Right inside the main entrance to the Great New York State Fair, parents with kids in tow crowd around a table, filling out personal contact information on a bright orange tag that reads: “Lost Kid Tag.”

Yes, it’s easy enough to get lost in the fair because it’s just that big.

Welcome to the annual Great New York State Fair, a true staple to the city of Syracuse that began in 1890. It’s where vendors and visitors alike travel from across the state and beyond to buy their yearly dose of fried dough, ride the Tilt-A-Whirl and see who will win the blue ribbon for growing the largest commercial vegetable.

The fair is now open and runs until Monday, Sept. 2. Parking is available for $5 with shuttle buses running regularly to the fairgrounds. Daily admission is $10 for those 13 and older. All children younger than 13 get in for free.

Kathleen Kennedy, born and raised in Syracuse and now a sophomore acting major at Syracuse University, said attending the fair is more than just a two-week long event. It is something she waits for every year.

Although Kennedy attended the fair with her family when she was younger, she has always gone with friends since she became a teenager. Now, she is encouraging her fellow classmates to go — especially those who have never been before.

“Go to the 25-cent milk bar, because it’s the cheapest thing, and then go to the dollar potato booth, because it’s the other cheapest thing,” Kennedy said. “And there’s a stand that will deep fry anything that you bring them, and you have to. You have to.”

She said the main thing she looks forward to is eating fried chocolate chip cookies from a fried-food booth that she visits annually. A sign on the side of the booth reads: “You bring it, we fry it!” And it’s true to its word. Its menu specializes in fried peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Pop Tarts and buffalo chicken dip.

This year, Kennedy said she is looking forward to trying a new dish — although not fried — when she visits the fair: a pulled pork sundae.

“I’m definitely into that — and all the fried things,” Kennedy said.

Besides a large food area, vendors are spread throughout the fairgrounds selling everything from custom-fitted toe rings to stainless-steel cookware to bed mattresses.

But one of the fair’s main attractions is the poultry section. This year marks 100 years that the fairgrounds has been home to the poultry building, which houses dozens of birds of all kinds, including ducks and chickens. There is even a twice-daily rooster crowing contest at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

In addition to roosters, fair visitors can view another daily animal attraction. Thanks to a partnership with students from Cornell University, the fair debuted an area for visitors to watch a cow give birth — live. Housed in a section titled the Dairy Cow Birthing Center, veterinarians and CU veterinary students help explain the birthing process to the public through a live, daily demonstration.

If food and animals aren’t enough, the fair has become known for its variety of stage performances, from local talents to big names in the music industry.

Nick Godzak, a sophomore music education major, also native to the area, said he began attending the fair at an early age as a member of a Ukrainian dance company. He did so for 10 years, honoring his family’s heritage.

Now, however, he said he attends the fair for two reasons: fried dough and to see concerts on the Grandstand stage.

Although musical acts including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Carly Rae Jepsen, Reba McEntire and Toby Keith have already performed, there are still two chances to see big names on the Grandstand stage. Friday, Luke Bryan is performing, and Saturday, concertgoers can rock out to Fall Out Boy. Both concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Ticket information can be found on the New York State Fair website.

Published on August 29, 2013 at 2:03 am

Contact Kristin: klross01@syr.edu | @kriskross22