The decision by several big-name vendors to opt out of the 2021 New York State Fair has attracted a lot of notice in recent weeks, but there is more to the story.
Vendors like Gianelli Sausage and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Baker’s Chicken Coop and Haddock’s Paddock, Tully’s Good Times and Tarson Pools & Spas grabbed headlines with their decisions to skip this year’s fair. But they’re not alone.
So far, it looks like about 65 usual vendors, from food stands to merchandise and information booths, have decided to skip this year’s fair (see list below). That’s roughly 10% of the standard total of 600 or so vendors.
In a typical year, about 5% of fair vendors decide not to return, Fair Director Troy Waffner said. They are usually replaced with new vendors.
Of course, this is not a typical year. Last year’s State Fair was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, as the pandemic eased up, the status of the 2021 fair was uncertain until early June, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced it would go on.
According to a list compiled by the Fair at the request of syracuse.com, some of the vendors choosing to sit out the 2021 fair are citing reasons such as the difficulty in finding workers, and in some cases lingering health concerns. Others have their own reasons, perhaps unrelated to the pandemic.
Some of the absent vendors have already indicated to fair officials they plan to come back in 2022. Others may be out for good.
And the 2021 fair will have at least ten new vendors, with the potential for more to be added, officials said. Some contracts are still being finalized.
“It’s a concern anytime you lose a long-time vendor,” Waffner said. “This is a challenging year on many levels. With the situation we’ve had this year, I don’t think 10% is that big a jump from the normal 5%. It might be different if it was something like 20%.”
Many things about the 2021 fair will be different. For one thing, it’s expanding for the first time to 18 days this year, running from Aug. 20, a Friday, to Sept. 6, Labor Day.
Fairgoers will notice many changes related to vendors. Some of the indoor spaces, such as the Center of Progress, will have fewer vendor spots to allow for more space between booths and stands, easing congestion and offering more safety.
In the Horticulture Building, there will be fewer food vendors, due to new protocols decided on earlier this year, officials said. The $1 Baked Potato stand and the New York State Maple booth (with ice cream, cotton candy and more) are back. But long-time Horticulture booths like Carr’s Cove and Doug’s Fish Fry will not be at this year’s fair. That decision only applies to 2021.
Major changes on Restaurant Row include the tearing down of the Baker’s Chicken Coop and Haddock’s Paddock buildings, to be replaced by temporary stands. Danny D’s has opted out, and Twin Trees will move to that spot from its previous location near the Dairy Products building.
And fairgoers will see a big change for the many temporary stands erected in outdoor spaces. This year, due to new fire and safety protocols, there will be a 12-foot separation between all such stands.
“That was something put in place before the pandemic,” Waffner said. “We used to have many vendors side-by-side, some even sharing a wall. With new fire safety rules, they will all have that 12-foot separation.”
That’s not as difficult to achieve as it might have been a few years ago, Waffner noted. The tearing down of the old Grandstand and race track a few years ago opened up about 63 acres of space for the fair to expand into, he said.
Meanwhile, the rules for the 2021 fair continue to evolve. On Monday, for example, the fair announced it would operate at 100% capacity for indoor as well as outdoor spaces. In June, the state had announced the 100% capacity would only apply outdoors, not inside buildings.
Who is skipping the fair?
As of Monday, 21 food vendors had pulled out of this year’s Fair, according to the list provided to syracuse.com. That’s almost 10% of the 215 food vendors normally at the fair.
And 44 merchandise and information vendors have opted out. That’s 11% of the 385 such vendors at a typical fair.
The list of vendors declining to participate in the 2021 State Fair could still be subject to some change, Waffner said. And the list of new vendors is still a work in progress.
Below is the current list of vendors skipping the fair. Note: The vendors’ reasons for opting out and their plans for the 2022 fair are given where known or provided.
Food vendors
Babcias Peirogi Reason: Staffing. Coming back in 2022: Yes
Bakers Chicken Coop Reason: Voluntary. Coming back in 2022: No
Barlows Concessions
Doug’s Fish Fry Reason: Change in Horticulture Building protocols. Coming back in 2022: Yes.
Carrs Cove Reason: Change in Horticulture Building protocols. Coming back in 2022: Yes
Creole Soul
Danny D’s Reason: Voluntary. Coming back in 2022: No
Douglas Thomas (Utter Delights) Reason: Retired. Coming back in 2022: No
GG Concessions (Hawaiian Shaved Ice) Reason: Family issue
Gentry Miller (Josephine’s Glazed Doughnuts) Reason: At another fair. Coming back in 2022: No
Gianelli Sausage / Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Reason: Staffing
Haddock’s Paddock Reason: Voluntary
Jamerican Diner
Jim’s Ice Cream
Jewish Home of CNY (Catering at the Oaks)
King Ferry Winery Reason: Staffing
Poutine Gourmet Reason: Staffing
Sonny B’S (Eat Greek)
Swedish Hill/ Goose Watch / Penguin Bay wineries Reason: Health concerns, staffing
Thousand Islands Winery Reason: Staffing. Coming back in 2022: Yes
Tully’s Good Times Reason: Staffing. Coming back in 2022: Yes
Merchandise / information vendors
All Around Products Coming back in 2022: Yes
Barb Wilson Enterprises Reason: Staffing, equipment, at other fair
Comfort Tyler Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
Creative Waves
Custom Logo Coming back in 2022: Yes
Donna the Dessert Lady (Deedee Desserts)
Foundation of NYS Nurses Reason: Staffing
Country Homemade Reason: At another fair
Game Time Reason: At another fair
Gary Wren (Garlic Festival Foods) Reason: General uncertainty
Holly’s Korner Kollectibles Reason: At another fair. Coming back in 2022: Yes
Illuminating Sensations
Gold Chain by the Inch Reason: Opted out when capacity was limited
JND USA (Garlic Cutter) Reason: Travel issue
K&S Wood Crafts
Lutheran Layman’s League
Michael Rubenstein (University Sports Shop)
Michele Ferraro (Shelly’s Sports) Reason: Staffing
Moonglow Jewelry
Nana’s Topping
Native Art Trading (Dancing Bear) Coming back in 2022: Yes
Nature’s Images (Tedde Jones) Reason: Health concerns. Coming back in 2022: Yes
NY Conference of Seventh Day Adventists Reason: Health concerns, staffing. Coming back in 2022: Yes
New York State Brewers Association Reason: Staffing Coming back in 2022: .
NYS Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
NYS Nurses Association Reason: Staffing
NYS Office of Medicaid Inspector General Reason: Staffing
Rand Hill / Darby Creek
One Step Mud Mat
Robert McKee (Silver Bargains)
NYS Workers’ Compensation Board
Shelly’s Shop Reason: The Delta Covid variant. Coming back in 2022: Yes
SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse Reason: Staffing
SUNY Morrisville (Although it won’t have its own booth, the college does participate in other fair activities)
Zach Swift
Syracuse Dog Fence Reason: Business concerns. Coming back in 2022: Yes
Syracuse Intergroup Coming back in 2022: Yes
The Leather Outlet Coming back in 2022: Yes
The Name Bender
Tarson Pools & Spas Reason: Business concerns. Coming back in 2022: Yes
Tracy St. Clair (Extreme Air Brush)
VitaMix Coming back in 2022: Yes
Wandering Cowboys Reason: A “number of factors”
Wicked Wanda’s T-shirts Reason: Health and business concerns
Complete coverage of the NY State Fair at syracuse.com
Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.