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NYS Fair

ArcticFoxArcticFox member
in Upstate NY Babies

Can anyone tell me about the NYS Fair?

Worth a drive?  Anything I should know?

I feel like I remember people telling on this board, that it wasn't worth it.. something like the parking was bad, too crowded.. I just can't remember..

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Re: NYS Fair

  • TinyPinkBugTinyPinkBug member
    It is hot, smelly, dirty. over crowded and over priced!  I go every year and love it!  LOL.  Parking can suck, but you have to know where to park.  I never go on a weekend or senior day.  I don't know if I would make the drive to go with kids, but we take Tyler evey year and he likes it.  Last year, I took him three times!  But I also know my way around the fair grounds very well, know where all the kids exhibits are, and have family there all the time (BIL owns a bunch of food booths/restaurants).  
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  • wendyjwendyj member

    imageTinyPinkBug:
    It is hot, smelly, dirty. over crowded and over priced!  I go every year and love it!  LOL.  Parking can suck, but you have to know where to park.  I never go on a weekend or senior day.  I don't know if I would make the drive to go with kids, but we take Tyler evey year and he likes it.  Last year, I took him three times!  But I also know my way around the fair grounds very well, know where all the kids exhibits are, and have family there all the time (BIL owns a bunch of food booths/restaurants).  

    Can you give me a list of things to definitely check out? We'll be going there on Friday. 

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  • TinyPinkBugTinyPinkBug member

    Get there EARLY, try to plan on getting there about 25-20 minutes before the buildings open at 10am.  Try parking in the lower lots, I can't remember the exit numbers, but it is the first of the fair exits, they usually have a sign that directs exhibitors off that exit.  If you get off that exit, keep to the left and don't go up the hill to the upper lots.  The upper lots are a long walk or a shuttle ride.  So try to park in the grey or pink areas of this map, grey is better and I have never found it full.  And parking is $5, I suggest having a $5 out and ready to get in quicker, the EasyPass is only on one upper lot. 

    The 4H building is the best place for kids!  So many different activities and things to see both in and around.  If you look at this map, there is a quicker, less congested route from the far area to the main area.  All the way to the right, near number 24, 26 along the road is walkway that is twice as wide with half the foot trafic as all the paths to the left, AKA restaurant row.  Near the main gate is the NYS market place #4 of the map, and they have cheap ice cream and drinks at the outside counter to the left of the store enterance, all made in NY of course.  Another must do is the dairy building, #17.  They have cups of FRESH milk and chocolate milk for a quarter, as well as the butter sculpture, a little free cow ride and other random kids stuff.  Right next door is a small DEC building with large fish tanks filled with fish native to NYS.  Another of Tyler's favorites is the DEC log cabin behind the horticulture building, they give away free saplings and have a leanto in back.  A good, quiet, cool place to eat is the New York Cafe located inside the horticulture building.  They are one of the few inside eateries with their own seating AND they have air conditioning!  But the air never seems to work very well.  Their menu consists of all NYS original foods like the Anchor Bar Wings, garbage plate, chicken riggies, salt potatoes, NY style pizza, etc.

    Oh, and buy your tickets presale if you don't already have them.  They are $6 presale at Wegmans, Price Chopper, Tops or they are $10 at the door!

    HTH!  Have fun!

    *disclaimer- The fair makes slight changes year to year, so my info may not be completely accurate for this year*

     

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  • June4bride2beJune4bride2be

    TPB said it well! I <3 the NYS Fair! We hit Erie this year though, so no need to go. We always get there early, I have a thing for seeing the farmers tend the cows early.

    It does get crowded, but it is huge so not a big deal. It does get hot on a hot day.

    I love the kids petting zoo. You buy carrots and grain for $1 each and can feed a giraffe (and other things). We are also big fans of the NYS Police demos. There is so much to do and see, you won't get it all in.

    We always park on top and walk the bridge over, not too bad of a walk when you arrive before 10. Every year we have been able to pay the $5 parking fee with our Easy Pass. Make sure you remember what gate you came in....there are 6 or more.

    Kids are free. They did change a LOT last year, it drove me batty....I hate change and I got a little frustrated that the same ol' wasn't the same! 

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  • mrsocmrsoc
    I LOVE the Fair!  But am lucky because I live here.  I think that it is worth the drive for the experience and as a kid, it was a yearly thing that I looked forward to.  There is a ton to see and you would never get through everything, but that is what is great about it, you see something new each year.  I would try to go on a weekday if you can, as it is less crowded.  I am looking forward to having Evan see the animals, as he loves animals.  
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  • jnk062602jnk062602
    We will go this yr...I am hoping I can convince DH to stop on our way back from vaca on Friday, since we will go right thru syracuse.  Otherwise, me and DD will may make the drive on the 29th.  It is my only day off the whole time the fair is here besides while we are on vacation and having her bday party that weekend.  But for us, the drive is 1/1.5 hrs.  For you though, it would be like 3 hrs, right?
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  • Bianca42Bianca42

    I love the fair and we went every year when I was a kid.  DH isn't from NY and has been to the fair twice and HATED it both times.  He doesn't like crowds and just didn't understand why I love it.

    I'm not really up for driving that far and wrestling both kids by myself.  LOL 

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  • wendyjwendyj member
    Thanks for all the tips ladies! MIL lives in Syracuse, and has already gotten our tickets. We plan on doing the Fair on Friday, zoo on Saturday, then seeing one of my BFFs that lives out there Saturday night. So excited for this weekend!
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  • prncsstpprncsstp

    I am not a native Syracusan - but I LOVE the dirty stinky Fair! We go every year, at least once, and will def go this weekend with LO.... I think this Friday is Ride Bracelet day too - you pay one fee and you LO can ride the rides all day - no need for tickets!

    If its a nice day, the Fair will be crowded - thats just a given... plus, I think it tends to be more busy on ride bracelet day.... Cee Lo Green and Ne-Yo are playing Friday night, so I dont think the concert crowd will be too huge...

    Must do's - Dairy Building for quarter milk and butter sculpture, horiculture building for $1 baked potatoes, In the building with the NYS offices, I think thats where they build the giant sand sculpture. Center of Progress building has all the infomercial products.. The poultry building has chickens that are dyed different colors, plus baby chicks! There is a llama show every day in the building with the llamas and goats and they dress the llamas up.For you - get yourself a wine slushie! mmmmm....wine slushie

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