafts, and interesting displays in the center of progress building. Horse shows with cute miniature horses pulling buggies to gigantic draft horses that cause the ground to shake. The awesome sand sculpture and healthier sweets like honey and maple syrup. I could go on and on. The famous fair food with it's 25 cent ice cold milk and $1.00 baked potato with the works are family favorites. It's always fun to see what new food they will sell on a stick or deep fat fried. We usually don't indulge in them but laugh at the thought of the silly things that people eat i.e. a deep fried gummy bear? I even have fear of large crowds, but face my fears to enjoy a couple of end of summer days out with the family. There some places that are not as crowded as others, restroom that rarely have long lines, quiet spots that you can sit and catch your breath in. There is something for everyone and if your feet hold up (It is a lot of walking) I think it's a great time for just about anyone. And now they do rent scooters out for those with walking problems, what more can you ask. read more

The New York State Fair is a marvel. It is what you make it. Ten people can go on the same day and each have a completely different experience. First: the grounds. The large-scale Exposition Buildings are just that--built for big, BIG events, with epic scale to match. Syracuse has some of the finest infrastructure for such events anywhere. Yes, the grounds do sprawl--they cover a lot of ground, as it were--but things are organized and maps are easy to find. Just take a look at the front of the Horticulture Building or the interior of the Coliseum. These are grand buildings built in the last centuries to house the biggest event the State once offered. I've been to other State Fairs and New York's is by far the best. If you like noise and lights and craziness, head for the midway, especially at dusk. Brave the crowds at the Center of Progress Building (what interesting new product will they be selling this year?) But if you're a quiet sort of soul who needs a cool corner, try mingle with the animals, check out the wonderful Carriage Museum or visit the Arts & Home Building or the Horticulture Building. Rest your eyes on some prize dahlias, enjoy a delicious baked potato. Watch hawkers push their wares--it's a show as old as humankind! I hate to hear folks dismiss the Fair when so many people put everything they have into making the experience fun, interesting, and enjoyable. The amount of entertainment that comes with the price of admission is staggering. If it bugs you to park "far away," try arriving early and donating $10 for a terrific spot in the Red Cross lots right near the main entrance. That way you can drop off anything you've bought or don't want to carry during the day. Also, it pays to arrive EARLY. The grounds are clean and well-maintained with plenty of flowers and green spaces, and good breakfasts are available (try the Indian Village) even before the buildings open. Morning is a great time to be at the Fair. The New York State Fair has something for everyone and you don't have to spend a fortune or eat junk food. Bring a water bottle (you can fill them at coolers) and a backpack (keeps your hands free). Plan ahead, come with a "have fun" attitude, prepare for the weather and crowds, and you can have a fantastic, memorable time. read more

I went to the fair on a Sunday with my boyfriend. It was so annoyingly crowded, but the food was awesome. My boyfriend's mission was to find fried pickles and we found a place that had them for $6; a huge plate and they were pretty good. There definitely is a variety of great food, desserts, candy nuts etc. at the state fair. But to me that is the highlight of it. Other than the food it has cheesy rides like any local carnival would. What I did like was the prices were not horribly insane like you would think. There were stands with bottled water for a dollar which is fair. Usually carnivals/fairs try to jack prices up so I was impressed with the affordability throughout the NY state fair. I think it would be an enjoyable place for kids. There is face painting, animals, shows for the kids, and they also had a place where you could take pictures with seals. If you go, find the little candy stop where you get a basket and pay about 3.75 for about 35 pieces of candy (they have everything you can think of in bulk and you walk in a line and pick it up). I think the fair is something to be experienced just once. It's not worth a 2 hour drive from Rochester to Syracuse in my opinion. read more

I went to the fair with my sister-in-law on Wed, 8-29-12 and we had a great time, got there at 10:00 a.m walking at our own pace with great weather and not very crowded grounds. That was great and so were the animals..........that's about it. The fair is not like it used to be.. The fair is suppose to be about N.Y. state agriculture, the people and the farms and business that make this state great. I understand that now a days it's not like it used to be in agriculture and things. Job loss,businesses leaving and no one wants to farm (can't blame them-they get screwed over) but don't make it a giant flea market with over priced unhealthy fried foods and loud music in tents that make you leave 3 minutes after you walked in there. Yeah, I know.......it's the fair and you are to have a great time, eat anything and spend money-ENJOY! Well we don't have $3.00 to spend on a bottle water(rip off) $3.00 for salt potatoes(can buy a bag for that amount)$10.00 for a BBQ chicken dinner with greasy fries fried in old oil-no thank you. Can't enjoy ourselves like that. I can go on and on and on, but I won't- too much horrible things there this year. Just very disappointed in the way the fair is and the way it ended up. Not a family place anymore. They are just sucking your money with the parking fees and charging the vendors large amount of $$$ to have spot at the fair.....in return they have to charge us more $$$ for an item so they can pay for their spot. The rides cost alot, not to mention that we wanted a piece of fudge, $7.00 (do you believe it ?) and we did not want the whole piece and asked if we could have only half a piece.............the man said NO, really? .oh well, fine with us-didn't get any, $7.00 is alot. Who knows when I will go again.....if I ever do. read more

ive been a new Yorker for 36 yrs. and by far this was the best fair ive ever been to. have been 3 times and I plan to go back Monday. I have never seen such a bangup job keeping the fair clean, in every aspect !! impressed. the new midway was much needed !! I came back to Syracuse from reno, Nevada,where they had a carnival they called a state fair. no participation at all. were so lucky to have such a great fair. its an experience you must not miss............ read more

So, if you have a pulse and you've ever heard of New York, you're aware of, "The Great New York State Fair!" The typical over-crowded and stuffy annual event for masses to attend. Right as you enter, you're bombarded with people pushing and shoving you from every angle possible, sounds fun right? If that doesn't give you a headache, I'm sure all the smells will. Food places form stands all around the fairgrounds to bring you aromas that could give you headaches. Keep walking, and you hit the area where they host concerts. Usually its people you've never heard of and never want to hear of, but hey I won't judge. Of course there are some good parts of the fair. The fair provides entertainment like a zoo, circus, rides, and of course the butter sculpture they have every year. Usually you can find exhibits on the past years fairs and how they've changed over time. Over the years they've added a sand sculpture and some stands selling pointless things you really don't need. Usually the fair is a good time and I'd recommend it for all ages. read more