GEDDES, N.Y. — Paying to get into the Great New York State Fair is just the start of what families can spend once they walk through the gate, and many say keeping costs down comes down to having a plan.
Admission costs $8.32 for most fairgoers. Kids 12 and under get in free, and admission is also free for people 65 and older.
Once inside, families say expenses can add up quickly, starting with food.
“The tickets are fairly priced and honestly I love the food so much I feel like it’s worth it,” Benjamen Mantione said.
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Families said the extra costs beyond admission are where they have to make choices, and they look for ways to stretch their budget.
“We will take advantage of any deals and are happy to have the 25-cent milk where I can get each of them milk and it really doesn’t affect the price of what we can do,” Daniel Romeo said.
Some deals are available. Bottled water is capped at $3. On Tasty Tuesday, participating vendors offer $3-to-$5 samples.
For at least one longtime vendor, keeping the fair affordable also means holding the line on prices.
“We’ve been here for 65 years and so people look for us because we are the best pizza on the grounds and our prices have stayed the same. So when they round that corner they see New York style pizza and an $8 slice for every pie in the house,” said Theresa Dery of New York Style Pizza.
For families, budgeting often comes down to deciding what’s worth the splurge and what can be done for free.
“Gauging how much each day costs us if we come for a day and just see some bands and do some things that don’t cost great money. Maybe that adds an extra day we can come,” Romeo said.
On Aug. 27, the second day of the fair, anyone under 18 years old gets in for free for Student Youth Day. Additionally, SUNY students get in free with a valid ID.