GEDDES, N.Y. — The Great New York State Fair is about more than rides, food and farm animals. For many fairgoers, it’s an experience that hits all five senses — from the smell of fried dough to the sound of the midway.
You can hear the fair before you even see it, with music in the distance and screams from riders flying high above the midway. “It was really good, actually. It was just like very fast and there were a lot of turns,” Frankie Paglia said.
At the fair, every turn brings a different sound — from bells ringing at carnival games to live music and vendors calling out to the crowds.
But the fair isn’t just something you hear. It’s something you can smell, too, from food sizzling at stands across the grounds.
“I look forward to the food,” Karl Oney said. “The Basilio’s sausage sandwich is unbelievably good. I look forward to that year after year. I never have tasted any sausage sandwich better or even as good.”
Blake Sheldon also had a favorite part of the fair’s food lineup: “It’s the crunch. The crunch is where it’s at. You gotta get some of those crispies. I paid the 8 bucks for the crispiness.”
For Aleena Giarrusso, it was the deep-fried Oreos. “The deep-fried Oreos. I already love Oreos, and it’s just like so good. I think it’s the best. It smells good, it tastes really good and I could get them every day and not get sick of it,” she said.
Then there are the sights: bright lights flashing on the midway, giant rides spinning against the sky, rows of food stands and fairgoers carrying creations found only at the fair.
Inside the barns, the atmosphere changes again. The air feels cooler. You can hear the animals — and the smell is unmistakable.
And for many, a fair staple remains a fan favorite: fried dough. “Candy… Tastes like candy… It was crispy, doughy on the inside, sweet, a little salty too,” Charissa and Carson Chen said.
For thousands of fairgoers, the sights, sounds and smells are part of what makes the state fair feel like summer isn’t over just yet.