Bet you’re still smiling when you think about all of the fun you had at the 2105 New York State Fair.

With the winter doldrums settled over Syracuse,

State Fair Hound invites you to enjoy these memories of last year’s Fair, 

one of the hottest on record.

You don’t have to log onto a massive internet shopping site or call the number from an infomercial to find unusual items for sale. The 2015 New York State Fair had plenty of them. There were toy items, such as the monkey-on-a-bike being demonstrated by a vendor and the small drone hovering overhead in the Center of Progress.

Among the more artistic items were wooden animals, carved with a chainsaw.

Many varieties of home-baked dog treats were being hawked in the Horticulture Building. Something called Scum Off actually sold out before Labor Day, but it probably wouldn’t have been a very appealing photo anyway.

State Fair Hound continues to look back at the New York State Fair just past with a thought that isn’t new, but never seems to be addressed. The tower at the intersection called Times Square, between the Dairy Products Building and the International Pavilion, has the potential to be much more than it is.

It’s always either unoccupied or being used as a lookout spot for State Troopers. The cops are just standing around as nothing ever seems to be happening there, but if they’re aren’t in it, it’s roped off. As usual, the Hound has a few ideas of how it could be put to better use.

It could be used as a spot for some advertiser to present products, though that’s not the best idea. It’s near the Lottery Pavilion, so they could use it to hawk tickets or make public drawings. There was once talk of placing video screens there to broadcast the Chevy Court show.

But how about putting actual entertainment up there, something like the musical combo that used to welcome visitors inside the front gate? For years the State Fair Four played lively Dixieland from a gazebo in that spot. There wasn’t an act there this year and it was missed.

The Times Square corner could really use such a festive touch and an acoustic act to greet people exiting the Milk Bar, serenade passers-by or provide some atmosphere for folks scratching their Lottery tickets could be the right touch. It would be nice to do something creative with that handsome structure.

Syracuse area Fair lovers have to be wondering this weekend where these cool temperatures were last weekend. State Fair Hound agrees with an opinion voiced by Acting Director Troy Waffner in a local newspaper that the hot, humid conditions a week ago discouraged folks from going out to the Fair.

Not everyone stayed in, however, and Hound photographer Nick LoPresti braved the heat to contribute these shots of the sun-baked audience at the Sawyer Fredericks show, a dedicated actor hamming it up while wearing the furry Fritter costume and some of the coolest critters on the grounds, frisky sea lions splashing around their tank.

It’s hard to believe these were taken just one week ago, on a day when temps exceeded 90 degrees.

Everything from hogs to pies, quilts to wine, sculptures to roses gets judged at the New York State Fair. State Fair Hound salutes this year’s winners with these photos of those awarded blue ribbon this year.

You can bet that some Fair aficionados are already working on next year’s entries. 

As the sun set on Labor Day, New York State Fair 2105 faded out. After one last Chevy Court crowd in what’s being called the court’s biggest year ever, fireworks pieced the humid air above the Fairgrounds and fans reluctantly surged toward the exits.

The double-dose of disappointment that comes with the closing of the Fair really hurts. With the dismantling of the rides, closing of the buildings and shuttering of the food stands comes the end of school vacation and the holiday weekend. This year there is some compensation in expected relief from the torrid temperatures that dogged fairgoers for the past week.

For exhausted workers, Fair employees and even some of the animals, there may be time for overdue rest before assessment of this year’s success and planning for next year begins. Likewise, your State Fair Hound will spend the next week or two looking back, reflecting, critiquing, remembering, sharpening the focus on this go-round before forging ahead with ideas and projections for the next New York State Fair.

The Hound invites you to join our journey to Aug. 25, 2016. At State Fair Hound it’s always Fair season.

After-dark hours have been especially popular with Fair patrons this year, owing as much to the steamy days as to scheduled concerts and special events. While such major acts as Melissa Etheridge, Nas, the Jacksons, Jason Derulo and the Steve Miller Band shined under Chevy Court’s spotlight, smaller stages from the Pan African Village to the Regional Artists Stage have also kept the music hot as the temperatures cooled.

Meanwhile the wine village, the Restaurant Row Beer Garden and, of course, the midway made nighttime the right time for many to party down, New York style. Food stands tend to go with the flow, keeping the grills and fryers hot as long as there are customers to feed, giving fairgoers another reason to prolong their visits.

Cheers to Fair management for extending last call for alcohol a little and to Mother Nature for rain-free evenings, several with a full moon to contrast the neon glow.

Monday is your last chance to celebrate the New York State Fair this year. If you haven’t gone, get out there. If you’ve been there, you’ve seen how tremendous it is, so go again.

Yeah, it’s going to be hot. But take your time, get some indoor time, rest frequently, drink plenty and you’ll still have a great time. Most buildings are air- conditioned, so this is the time to see the sand sculpture, to quaff some milk, to learn about maple production, to view some great artwork, to get answers to your health questions, to enjoy model trains and to review State Fair History.

Barns are cooled, the wine court is shady, the State Parks exhibits are tree lined, there are spots to eat under umbrellas and there’s plenty of fun after dark, including a dazzling midway and a climactic fireworks show.

Don’t forget, admission is just $1 at the gate and rides are also a buck each. That’s an unbelievable value on the best entertainment package of the year.

If you don’t go, you’ll regret. The food is just as great as always and there really is something for everyone.

State Fair Hound reviews it all beginning Tuesday.

State Fair Hound photographer Nick LoPresti found several talented youngsters, each performing in some way at the New York State Fair. These Irish dancers stepped lively in the Empire Theatre.

This young songstress charmed the crowd at the Regional Artists Stage.

This helmeted horseman took a break in the Coliseum.

At Talent Showcase, this limber lass showed her athleticism.