HOW SWEET IT IS: It’s Maple Day at The Fair! Sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers Association, fairgoers will have an opportunity to not only taste the delicious goodness of pure maple syrup but also to learn about it too. In the Horticulture Building, you can find Fair favorite maple ice cream, as well as maple cotton candy, maple donuts, maple popcorn, and new this year: maple cinnamon buns! Nearby, the Maple Experience, a mobile educational exhibit in a 24-foot trailer, will teach visitors about the maple industry through interactive demonstrations of sap collection, boiling, and syrup production, including tastings and appearances by the mascot “Leafy,” with FFA students showcasing maple techniques. Fun Fact: New York State continues to rank second in the nation in maple production. New York maple producers experienced a record-breaking year in 2024, with production increasing to 846,000 gallons, up nearly 100,000 gallons of maple syrup from the 2023 season.
LAW ENFORCEMENT DAY: Monday is Law Enforcement Day, and The Fair extends its heartfelt gratitude to all active, retired, and fallen police, peace, and corrections officers for their unwavering dedication to community safety across New York State. As a token of appreciation, all active and retired law enforcement personnel will receive free admission with valid identification. The day also features the annual Law Enforcement Ceremony at 11:15 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in front of the Horticulture Building to honor fallen heroes. Law enforcement personnel will be recognized again during the second parade of the 2025 Fair, which begins at 6 p.m. from the Exposition Center.
STATE PARKS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rounding out Monday’s Special Days’ commemorations is State Parks Day at The Fair! Did you know that New York’s smallest state park can be found within the State Fair? It’s true! To celebrate the State Park at The Fair, admission on this day will be free for fairgoers who present one of the following New York State Parks passes at the gates: Empire Pass, Access Pass, Lifetime Liberty Pass and Golden Park Program (people 65 years old and older are admitted free every day of the Fair). In keeping with the day, Herkimer Home State Historic Site will be featuring a maple syrup exhibit from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
THE PIO’S PICKS: Monday’s the day for that maple coffee and maple ice cream I’ve been meaning to order. After my sweet treat, I plan to find the Beak & Skiff sponsored Wheels of Agriculture Game Show and Trivia Tractor to test my knowledge (see here for locations and show times). Monday is also the final day for The Living Zultar, sponsored by Toyota. It’s hard to miss the Big laughs I’ve heard coming from the west side of Chevy Court in response to his comedy set. On the music front, we’ll be Livin’ on a Prayer that the weather cooperates for Bon Jovi tribute band Slippery When Wet at 1 p.m. (Chevy Court) and 90s pop sensations 98 Degrees at 8 p.m. (Suburban Park).
A WORD OF GRATITUDE: On Day Five of The Great New York State Fair, 60,028 guests entered the Fairgrounds despite strong afternoon storms that forced gates to close for two hours. We’re appreciative of the quick response of our partners and all of you who helped us get the word out about our emergency alert system, New York State Fair app, and on social media, which greatly assisted in alerting fairgoers and vendors of impending severe weather and ensure the safety of all. Nearly 5,000 people have subscribed to the Fairgrounds Alert System, which is the quickest way to notify the public of important updates and real-time emergency alerts. We encourage anyone who plans to attend The Fair to text NYSF to 888777 to opt in. Fairgoers can also download the New York State Fair app on the Google Play and Apple stores. Thanks to the fast action of the New York State Fair team, our vendors, and emergency management and law enforcement officials, there were no injuries, damage was minimal, and gates re-opened in time for evening performances by GROUPLOVE (Chevy Court) and Busta Rhymes, who attracted ~16,000 fans to Suburban Park.
