Category: Did you know…
The Grandstand is gone… Many heard the implosion from miles away.
Goodbye, NYS Fair Grandstand… *sniff*
Cyber Monday 2016 Fair Tickets – Did you get yours??
If you weren’t able to snag some 2016 New York State Fair tickets for $3 each during the Cyber Monday online sale, there will be more opportunities to purchase pre-sale tickets at discounted prices:
http://nysfair.org/the-great-new-york-state-fair-doubles-tickets-available-for-cyber-monday-sale/
Lack of Grandstand Acts affecting nearby Fair vendors
The lack of entertainment acts booked for the Grandstand at the NYS Fair this year has had a direct effect on many of the food vendors whose business depended on them. A bulk of their sales were from patrons who would stop out to have something to eat and/or drink on their way to the show. Without anything to draw people to that area of the Fair (the wine tent was moved as well) sales have dropped dramatically. There are many days when vendors aren’t able to make the rent.
I talked with Teddy Boileau of The Shamrock, one of the vendors located in the area near the Grandstand. Business is down significantly this year he says,as the crowds of fairgoers has shifted towards other areas of the Fair. “Without the Grandstand shows, people just don’t come out this way as much. That was our main draw.”
While details for the re-designed Fair are slowly being released, I’m hoping to see something that will take into account long time vendors who have been hit hard this year in that area. I’ll admit, I never even thought how these businesses would be affected and I couldn’t figure out why the people traffic in that area was so slow. Sadly, now I know.
Dig Safely New York Exhibit at the NYS Fair is a hit with Fairgoers
As you are wandering the New York State Fair this year, I encourage you to head on over to the entrance to the Arts and Crafts Building just past Chevy Court and the Center of Progress Building. There you will find Dig Safely New York‘s exhibit that includes an interactive display of the dangers of digging in your yard without calling 811 first. “Call 811 before you dig” is their tag line and it’s more important than many people realize; in fact, it’s the law.
If you are planning to dig on your property for any reason, state law requires you to place a free location request with Dig Safely New York at least 2 full working days, but not more than 10 working days before beginning your project. Best yet, the call and the service is FREE! The easiest way to get your mark out is at http://www.digsafelynewyork.com.
Their exhibit at the Fair includes a mock digging experience for kids and adults alike. Jim Flint, a Field Supervisor for the company, demonstrates for me by handing a passer-by a shovel and asking them to dig in the mulch-filled display box in front. It’s perfect for fairgoers with children – the kids can “dig” and parents can learn about the service.
As they begin to dig on one end, a geyser (well, maybe not quite a geyser) shoots up water. Oops, you just hit my water line he explains. They dig again and big burst of gas (ok, it’s only air) shoots out. Oops, you just hit my gas line he says. A third danger, electrical wires is not demonstrated for obvious reasons but they have an actual shovel with a gaping hole that shows how powerful and dangerous electricity can be.
Established in 1969, Dig Safely New York promotes an easier, safer digging environment, and serves the entire state of New York outside of Long Island and NYC. Headquartered in East Syracuse, NY, Customer Service Representatives man call centers in East Syracuse and Latham, NY. Each call center is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to receive calls regarding planned excavations. They field the calls and then distribute the information to, on average, six facility owner/operators including National Grid. Engineers, contractors, design engineers and home/property owners can call them by dialing 811 or 1-800-962-7962.
Stop by and talk with Jim, John or Steve for more information, and to play in the mulch! 😉
Royce A. McNett “Paintings by RAM” in the Center of Progress Building
If you’d like to see a unique artist at work, you’ve GOT to check out “Paintings by RAM” in the Center of Progress building. According to an article in the Watertown Daily Times from a few years ago, Royce A. McNett (i.e. RAM) has been painting for 35+ years. His specialty is painting on mirrors and from what we observed, with a gorgeous result.
In the article he was asked how he got started doing this. His answer: “If you had a face like this, wouldn’t you cover up the mirrors?” 🙂 He then responded “It was a different medium for me to try and it’s a different medium for people to buy. It’s not something they see in stores.” So check this unique artist out when you are enjoying the GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR! #uniquenesscounts
Win 2 Tickets to the NYS Fair!
Fellow Fairgoers ~ We have Two(2) NYS Fair Tickets (daily passes) to give away!
All you have to do is tell us your Favorite AND your Least Favorite Fair Food
There are three ways to enter:
- Comment below this blog post OR
- Click ‘Like us on Facebook’ on this blog and post your picks in comments OR
- Tweet your answers to @nysfairblog with the hashtag #nysfairblogfreetix
Deadline is Thursday, 8/20/15 at midnight. Winner will be announced on Friday, August 21st on the NYSFair Blog, Facebook and Twitter!
The $1 Baked Potato has a new partner!
In addition to the traditional $1 potato with all the toppings (or none) offered in the Horticulture Building, this year the NYS Fair if offering a $1 Sweet Potato as well! YUM! There will be butter and sweet toppings available. If you can’t choose, have one in the morning and the other in the afternoon 🙂
#dollarbakedpotato #sweetpotato #NYSFairtradition
Advance Sale Tickets – Where to get them
Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance to save $$$!
Regular price during the Fair is $10 – Advance sale tickets are only $6.00!
According to the nysfair.org web site, you can buy advance sale tickets for entry to the Fair at the following locations:
Syracuse Area:
- ACMG FCU: Solvay, Syracuse
- Crouse Hinds Employee FCU: Syracuse
- CORE FCU: East Syracuse, Morrisville, North Syracuse
- Crouse Federal Credit Union: Syracuse
- Destiny USA: Syracuse – At Guest Relations desks on level 1 and level 2 in the canyon
- Empower FCU: Syracuse
- Express Marts: DeWitt, East Syracuse, Elbridge, Fayetteville, Jordan, Liverpool, Manlius, Marcellus, Mattydale, Syracuse
- Focalpoint FCU (NPG): Chittenango, Syracuse
- Geddes Federal Savings & Loan: Geddes
- General Electric Employees FCU: Liverpool, Syracuse
- Green Hills Farms: Syracuse
- Holiday Inn Express: Syracuse
- Kinney Drugs: Baldwinsville, Brewerton, Brideport, Camillus, Cazenovia, Chittenango, Cicero, East Syracuse, Elbridge, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Skaneateles, Syracuse, Tully
- Melissa’s Good News: Syracuse
- Mirabito Convenience Express: Brewerton, Camillus
- MONeY FCU: Syracuse
- New York State Fair Box Office: Syracuse
- Nichols Supermarket: Liverpool
- Nojaim Brothers: Marcellus, Syracuse
- Price Chopper: Cicero, Clay, Syracuse
- Preble Mirabito: Tully
- Quickway Food Stores: Camillus, Syracuse
- St. Joseph’s Hospital Gift Shop: Syracuse
- SECNY FCU: Baldwinsville, Destiny USA, Manlius, North Syracuse, Onondaga Hill, Skaneateles
- Seneca Knolls Big M: Baldwinsville
- Solvay Bank: Camillus, Cicero, DeWitt, Fairmount, Liverpool, North Syracuse, Solvay, Syracuse, Westvale
- Summitt FCU: Syracuse, Cicero, Liverpool
- Syracuse Firefighters Employees FCU: Syracuse
- Syracuse University – Schine Box Office: Syracuse
- Tops Friendly Markets: Baldwinsville, Camillus, Cazenovia, Chittenango, Clay, Cortland, DeWitt, Fayetteville, Manlius, North Syracuse, Pulaski, Syracuse
- Wegmans: Camillus/Fairmount, Cicero, Clay, DeWitt, E Syracuse, Fayetteville, Liverpool, No Syracuse, Syracuse
