One change in the 2021 New York State Fair that hasn’t been covered in local media reports is a new opening time that may cause consternation. Director Troy Waffner has confirmed to State Fair Hound that the new opening time, 11 a.m., is firm and that patrons will not be allowed in before that time.

There are several reasons that earlier arrival was popular with Fair fans, among them the opportunity to eat tasty food-stand breakfasts, avoid traffic jams and beat the heat when the weather is steamy.

But Waffner cites several reasons for the policy. “The first is we’ve gone to 18 days, 12 hours a day so it gives a little more of a break with our staff and everybody’s staff on the grounds,” he said. “A number of vendors have actually complimented the opening up at 11:00 because then they cut down on staffing and it doesn’t push them so hard over 18 days. The other part is just to make sure, as we go into 18 days, it gives us a couple of extra hours to get the grounds cleaned, get the roads cleaned, to get the wholesalers off the grounds before we open.”

Safety concerns over interactions between Fair visitors and delivery trucks was a consideration. “Human nature, at least on the Fairgrounds, is a person doesn’t get out of the way of a tractor-trailer,” Waffner explained. “So it created potentially bad incidents in the past. It gives us an ability to sweep the grounds of everything and open up for a real day at the Fair as opposed to opening at eight with tractor-trailers and everything driving around.”

It appears that this restriction is for real and gate staff will have to break the news to people who arrive early according to their–often longstanding–tradition. No doubt, many Fair customers will be disappointed that they can’t arrive on quiet morning roads to ease into their day as vendors set up, rides get inspected, animals receive care and the aforementioned alfresco breakfasts are served.

Maybe you had better tell your friends you saw it on State Fair Hound. We hope that other media outlets catch up in spreading the word, but it seems inevitable that a significant number of patrons will be surprised and angered when they arrive early, ticket in hand, only to be denied entry.

As with the no-cash ticket policy, a more moderate approach may have been better received by those who make the Fair a profitable enterprise.

Tickets for the New York State Fair went on sale, sort of, on Aug. 1. A tricky new policy has been implemented, unfortunately without public input, that makes buying tickets with cash impossible.

It used to be easy to be a Fair customer. You could buy advance tickets at supermarkets and banks. You could pay cash at the gates and in the parking lots. No more. Advance purchasing is limited to internet sales over Etix, which will, of course, tack on a service charge.

There will be kiosks at gates one and 10 (why not others?), QR code readers, and EZ Pass scanners. But no cash. Don’t have internet? No credit card? Making an impromptu visit to the Fair with no ticket, but a pocketful of greenbacks? Be forewarned. The Fair won’t take cash.

Likewise, parking in Fair lots will require a pre-purchased ticket or credit card, except for those using the EZ Pass lane.

Modernizing by taking advantage of technology is necessary and beneficial for 21st century efficiency. Anything that helps keep pedestrian traffic flowing through those gates on busy days is great. And with full admission price lowered to three dollars, they have to save somewhere, so may as well reduce costs by cutting out Wegmans and Tops. No problem.

But more flexibility would be a more customer-friendly approach. Really, what’s wrong with handing an attendant a five dollar bill as you drive in? It’s been working for decades. It can still work. At the gates, what could it hurt peddle a few tickets in exchange for real money? Low tech, but highly effective.

Flexibility is good for business and very good for loyal customers. If you agree, there’s plenty of time to call in your complaint about this troubling new policy to Director Troy Waffner at 315 728-4516 or email troy.waffner@agriculture.ny.gov. Be polite as it’s most likely not Troy’s plan. So maybe make a call to the Governor or your State reps.

It’s time to get going and search for those unused 2019 tickets to the New York State Fair. Maybe you’ve heard that they will be accepted for admission this year.

Some fans were upset that during the ’19 Fair, additional free or reduced-price admission days were added, leaving folks who had the foresight to buy advance sale tickets before opening day getting less bang for their bucks (Gate and Switch, Sep. 22, 2019).

It was then announced that those pre-Fair ducats would be honored in 2020, which–well, you know what happened, don’t make us say it.

Those tickets are good for admission any day this year, so search your drawers, purses, glove compartments or wherever you stashed them and you won’t have to buy a ticket this year.

Remember that everyone 65 and older will be admitted free every day, so you seniors can pass leftover tickets along to younger friends or relatives.

Fans of the Beach Boys know the phrase “Endless summer,” a celebratory term recognizing the joys of sunshine, parties, dancing, cookouts, soft breezes, friends and music. But summer does end and for Central New York, every summer culminates in the fabulous New York State Fair. Every summer that is, except this one.

Apparently we can have bowling, restaurants, malls, parks, beaches and some team sports with health clubs on the verge of joining the list. But Andy Cuomo has decided that we can’t have a State Fair, not even a radically modified, carefully limited, strictly regulated State Fair. It’s part of the Gov’s  stranglehold on the reopening of the New York State economy and the infuriating, silent acceptance of his dictates by other elected officials.

Let’s recognize County Executive Ryan McMahon for protesting some of Cuomo’s decisions while keeping a balanced approach and prioritizing the wellness of his constituents. You have to wonder if he would have endorsed opening of the expanded, 18-day State Fair, which was scheduled to run Aug. 21 through Sep. 7. Recent data has supported loosening of regulations in support of both economic recovery and social normalcy.

As previously reported here on State Fair Hound, the state of Delaware bucked the trend and opened its State Fair for business on  July 23. Since the closing of Delaware’s 10-day Fair on Aug. 1, feedback on how it went has been scant. From what information is available on the web, that event, which wrapped up on Aug.1,  got mostly positive reviews, despite having been modified from its usual format.

Sometimes you have to take a shot.

Delaware’s Fair is considerably smaller than New York’s in terms of acreage, attendance and running length, but the coastal state’s model could have been followed here. They spaced out patrons, mandated mask-wearing in most places and cleaned and sanitized rigorously.

It would have been a massive job to hold the New York State Fair under such guidelines, but The Hound still thinks it was possible.

Meanwhile, we’re awaiting word from the Fair on smaller events to be held on order to give Fair fans a taste of their favorite event. So far, there have been drive-up food sales and big-screen movies or concerts. That’s small consolation. There could be more, so let’s see what comes along. Whatever it is won’t be enough in a summer that never really started.

If you’re heading out to the New York State Fair on Saturday, make it an early arrival.

The Saturday before Labor Day has traditionally been one of the big attendance days each year and this year presents an unnecessary challenge, a concert featuring hip hop acts Mary J.Blige and NAS on the nearby Lakeview Amphitheater stage.

Even with changes made over the past few year–increasing parking spaces, paving the orange lot and changing bus routes, it’s unreasonable to expect a smooth drive into the State Fair when thousands of fans will also be converging on the Mistake by the Lake.

No need to stay home–just make it an early day at the Fair. There’s plenty of fun to be had for those arriving by mid-morning and you can be glad as you drive home that you’re not part of the inevitable traffic jam.

It may make your trip to the New York State Fair easier to navigate if you check available traffic cameras before heading to Geddes.

For one site, you can go to the State Fair website, select “your visit,” then click “plan your trip,” then “parking and transportation.” You’ll see the 511NY logo, which will route you to that site. There are several cameras on the map that are near the Fairgrounds that will help you get an idea how things are looking around the parking areas.

The WeatherBug site also has several views of nearby traffic.

Timing matters when going to the Fair and knowing whether traffic is flowing smoothly or bogged down can help you decide he best times to go.

Car pool if you can and remember that taking a bus is always an option, too.

The New York State Fair has announced plans to open a new parking lot one mile from the main gate.

The 10.5- acre lot is still under construction on property purchased from Honeywell, just east of the Fairgrounds. Vehicles would have to enter on Willis Avenue at the intersection of State Fair Boulevard. Shuttle buses would then transport patrons west on the Boulevard to Gate 10.

The new lot has an estimated 1800 parking spaces, so its a significant and much-needed boost to Fair parking accommodations.

The usual $5 per car fee would apply while round-trip bus service would be free.

The only practical way to approach the entrance to the lot would be to drive north on Willis Ave, which makes it most accessible from Solvay, Tipperary Hill and the western suburbs.

Other changes were announced that pertain to Centro Park-and-Ride service to the Fair, so check ahead before heading to your favorite parking site.

The 2019 New York State Fair opens 10 weeks from tomorrow. If you haven’t begun planning your trips to the Fair, the time is here.

Of course, you’ll want to buy advance sale tickets to get a substantial savings on admission prices. Remember, though, that some days are free for certain groups of patrons, while other days feature drastically reduced ticket prices, available at the gates.

Full info on prices, promotions and ticket purchasing locations is available on the Fair website.

You can’t come close to seeing it all, hearing it all, doing it all or eating it all in one trip, so plan on multiple adventures at the Fair.

Watch State Fair Hound for ideas and advice on how to get the most out of your days at the Fair.

Let the countdown begin!

Wednesday will be a another steamy day on the grounds of the New York State Fair, so be sure to find ways to stay cool. The new Exposition Center is an especially refreshing oasis due to the state-of-the-art air conditioning system and the ice rink that occupies two-thirds of the building.

Nearby, National Grid has a tent full of cool mist as another way to combat the effects of the heat.