Scenic Erie Station Village

Area Activity Guide: The Great New York State Fair

August 2017

It’s the 171st New York State Fair!

What’s the best way to close the curtain on a spectacular summer?
Why, the State Fair, of course!

The 171st Great New York State Fair will welcome more than a million people through the gates of its 375-acre Syracuse complex August 23rd through September 4th, 2017. Guests can explore thousands of animals, hundreds of commercial attractions, scores of exciting midway rides, and dozens of big-name entertainers during the 13-day extravaganza. New attractions include the return of the Sky Ride, a chair lift that gently carries fairgoers along the length of the midway; a bigger and better New York State Police exhibit; and a brand-new Turtle Mound for traditional dances in the Iroquois Indian Village. Competitions will include arts & crafts, cooking, cattle, agriculture, Craft Beer, and a Drone Film Festival.

Festival Food — and then some

A significant contingent of the fair-going population is drawn to these state and county summertime events by the food. This year’s New York State Fair will take fair food to another level by presenting both Taste NY and an amazing food truck competition. All year long, Taste NY connects consumers to the best products made and grown right here in New York State. And we all know there’s nothing like a collection of food trucks to add depth to our most-loved comfort foods and breadth to even the most adventurous palate. This year’s not-to-be-missed “culinary” offerings include deep-fried breakfast (that’s right — the whole thing) and a combination of doughnuts and ice cream called the Milky Bun.

Just look at this Lineup!

Say what you will about any of the bands on the roster for this year’s fair. Taken together, this is an unbelievable lineup of musical entertainment spanning decades and generations. And these big names account for only a small segment of the hundreds of live performances to be enjoyed at the Great New York State Fair.

  • 3 Doors Down
  • Robert Randolph and the Family Band
  • The Family Stone
  • Chevelle
  • The Beach Boys
  • Earth Wind & Fire
  • Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
  • Kansas
  • The Marshall Tucker Band
  • Taylor Dayne
  • Bret Michaels
  • Leann Rimes
  • Blue Oyster Cult
  • Spin Doctors
  • UB40