New York State Fair nears as crews prepare grounds weeks before opening day

GEDDES, N.Y. — With less than a month to go until the Great New York State Fair opens, the fairgrounds are already buzzing with activity — even if it’s still quiet compared with what’s to come.

The New York State Fair is 29 days away, and preparations are in the final weeks for both fair administration and vendors. Construction equipment can be heard throughout the fairgrounds as crews work to get everything ready before opening day.

Fair Director Julie LaFave said the final stretch requires juggling multiple projects at once.

“Everybody’s working on five things at once and then we’re done with that, they’re moving on to the next thing,” LaFave said.

LaFave said the fair is balancing construction, landscaping and new attractions, with safety as the top priority.

“We’ve put a lot of changes and a lot of intentional thought into our safety upgrades this year, keeping our fair goers safe,” she said.

Some of the changes — including new vehicle barriers and emergency planning — are designed to blend into the background. Other work is more visible, including construction on the new Future Farmers of America building.

On Restaurant Row, crews are also working on new pavers as vendors prepare their stands for the crowds expected during the fair’s run. Amy Horan, owner of Horan’s on Restaurant Row, said her family is checking off the pre-fair to-do list.

“There’s just a lot of making sure all your insurances are up to date,” Horan said. “There’s a lot of just making sure everything is still running properly.”

Horan’s family has been part of the fair for almost 30 years, and she described the fairgrounds as a community. She said the stand has been a central part of her children’s lives.

“They don’t know anything different. This is their vacation time. Between the rides, the family at the stand, the family in the horse barn, our family now on the goat burn. It’s been a lot of fun to see the kids grow every year with it,” Horan said.

The fair begins Aug. 26, bringing months of preparation to a close. LaFave said the start of the fair brings a mix of emotions.

“It’s a little bit of everything,” she said. “We go in confident that we’ve done everything that we can control.”

Horan said the feeling for vendors is excitement that carries through the fair’s full run.

“It’s excitement. There’s a lot of excitement throughout the entire 13 days until you get to Labor Day,” she said.

Tickets are now on sale for the Great New York State Fair, with purchasing information available here.