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QUICK
STATE FAIR
INFO

Do children get in free?
Children 12 and under
are free everyday, children 16 and
under are free on
August 29 only.

How much does daily admission cost?
A daily admission ticket
is $10.00 at the gate.

Does your concert
ticket include your admission to the Fair?

Tickets purchased before the day of any concert allows free admission the day of that show.

How do I get to the Fairgrounds?
Check out our Visitor Information Center for directions, our Centro
Bus Schedule, or information about
Amtrak train service.

How do I prove
I'm a veteran on
Veterans Day?

Provide a veteran's ID
or discharge papers at
the gate and receive
free admission.

Are pets allowed, even if they are leashed?
No, unless they are in
a competition or are
working dogs or
canine companions.

  • Q. When is the Fair ?
  • Q. Where is the Fair ?
  • Q. What are the hours of the Fair ?
  • Q. What are admission prices ?
  • Q. How much does parking cost ?
  • Q. What is the smoking policy at the Fair ?
  • Q. What do I have to wear at the Fair ?
  • Q. Can I bring food & beverages to the Fair ?
  • Q. Is there tram service ?
  • Q. Is there Centro bus service ?
  • Q. Is there Amtrak train service ?
  • Q. Are there stroller, wagon or wheelchair rentals ?
  • Q. Where do you find general info during the Fair?
  • Q. Who is performing at the Grandstand & Court ?
  • Q. What special days are there at the Fair ?
  • Q. What family events will be at the Fair ?
  • Q. What about the Midway by the Strates Shows ?
  • Q. What if someone gets lost?
  • Q. Where is first aid available ?
  • Q. Where are the ATM services ?
  • Q. Where are the TTY phones ?
  • Q. Are there jobs available for the 2008 Fair ?


Q. WHEN IS THE FAIR ?

A. Thursday, August 21 through Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 2008.

Q. WHERE IS THE FAIR ?

A. The New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y. are adjacent to Route 690 West. The Fairgrounds are accessible from the New York State Thruway, exit 39 (from the West) and 34A (from the East), and Route 81 from the North and South.

Q. WHAT ARE THE HOURS OF THE FAIR ?

A. Gates open at 8:00 am daily. Exhibit buildings are open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, with the exception of Labor Day when they close at 9:00pm. The Midway is open until midnight every night of the Fair (closing time subject to change without notice).

Q. WHAT ARE ADMISSION PRICES ?

A. Admission to the Fair is $10 at any gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free every day of the Fair. Seniors 60 and over are admitted free on Monday and Tuesday, August 25 and 26. Students 16 and under are admitted free on Friday, August 29.

Q. HOW MUCH DOES PARKING COST ?

A. Parking is available at the Fair for over 23,000 cars. Parking per day is $5 for cars and $3 for motorcycles. Free shuttle buses run continuously to and from the upper lots to the Main Gate. Click here for information about our Temporary RV Parking.

Q. WHAT IS THE SMOKING POLICY AT THE FAIR ?

A. Smoking is allowed on the Fairgrounds in general areas that are permitted by New York State Law. In the Mohegan Sun Grandstand smoking is not allowed (ticket holders who wish to smoke will have to use a designated area away from the concert seats). Tobacco products will not be sold anywhere on the Fairgrounds.

Q. WHAT DO I HAVE TO WEAR AT THE FAIR ?

A. Each visitor to the New York State Fair will be required to wear a shirt and footwear.

Q. CAN I BRING FOOD & BEVERAGES TO THE FAIR ?

A. While Fairgoers can and are encouraged to bring coolers with food and drink, they will not be allowed to carry any alcoholic beverages through the gates. Additionally, all liquids must be in plastic or cans. No glass bottles or containers will be allowed. The only exception at the Fairgrounds is the Mohegan Sun Grandstand where coolers, bottles, cans and glass are not allowed.

Q. IS THERE TRAM SERVICE ?

A. Fairgoers are able to make use of the Fair’s internal tram network for a set rate of $2 a day. The trams travel around the perimeter road, stopping at 11 scheduled stops. Service runs 9:00am-8:00pm.

Q. IS THERE CENTRO BUS SERVICE ?

A. Centro Bus service will be available from hundreds of locations throughout Central New York to the Fair. Click here for a full Centro bus schedule (schedule subject to change). For more information, please contact the Centro InfoLine in Syracuse at 315-442-3400, Centro in Auburn at 315-685-7075 or Centro in Oswego at 315-342-4400.

Q. IS THERE AMTRAK TRAIN SERVICE ?

A. From New York City to Niagara Falls, and all stops in between, Amtrak will provide door-to-door transportation to the Fairgrounds throughout the entire run of this year's Fair, August 21 through September 1.

Q. ARE THERE STROLLER, WAGON or WHEELCHAIR RENTALS ?

A. For those who have trouble doing the Fair by foot and for the little ones who will tire out, the Fair offers strollers, wagons, wheelchairs and electric scooters.

Strollers, wagons, and wheelchairs are available for rent. Supplies are limited.

Daily Rental Rates from Vista Mobility Specialists
Equipment Rate Deposit
Strollers $9.00 Drivers License/State ID
Wagons $13.00 Drivers License/State ID
Wheelchairs $15.00 Drivers License/State ID
Electric Carts $45.00 Drivers License/State ID
Special Electric Cart "twilight" rental rate of $30.00 after 6:00pm
Rental locations: outside Main Gate, inside Gate 4 & outside Gate 10

Note: Rentals are on a first-come, first service basis and cannot be reserved in advance. Vista's policy is to rent electric carts only to individuals who have medical or physical needs. Vista does not rent to children or young adults. In addition, a Vista representative will "wrist band" the renter, in order to visibly identify the only "authorized" operator of the electric cart.

Q. WHERE DO I FIND GENERAL INFORMATION DURING THE FAIR?

A. Fairgoers can use any of our three Guest Relations facilities sponsored by JetBlue. The first Guest Relations center is located just inside the Main Gate (Gate 1), the second is located just inside Gate 4, the third at Gate 10. These facilities provide information on all aspects of the Fair and surrounding Syracuse area. Fairgoers can stop by one of these locations from 9:00am to 9:00pm daily.

Q. WHO IS PERFORMING AT THE GRANDSTAND & COURT ?

A. Click here for a schedule of Grandstand performers.

Click here for a schedule of Court performers.

Q. WHAT SPECIAL DAYS ARE THERE AT THE FAIR ?

A. See a list on our Special Days page.

Q. WHAT FAMILY EVENTS WILL BE AT THE FAIR ?

A. See a list of family events on our Every Day at the Fair page.

Q. WHAT ABOUT THE STRATES MIDWAY AT THE FAIR?

A. The Strates Shows Midway, the only railroad carnival in the United States, provides the best rides and games for the New York State Fair. Hit the Midway for lots of fun every day of the Fair until midnight.

Q. WHAT IF SOMEONE GETS LOST ?

A. Once again, Wegmans’ “Lost Kid” Tags provide quick identification for those who become separated from their group. Tags are available from all New York State Troopers or at Guest Relations Centers. Lost persons will be brought to the Lost Persons Center located between the Main Gate and Gate 12.

Q. WHERE IS FIRST AID AVAILABLE ?

A. There are two First-Aid stations at the Fair. The main infirmary facility is located directly behind the John Deere Horticulture Building and another is within the Fire Station near the Youth Activity Center.

Q. WHERE ARE THE ATM SERVICES ?

A. Solvay Bank provides ATM services throughout the Fairgrounds. The sites are as follows: Inside and outside the Main Gate (Gate 1); inside Gate 3; at Tram Stop 10 near Gate 4; inside Gate 10; across from The Shamrock and Gianelli’s Restaurants near the DEC Log Cabin; in the lobby of the Verizon Center of Progress Building; at the State Park entrance to the Pepsi International Pavilion; at the Wine Court, behind the DEC Aquarium building; under the Grandstand; at the Midway restrooms; Rest & Eat at end of Restaurant Row near Coliseum.

Q. WHERE ARE THE TTY PHONES ?

A. The TTY locations are inside the Verizon Center of Progress Building near the back door, inside the main entrance of the John Deere Horticulture Building and next to the Guest Relations Center located inside the Main Gate (Gate 1).

Q. ARE THERE JOBS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2008 FAIR ?

A. Fairtime jobs are available for maintenance positions only and applications are also available at the State Fair's Administration Building. You can also click here to get the application online (pdf). These applications must be returned to the Fair by July 11, 2008. Your application can also be also returned by mail and will be acknowledged upon receipt. You must be 16 or older to apply for Fairtime jobs and have two forms of ID.

Applications for parking positions for Fairtime will be available at the Parking Office (behind the maintenance office) August 1-8, 2008 only. The parking office will be open weekdays during these dates from 9:00am-2:00pm. You must be 16 or older to apply for parking jobs and have two forms of ID.

The New York State Fair does not hire for any of the food vendors or concessionaires. In addition, the New York State Fair will not forward any applications to food vendors or concessionaires. If you are interested in a job with a food vendor or concessionaire, you must apply with them directly.

You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view files in PDF format. The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader is free at the Adobe web site.

Copyright © 2008 - The Empire Expo Center. All rights reserved.
581 State Fair Blvd. Syracuse, NY 13209
Phone (800) 475-FAIR or (315) 487-7711 | Fax (315) 487-9260
E-mail: newyorkstatefair@agmkt.state.ny.us | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

We encourage and appreciate your questions, comments and suggestions.
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