What’s new? What’s different? After last year’s fair was canceled because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the fair is back for 18 days. We sent our reporters across the fairgrounds in Geddes to tell you what to expect on your visit.
Venue: The Colonnade, the open air space with the columns adjacent to the Dairy Products Building and across from Chevy Court.
What is it like this year? OMG, what happened to the wine slushies!!!! The first thing you’ll notice is that the old wine court, where places like Merritt Estates and Thousand Islands wineries sold slushies and other drinks, is gone. So is the New York Brew Pub & Distillery alongside the dairy building, where you could get get cocktails and beer (including those using the bottoms up filler).
Due to Covid concerns earlier this summer, the fair decided to move those stands to other, more open areas of the fairgrounds. Most of the wineries (and slushie stands) are now located on or near Broadway, the long street that runs to the west across from the Midway and past the Expo Center. The New York Brew Pub has moved to an area just east of the Midway.
But the Colonnade is still home to food/drink stands like Tommy C’s, Charlie’s Steak Pit, and the Tiki Turtle. And you have more room to sit and relax.
The NY State Fair wine court, where wineries once sold slushies and more, is not at The Colonnade this year. Most have moved to Broadway near the Midway.Don Cazentre
Are people wearing masks? Are Covid-19 restrictions in place? It’s an open air space for the most part, so masks are not required. There is one high pavilion-style covering, but that doesn’t seem to matter.
What they’re saying: “You mean I have to go find the slushies?” said fairgoer Sally Crenshaw of Clay. “They’ve always been here!”
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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.