Among the variety of entertainment on the menu at the New York State Fair is the traditional parade, this year marching down Broadway on five of the Fair’s 13 days. 
While they aren’t exactly theme events, each of them occurs on a special day with honorees prominently represented among the marchers.
All parades with the exception of Labor Day kick off at 6 p.m.
The first parade rolls along on Friday, which is pride day. Some of the participants of festivities held earlier that day can be expected to be part of the procession.
Don’t panic if you hear a siren on Aug. 28, law enforcement day. Police officers and vehicles will catch the spotlight for the parade that day.
Fire and Rescue heroes get their recognition on Aug. 29. The sun will glisten off those brass buttons as they march in step.
Armed forces day, Aug. 31 will have military vehicles and marchers carrying flags throughout the parade route.
Union members will be chanting for the final parade, the traditional Labor Day event, on Sep. 4. The Labor Day march begins at the special time of 10:30 a.m.
The parade route is easy to locate as Broadway runs in the shadow of the Broadway SkyLiner. If you time it right, it may be fun to watch the procession as you soar over it on the Liner.
Old Times
After the parade has passed, you can go just off Broadway to enjoy displays of vintage items from hardware and tools to fabric, cookware and furniture in the Agricultural Museum. While there, you can take in talks and demonstrations by exhibitors who have solid expertise on the artifacts on display and are there to answer questions and chat with visitors. It doesn’t change much from year-to-year, but you always seem to notice something different.
Right next door is the the Carriage Museum, home to fascinating antique vehicles including wagons, buggies, carriages and sleighs. 
Last year we missed Cowboy Doug and his western chuck wagon exhibit, but we’re told he may return next year. The clanging of hammer on anvil shaping red-hot iron highlights a live blacksmithing demonstrations in the back of the building.
There’s often live entertainment on the front lawn, adding to the welcoming atmosphere.
The Burbs
The new name announced this spring for the pond-side stage at the New York State Fair has eliminated the often-asked query from people wandering the grounds asking, “Where’s Chevy Park?”
This year, the better question is “Why should I go to Suburban Park?”
For local baby boomers, childhood trips to the original Suburban Park, a classic amusement park in Manlius, held magical appeal. The tacky fun house, the zesty pizza, the miniature train, the rock ‘n’ roll bands and the rickety roller coaster made the trip an indispensable part of every kid’s summer. Those former thrill-seeking youngsters are now senior citizens who would like to enjoy entertainment in front of the newly-christened Suburban Park stage.
But there’s precious little to attract them as shows booked there have skewed almost exclusively toward much younger fans, who will identify the new moniker with ear-shattering, pulsating beats of acts that feature drums as lead instruments. 
For seniors–really for many folks who love music and value actual singing and playing talent–there’s been little reason to spend a summer evening on the sloping lawn. As usual, that’s especially true for country music fans.
Meanwhile, transportation to Suburban Park continues to be challenging, as the daunting acreage of the Fairgrounds often requires fans entering for a concert on the big stage to hike a long way. Savvy concert fans can seek parking in the adjacent gray lot or park across State Fair Boulevard in the brown lot and enter gate four. But it seems that most patrons entering will also seek out tasty Fair meals and exhibits and entertainment far from the pond and arrive breathless.
While the lengthy trek on foot can take some of the fun out of the whole experience, again this year there’s not much fun to be had there anyway. If this pathetic lineup is the future of the stage, it will never live up to the name Suburban Park. Let’s call it “Hip Hop Heaven” or “A Load of Rap,” something that fits.
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