Admission tickets now on sale for the 2023 Great New York State Fair

The New York State Fair begins on Wednesday, August 23, and continues through Labor Day, September 4, at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. The Fair’s hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, except for Labor Day, when The Fair closes at 9 p.m. Gates open to the public at 9 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. every day except for Labor Day, Monday, September 4, when no entry will be permitted after 8 p.m.

Admission tickets and parking are now on sale through The Fair’s exclusive online ticket seller, Etix. Tickets will cost $6 and parking will cost $10, plus a minimal service fee. Admission is free for those who are 65 years old and older, and children 12 years old and under.

The Fair is introducing a new Frequent Fairgoer ticket option for $20. Geared toward those who are planning to be at The Fair at least four days out of its 13-day period, the Frequent Fairgoer option allows the ticket holder to enter The Fair once a day, every day. This ticket is non-transferable, and available exclusively online.

“When you think about who comes to The Fair in terms of age demographics, almost half of our attendees get in for free. Then, once they’re here, all of The Fair’s entertainment is included. What a deal!” said Interim Fair Director Sean Hennessey. “Everywhere you look there is something to do! Whether it’s the new, exciting and interactive Dinosaur Exhibition, the beloved traditions of viewing the Butter Sculpture and Sand Sculpture, or observing a handful of the dozens of animal competitions hosted here every day, there is so much to look forward to. And, if you think you’re going to come more than three times during The Fair’s 13-day run, the Frequent Fairgoer provides a great option too.”

Fair admission also includes the ability to watch every performance in the Chevrolet Music Series, including Lainey Wilson, Ludacris, Tyler Hubbard, Danielle Ponder, Lee Greenwood, REO Speedwagon, Ann Wilson of Heart, Quiet Riot, Bret Michaels’ Parti Gras, Joywave, Julio Iglesias Jr., Salt-N-Pepa and many more. Performances for children include Peppa Pig Live! on Saturday, August 26, and Disney Junior Live on Tour: Costume Palooza on Sunday, September 3. Performance schedules are continuously updated at pages dedicated to Chevy Court and Suburban Park on the Fair’s website, https://nysfair.ny.gov.

Tickets will only be sold online, in advance, and during the Fair. There are three ways to buy tickets: in advance online at NYSFair.NY.Gov; over the phone at 1-800-514-3849 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday; and in-person during the Fair at all gates through electronic kiosks. To minimize waiting time for the kiosks, large signs featuring QR codes will signal to fairgoers to visit The Fair’s website to purchase tickets. There will be no cash sales at the Fair’s entrance gates or in parking lots.

“We strongly encourage fairgoers purchase tickets before arriving at the grounds, even if they’re doing it while they’re in the car or on the bus on the way here,” said Hennessey. “Even though we try to be as efficient as possible, with upwards of 100,000 people in the vicinity of the Fairgrounds daily, purchasing tickets in advance helps maximize efficiency at the gates. That way, attendees aren’t standing in line at the kiosks, and they’re able to move through the gates as quickly as possible to experience all the fun that The Fair has to offer!”

Tickets for parking may also be purchased through Etix for $10. On the day(s) they visit the fair, drivers may show their ticket to parking attendants electronically on their phones, or through a printed copy. In the Orange and Brown lots, parking may also be paid for using EZPass Plus (a free add-on to EZPass, which allows users to pay for parking in addition to highway tolls).

For the convenience of fairgoers, trams will run continuously on the Fairgrounds, stopping at nine stops from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Plus, a dedicated ADA shuttle runs between the Gray Accessible Parking lot, located outside Gate 10 to Tram Stop #3 at the rear entrance of the Horticulture Building from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. each day. On Monday, September 4, the trams stop running one hour earlier.

Centro’s Park-N-Ride direct shuttle service will return, providing passengers with transportation from the Centro Transit Hub Downtown and Destiny USA to and from the Fairgrounds. The Centro drop-off and pick-up point at The Fair is just to the left of the Main Gate as it has been since 2021. To ride the shuttle one way, the fee is $1 for adults, and $0.50 for senior citizens, children 6 to 9 years old, and those who are living with disabilities. The last shuttle of the day leaves The Fairgrounds at 11:40 p.m.

Tickets to the Wade Shows Midway are also available online now at https://tinyurl.com/6n2vk6f8. The Midway will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, except on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, when it will close at 9 p.m. Please note, The Midway’s closing time is subject to change with little notice in the event of inclement weather or other uncontrollable situations.

“Ride All Day” Wristbands, which grant fairgoers the ability to ride all rides throughout one day (of their choosing) at The Fair, can be purchased online now for $25 per person by noon on Wednesday, August 23. After The Fair starts, wristbands will be available for $35 on weekdays and $45 on weekends at The Fair.

A “Mega Pass” option, which grants fairgoers unlimited rides all day every day, is also available for pre-sale online. For $85, fairgoers can ride as many rides as they want every day during The Great New York State Fair. The deal is available online through noon on Wednesday, August 23. The Mega Pass voucher will need to be printed out and redeemed at the Wade Shows carnival office on The Midway.

When The Fair begins, individual ride tickets can be purchased at any Wade Shows ticket booth on the Midway during the New York State Fair for $6.25 for five tickets.

Wade Shows will bring back its successful 20/20/20 flash sales on Thursday, August 3, to coincide with 20 calendar days until the start of The Great New York State Fair. For 20 hours – starting at 4 a.m. and continuing until 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 3 – fairgoers will be able to purchase ride-all-day wristbands for $20 each. This deal represents a savings of up to 25% per wristband.

“We want as many people as possible to experience the thrills of The Midway and holding the flash sale is a great way for families who are planning ahead to get a great deal,” said Frank Zaitshik, president of Wade Shows. “If you love The Midway, mark your calendars for August 3. There’s no need to set your alarms bright and early for 4 a.m., but don’t wait too long. Only 10,000 tickets will be sold during the Flash Sale.”

Fairgoers can also look forward to a “Two Dollar Tuesday” sale where all rides will cost $2 on Tuesday, August 29. Dollar Day will also return on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, when all rides will cost $1 to ride.

Founded in 1841, the Great New York State Fair is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation. For more information or to plan your trip, go to https://nysfair.ny.gov.

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