‘Shimmy Shimmying’ and ‘Twisting’ with the Stars of the 1960s: The Great New York State Fair Welcomes Back Chubby Checker and Debuts Little Anthony

Rock and roll, rhythm and blues, doo-wap and dance hits: the Great New York State Fair is thrilled to usher in the sensational sounds of the ‘60s with the addition of some of the biggest stars of the era into its entertainment lineup this summer.  Rock and roll legend Chubby Checker is set kick off the 2024 Great New York State Fair by taking the Chevy Court Stage at 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 21!  The following week, on Tuesday, August 27, doo-wap singer Little Anthony will make his debut appearance at the Fair on Chevy Court at 1:00 pm.

Chubby Checker, whose career spans more than 60 years, is a Fair fan favorite, and is returning for the third year in a row to ‘twist again’ with fans and fairgoers. This will be his sixth performance at The Fair. While he is best known for “The Twist,” the first number one song of all time from the Billboard’s Hot 100, he released singles through the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and most recently in the early 2000s. In 2014, he was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame. After over 60 years of performing, Checker cites the energy he gets from singing and dancing with fans is the secret ingredient that keeps the icon going year after year.

With over 60 years in show business and over 50 million records sold worldwide, Little Anthony, as part of his beloved doo-wop group, has “shimmy shimmied’ his way into the hearts of fans across generations. He will delight crowds at the Fair with hits, including “Tears On My Pillow,” “Goin’ Out Of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad,” and “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop.” Little Anthony was inducted into the 2009 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and most recently inducted into the 2018 class of The Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

“One of the most incredible aspects of the Great New York State Fair is getting to see firsthand and up-close the stuff that living legends like Chubby Checker and Little Anthony are made of,” said Interim Fair Director Julie LaFave. “We are thrilled that Chubby Checker is just as excited to come back for a third year in a row as we are to have him, and are looking forward to showcasing the talents of Little Anthony for the very first time at the Fair. We urge fairgoers of all ages to pack their dancing shoes this summer, because these musical icons know how to get a crowd onto their feet!”

The Fair starts Wednesday, August 21, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 2. All concerts are included in the price of admission, which will go on sale later this summer. The Great New York State Fair is the most affordable state fair in the country.

In total, The Fair’s Chevrolet Music Series will feature 39 national recording acts. There will be a daily 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. concert at Chevy Court (located near Gate 1), and a daily 8 p.m. concert at Suburban Park (located on the western end of the Fairgrounds, beyond the Midway).

All concerts announced so far are provided in the charts below. Fair staff will continue to update schedules on the Fair’s website at pages dedicated to Chevy Court and Suburban Park.

Chevy Court:

Suburban Park:

Founded in 1841, the Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about the Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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