State Fair History

State Fair History
  • 1832 – In February the New York State Agricultural Society was founded in Albany by a group of farmers, legislators, and others to promote agricultural improvement and local fairs.
  • 1841 – The nation’s first state fair is held in Syracuse, New York. on September 29 & 30th. There an assembled 10,000-15,000 people heard speeches by notables and viewed animal exhibits, a plowing contest, and samples of manufactured goods for the farm and home.
  • 1842 – The second New York State Fair is held in Albany, and ushered in an era of growth and travel for the institution.
  • 1842-1889 – The fair traveled among 11 different cities — Albany, Auburn, Buffalo, Elmira, New York City, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Utica, and Watertown.
  • 1889 – Syracuse Land Co donated to the Agricultural Society a 100-acre tract of land in Geddes (Onondaga County) crossed by railways that facilitated exhibit transport. The project continued through September of 1890.
  • 1890s – Burdened with debt from constructing permanent buildings on the site, the Agricultural Society turned to state government for relief. New York State purchased the grounds in 1899 and took over management of the fair the next year, creating the 11-member State Fair Commission appointed by the governor.
  • 1908 – The first structure in a $2 million long-term building plan was erected, with subsequent buildings completed at intervals over the next two decades.
  • 1928 – The opening of an Iroquois village exhibit and an agricultural museum addressed a growing and nostalgic public interest in local history.
  • 1938 – The fair acquired a new name—New York State Agricultural and Industrial Exposition—reflecting closer ties to industry, while extended to a 14-day schedule featuring popular entertainment acts increased attendance.
  • 1942-1947 – No fair was held, as the fairgrounds became a military base during World War II.
  • 1948 – A limited fair returns with a six-day run in mid-September, a total attendance of only 25,529 pass through the gates.
  • 1949 – A full-scale exposition returns to the fairgrounds with large crowds in attendance.
  • 1950s-1960s – The fair expanded to nine days and gained an attendance of over 500,000 by the end of the 1950s. The midway is added to the fair along with nationally known entertainers both of which attracted families.
  • 1962-1966 – The fair temporarily changes its name to New York State Exposition.
  • 1967 – The New York State Exposition is renamed back to the New York State Fair.
  • 1972 – Sonny and Cher perform at the fair’s Empire Court, breaking the fair’s concert attendance records.
  • 1978 – The fair expands to 10 days and the buildings at the fairgrounds begin to be rented during the off-season.
  • 1990 – The fair expands to 12 days.
  • 2001 – Over 1 million fairgoers attend the 12 day fair for the first time with 1,011,248 attendees.
  • 2009 – The fair changes its Chevy Court format to include two different performers each day.
  • 2010 – Country trio Lady Antebellum’s performance on Chevy Court breaking the previous record with an estimated 30,000 attendees. A record of 206,000 fairgoers attends Chevy Court concerts during the 12 day run. Paid attendance at the fair hits an all-time high, while the total attendance was the fourth highest in history at that point with 999,845.
  • 2011 – Bruno Mars breaks the Chevy Court attendance record yet again with an estimated 35,000 in attendance.
  • 2013 – The New York State Fair opens an exhibit in the Grange Building celebrating their history. The addition of the first ever Dairy Cow Birthing center at the New York State Fair attracts crowds of thousands to watch live births of calves three times a day during the Fair 12 day run.
  • 2014 – A new tradition is started with “Dollar Day” on Labor Day including dollar admission, dollar rides and dollar food and drink specials. On Saturday, August 30 the Fair breaks the highest one day attendance record of 120,516 with 120,617 visitors. Two days later on Monday, September 1, that record is broken again with 122,870 visitors.
  • 2015 – The first major investment in the Fairgrounds in more than 80 years begins with the implosion of the aged Grandstand and leveling of more than 60 acres of land.
  • 2016 – The Fairgrounds sports a beautiful new Main Gate, a full-service RV park, an open Midway and other improvements in the first phase of more than $120 million in upgrades. The Fair sets a new record for attendance: 1,117,630.
  • 2017 – The Fair opens one day earlier to expand to a total run of 13 days. Improvements continue with a new Turtle Mound for cultural dances at the Indian Village and a new home for the New York State Police’s popular exhibit. Another record crowd – 1,161,912 – turns out.
  • 2018 – Major improvements conclude with the opening of the new Exposition Center, the largest clear-span building north of New York City between Boston and Cleveland, and the paving and improvement of the Fair’s largest parking lot. On Saturday, September 1 the Fair breaks the highest one day attendance record with 134,115 visitors. The Fair sets a third total attendance record in a row, 1,279,010, and becomes the nation’s third largest state fair.
  • 2019 – The Fair blew through yet another attendance record of 1,329,275 people attended the first-ever 13-day Fair. This included an all-time single day record attendance of 147,749 people.
  • 2020 – No fair held due to COVID-19 outbreak.
  • 2021 – The fair expands to 18 days for 2021, but returns back to 13 days for 2022.
  • 2023 – Lainey Wilson crushes the record for largest State Fair concert crowd with an estimated 53,200 in attendance at the newly renamed Suburban Park area.