With the best harvest of the region, the food choices were undoubtedly abundant. Consider the local fare from passed-down-from-generations recipes, and even burgers, pizzas, sausages, fries, onion rings, fried Oreos, milky buns, and for the most adventurous — fried gator on a stick.
Welcome signage.
Keepers of heritage.
Sweet treats.
A New York classic.
Open space picnic.
Mighty horse.
Military prowess.
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There are state fairs, and there are state fairs. But there’s nothing like the New York State Fair! Allow us to tell you why.
For starters, it is the oldest in the United States. It all began in 1841, when the New York State Agricultural Society wished to promote agribusiness in the region. And agriculture, the heart of it all, has remained the main reason the New York State Fair is commemorated.
One of the largest in the country, it is hosted at the New York State Fairgrounds in the periphery of the city of Syracuse. It boasts of spaces, which range from 2,000 square feet all the way to 110,000 square feet — and we definitely felt its enormity, as we had to take shuttles from point to point!
The fair welcomes over a million visitors per year. What makes this even more amazing? The event only runs for 13 days — traditionally to end on Labor Day.
Today, the fete is a showcase of the very best of the Empire State and its neighboring states in terms of crops and produce, animal husbandry and everything in between — all thanks to the farmers and breeders of the modern age.
Speaking of — there were huge horses and horses with stellar pedigrees, needing over 1,800 bales of hay to feed the entire stable during the 13-day run. Goats and sheep have their separate pavilions, where you could even cuddle with them. The cattle were likewise a marvel to behold, as there are over 13,000 cattle farms in the state — the best of the best clearly gathered here!
We had the opportunity to drop by the New York State Milk Bar, where we savored the thick white, chocolate, and even strawberry milk.
Another interesting spot was the Taste NY Pop-Up Market, which featured over 300 products from local vendors — there were local cheeses, sauces of all kinds, gummies, and even more to sample and purchase.
Meanwhile, the Vendor Marketplace displayed excellent craft beverages for those who desired to enjoy a little bit of alcohol during the day. That’s not all — even the Pure Maple Booth brandished ice cream cones, milkshakes, and slushies for those with a sweet tooth.
With the best harvest of the area, the food choices were undoubtedly abundant. Consider the local fare from passed-down-from-generations recipes, and even burgers, pizzas, sausages, fries, onion rings, fried Oreos, milky buns, and for the most adventurous — fried gator on a stick.
Several street performers also provided continuous entertainment, with songs and other tricks, all to keep spirits high.
The main musical acts — divided across the Suburban Park and another with wide open spaces, furnished with Adirondack chairs — however, were Kidz Bop and Flo Rida. Once again, we got to watch and sing along with a favorite country artist Crystal Gayle, famous for her hit 1977 song “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” which instantly brought back memories!
There were even cultural immersions from countries and minorities overseas, such as the Asian, Pan African, and Latino Villages, where they all shared their music, food, crafts, and most importantly, history and heritage. What caught our attention was the Indian Village, which we will explore in a forthcoming column.
We overheard from seemingly faithful daily goers there were Pride Day and Labor Day Parades. The Armed Forces Day Parade, on the other hand, boasted marching bands and military technology through the streets to display the country’s military prowess.
Oh yes, lest we forget, the organizers took care of its guests. We spotted a free mammogram test, among others — and even ambulances and medic stations posted at strategic locations, ready to respond.
At the end of the euphoric day, we didn’t realize it was past 9 p.m., as the summer sun was still up. There was so much going on — but we had to think of our drive back home to the hamlet of Russell, a long route of two and a half hours. Incidentally, did we feel the ride? Not at all, as we outdid each other with our own memories of the New York State Fair!
