WHERE’S THE BEEF?: The Fair will celebrate Beef Day on Tuesday, August 26. In coordination with the New York Beef Council, this special celebration offers a full day of hands-on activities, education, and entertainment that puts a spotlight on New York’s beef producers and the importance of beef to New York agriculture. Special events throughout the day include giveaways such as free cow ear headbands for the first 1,000 children through the Fair gates, an interactive educational booth near the Beef Barn, and the Supreme Show, one of The Fair’s most anticipated livestock events featuring the best female cattle from county fairs across the state, at 2 p.m. in the Beef Barn.
A SPECIAL NOD: Tuesday presents another meaningful opportunity for The Fair to honor those who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way to protect our safety and well-being, as we observe Fire, Rescue, and EMS Day, sponsored by National Grid. Tomorrow, all active, current, and retired firefighters, emergency services workers, and first responders can enjoy free admission upon showing valid identification. The annual Fire, Rescue, and EMS Day Ceremony will commence at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial outside the Horticulture Building. Later in the day, these brave individuals will be recognized during the third parade of the 2025 Fair, which will start from the Exposition Center at 6 p.m.
CELEBRATING A PUBLIC SERVANT: Van Robinson—a fierce civil rights advocate, dedicated leader, and founder and long-time superintendent of the beloved Pan-African Village will be celebrated at a special dedication and plaque unveiling honoring his legacy at the Great New York State Fair on Tuesday, August 26, at 3 p.m. in the Van Robinson Pan-African Village. Media are invited to join us as we honor Van’s memory and celebrate his enduring influence. We look forward to sharing this moment with all who knew him and those inspired by his work.
TASTY TUESDAY SERVES UP DEALS: If you’re a frequent fairgoer, you may be familiar with two perennial Fair favorites: the 25-cent cup of milk, located in the Dairy Products Building, and the $1 baked potato, located in the Horticulture Building. The lines for these items speak for themselves! To provide another pocketbook-friendly option, select vendors will be offering discounted samples of their most popular dishes as part of “Tasty Tuesday” on Tuesday, August 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Samples will be available for $3-5 each. Participating vendors will have special signage. To plan out your meals, visit our map page or search the New York State Fair app!
THE PIO’S PICKS: Ponies are in the house! The ever-popular draft horse shows now include the little guys, as the Draft Ponies Horse Show begins at 9 a.m. on Tuesday in the Toyota Coliseum, with another showtime on Wednesday. On the entertainment front, Hilby returns! A staple of the State Fair, Hilby’s daily shows begin at 12:30 p.m., 2:45p.m., and 5:15 p.m., on the west side of Chevy Court (sponsored by Toyota). For concerts, it’s truly an “All for You” type of day, with a mix of performances to appeal to many fairgoers: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone at 1 p.m. (Chevy Court), followed by Sister Hazel at 6 p.m. (Chevy Court), and Lil Jon at 8 p.m. (Suburban Park). OKAYYY!
WE’RE HALFWAY THERE (ALMOST): On Day Six of The Great New York State Fair, 55,972 attendees took advantage of clearer skies and cooler temps, with fans enjoying shows by Bon Jovi tribute band Slippery When Wet at Chevy Court, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, who drew ~2,300 fairgoers to Chevy Court, and 98 Degrees, who brought ~6,000 boy band fans to Suburban Park.
More photos are posted to our Flickr page, with daily albums by photographers Michael Okoniewski and Warren Linhart.
