The moment we first get our paws on the current year’s New York State Fair Visitors Guide is a thrill. That moment arrived this week. The 12-page flyer reveals some new features and events we hadn’t heard of or seen on the Fair website and gave us plenty of reason to believe acting director Troy Waffner when he exclaims that they’ve made an “unprecedented effort to refresh the State Fair.”
In addition to the previously-announced animatronic dinosaur exhibit, there will be classic Ford Mustangs (don’t tell the Chevy Court sponsor), live wolves and a historic shipwreck display. Kids can look forward to a pogo stick stunt team and taking a spin on some mini-tractors.
The center section of the publication hypes the rookie Wade Shows midway, promising the largest roller coaster ever at the State Fair, the world’s largest portable drop tower and two kiddielands with some new rides.
The entertainment line-up lists eight Grandstand concerts and two motorsport events. The Chevrolet Court acts include quite a few performers who haven’t played the Fair before among a widely-varied cast. Throw in the long-awaited return to the colonnade of the Wine Court—actually the Taste NY Wine, Beer and Spirits Village—and expansion of last season’s popular cow birthing center and it sounds like this year will be special for those of us who love the Fair.
This would be a good time to pick up your own visitors guide and to visit the website (nysfair.org) to begin planning how to enjoy this year’s Fair. Advance tickets are on sale, but don’t forget on Labor Day you can get in for a buck by buying a ticket at the gate. The Sep. 1 finale also features a 6 p.m. Doobie Brothers concert at Chevy Court followed by fireworks, so we’re already thinking that Labor Day 2014 could approach the day 12 record of a little over 108,000.
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