We’ll begin our review of the 2014 New York State Fair today with a look at things that were new this year. Our favorite change wasn’t an exhibit or performance, but the terrific redesign on the wine court concept of years passed, the Taste NY Wine, Beer and Spirits Village at the Colonnade. Of course for fans of the original, the “at the Colonnade” part was big. But the layout, the variety, the comfortable feel made it a blue ribbon success. Makes you wonder why they moved it in the first place, but let’s not go back there.
We liked the Wolves of the World, though the performance wasn’t impressive. To be honest though, we didn’t really want to see these beautiful native New York predators doing tricks like a poodle for a Snausage. The stars were just that, gorgeous, powerful animals rarely seen up close. That made it worth the visit.
We reviewed Discover the Dinosaurs extensively (Aug.22, Thunderous Opening) and don’t have much to add to that. We have to note that with the $5 admission charge and many ways to spend more on the inside, it could get pricey. More on that in a later post.
That later post will also mention the Ice Museum, a new exhibit that we confess to skipping, along with another admission charge. Maybe next year. The carving demonstrations, free outside the tent, were pretty cool, reminding us of snowy log carving.
We caught a glimpse of the Xpogo Stunt Team. It was a fun quick diversion. Not every act can be a blockbuster, you need some lighter fare as well and this one was a portable, moderately exciting show.
The Tractor Town was just a fleet of peddle toys, but the Sesame Street set loved them and they were free. Nearby there was a playground-type tower, also free. It gave parents a break and amused the little ones, as did new mascots, Pop and Candy. Good enough.
We regret not catching the demonstration of the unmanned vehicle navigating the reflecting pool, but we did enjoy the antique relics of the Great Lakes Shipwreck exhibit. It was special because it was so unlike anything else we see at the Fair. If it comes back, we’d love to see some growth, maybe some bigger pieces salvaged from the lakes.
The big change, of course, was Strates Shows out, Wade Shows in. It created the kind of sensation any annual fair needs, along with a buzz of anticipation to get it up to speed. This change did more than that, it changed the midway landscape with a colorful new look, new attractions and, best of all, a new attitude. We found staff friendly, like the guy shown here, blowing up balloons for his game joint.
Even if you loved Strates and hated to see them replaced, the freshness and excitement was definitely there, especially for thrill-seekers who flocked to the new rides.
Overall, you would have been hard pressed to take in all of the new features in one day, and that’s good. Also, not every act is appealing to every patron. Family friendly shouldn’t denote an event for children, but rather something that can be enjoyed by various ages and accommodate various interests. The Fair scored big here.
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