Special Needs

• Parking
• Stroller, Wagon & Wheelchair Rental
• Tram Service
• Unisex Accessible Assist Restrooms
• Train Service
• Special Needs Grandstand Seating Policy
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Parking:

Fairgoers driving to the 2011 New York State Fair with authorized handicapped parking tags now can park their vehicles within the grounds. The paved Special Needs Parking Lot is located between Gates 10 and 11, with vehicles entering the grounds at Gate 6 or 7. The lot measures over 360,000 square feet and can accommodate approximately 700 vehicles. If anyone with special needs desires to park in any other lot open to the public, they may do so.

Special tram service is available to shuttle those parking in the Special Needs Lot. Wheelchair accessible trams will shuttle guests from the parking lot to Tram Stop 3 behind the Horticulture building. Tram services run from 8:00am until 12:30am and Fair staff will be in the lot for personal assistance.

Those using the Special Needs Parking Lot in order to attend a Fairtime concert may ride the free Special Needs Parking Lot Shuttle and should get their hands stamped before leaving the lot. The shuttle then runs from the lot to Tram Stop 3, behind the Horticulture Building. Following the concert, those with properly stamped hands can board the shuttle at Tram Stop 4, behind the State Fair Grandstand, for the ride back to the Special Needs Parking Lot.

Stroller, Wagon, Wheelchair & Electric Cart Rental:

Vista Mobility Specialists provides strollers, wagons, wheelchairs and electric carts for public rental. Supplies are limited. Call 1-877-588-4782 ext. 2 for reservations. Information subject to change.

Note: Rentals are on a first-come, first service basis. 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.

Tram Service

The trams travel around the perimeter of the Fairgrounds from 9:00am to 8:00pm, picking up and dropping off passengers at 11 designated stops. Fairgoers are able to make use of the Fair's internal transportation network for $2.00 all day long - trams are free on our two Senior Days, August 29th & 30th. Tram service stops temporarily from 5:15-6:45pm for our Daily Parade, and resumes after the parade is finished.

Unisex Accessible Family Restrooms:

The Fair has the following unisex accessible family restroom locations.

• Inside Gate 1 next to the ATM/Box Office
• Inside Gate 10
• Pink Parking Lot restroom
• The Art & Home Center near the Empire Room
• Dairy Products Building

Train Service:

Amtrak trains are handicapped accessible and you can use a wheelchair from the train.

Special Needs Grandstand Seating Policy:

NEW! The New York State Fair has the following special needs seating options for fairgoers attending grandstand shows:

• Wheelchair
• Mobility impairments - i.e. can't climb stairs
• Hearing impairments - no interpreter
• Interpreter section - sign language interpreter **
• Vision impaired

When purchasing special needs seating please specify which type of special needs section you wish to purchase.

Persons with disabilities and thier companions will be permitted, subject to availability, to purchase adjacent seats in a manner which affords them full and equal access. These seats will be available starting at the same time as seats go on sale to the general public. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis consistent with normal ticket policies.

Tickets can be purchased either online through Ticketmaster.com or by phone by calling 1-800-745-3000 or 1-866-448-7849. They can also be purchased at the New York State Fair Box Office. The State Fair does not accept any telephone orders for tickets.

** In order to determine which concerts require an interpreter, the Fair needs to have tickets purchased by August 5, 2011. While tickets can be purchased after August 5, 2011, there is no guarantee that the Fair will be able to provide an interpreter for that particular concert. This is due to the fact that the interpreter needs time to learn the performers' songs. **

Special needs wheelchair/mobility impairments seats are located on the track area in an elevated seating platform and in the first tier of the grandstand accessed by a ramp.  The hearing impaired, interpreter section and vision impaired sections are located on the flat track near the stage.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing:

Aurora of Central New York

AURORA of Central New York, Inc. is once again providing certified professional Sign Language Interpreting for the Grandstand Concert Series at the New York State Fair. Tickets for the Special Needs section of the Grandstand can be purchased at the State Fair by August 5, 2011.

AURORA of CNY, Inc. has been providing certified professional sign language interpreter services to the Central New York community for almost 30 years and to the New York State Fair grandstand concerts for over 20 years. AURORA's Marjorie Clere Interpreter Referral Service requires that its interpreters follow the National Association for the Deaf - Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (NAD-RID) Code of Professional Conduct.

Find more information at AURORA's booth located in the Science and Industry Building, or click here for more information.

Fair Access for the Deaf (FAD)

Since 1988, Fair Access for the Deaf has provided interpreters for the deaf at the Fair. Thirty sign language interpreters travel to Syracuse from all across the state to interpret more than 300 events. Interpreters are easy to spot in their blue shirts with the FAD logo on the back. Fairgoers also may request interpreters to join their groups. Find schedules of interpreted events and how to contact an interpreter at the Guest Relations Booth, inside the Main Gate (Gate 1). Click here to view FAD's website.