From a classic Italian sausage sandwich to a milkshake showdown, here’s your guide to the fair’s best bites, plus everything else you need to know before you go.
Since 1841, the Great New York State Fair has attracted thousands of attendees to celebrate the Empire State in all its glory. This year, the fair spans 13 days across 375 acres. All that walking means one thing: fairgoers are hungry. Fortunately, one of the fair’s biggest attractions is its food.
Hundreds of vendors are expected, serving up New York classics, multicultural cuisine, and a few non-edible but can’t-miss opportunities to witness the state’s agriculture industry at its best.
With so many options, consider entering the fairgrounds with a must-eat list, or by the time you discover your top picks, you may have already maxed out your appetite. Here are some of the best options for what to eat at the New York State Fair.
1. Basilio’s Italian Sausage
Basilio’s has been a presence at the New York State Fair for nearly 70 years. The nearby sausage plant in Canastota supplies the savory links, from sweet to XXX hot. Slathered with peppers and onions and served on an Italian roll, the hearty sandwich is quintessential fair food.
2. Stix & Things
If sausage seems a bit ordinary, consider sampling a lesser-known protein, at least by Western culture standards. Stix & Things skewers wild boar, elk, and alligator, along with more expected items like chicken and steak.
3. Maurice’s Belgian Waffles
Maurice and Rose Vermersch, along with daughter Marie Paule, first offered their then-called “Brussels waffles” at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Eventually, the Belgian family brought the sweet treat north to the state fairgrounds. It has since become one of the most sought-after foods at the New York State Fair.
If the waffle wasn’t enough, Maurice’s offers plenty of toppings, including ice cream, fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and chocolate sauce.
4. Toss & Fire Wood-Fired Pizza
If you think that New York City is the only place in the state that can stake a claim on pizza, think again. (Even though a slice of rigatoni pizza from Marinara Pizza is worth the trip to the Big Apple.) Toss & Fire lives up to its name.
For over a decade, owner Nick Sanford has been firing up pizzas in his imported pizza ovens, which reach temperatures upward of 1,000 degrees. Baked in less than two minutes, that means more time to enjoy the fairgrounds after indulging in a specialty pie or classic Italian favorite.
5. Ashley Lynn Winery
Dating back to 1929, Hurlbut Orchards’ 130 acres of farmland primarily grow McIntosh and Cortland apples. While you will find plenty of pie at the fair (mark Sept. 1 if you’d like to observe the official pie competition held in the Wegmans Creative Arts Center), there is more than one way to peel an apple.
In recent years, the Hurlbut family has been using their produce to make apple wine in addition to more traditional varietals. The wine slushy emerged at the fair in the early 90s, and has since become a favorite, and can now be found among several vendors throughout the fairgrounds.
6. Hammi’s Bacon Bomb
If Basilio’s offers the classic Italian sausage hoagie, then Hammi’s bacon bomb takes it to another level, making it one of the most meat-centric things to eat at the New York State Fair.
Hammi’s begins with strips of thick-cut bacon woven into a lattice. After a sprinkling of dry rub, a hefty portion of Gianelli sweet sausage, cheddar cheese, and more bacon are layered. Rolled, smoked, and finished with barbecue sauce, the log is then sliced, seared on a flat-top grill, and stacked onto a roll for the ultimate fair sandwich.
7. The Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off Milkshake Contest
Pack Lactaid if you’re planning on attending the New York State Fair on Sept. 3. The annual Undeniable Dairy Shake-Off Milkshake Contest returns as part of Dairy Day. The competition gathers local media outlets, where teams have 15 minutes to prepare their best concoction and present it to the judging panel.
New York has nearly 2,800 dairy farms, which produce a staggering 16.1 billion pounds of milk annually. Some of the state’s most notable dairy farmers attend the fair each year, and fairgoers can sample their products at the Milk Bar, featuring 25-cent cups of chilled milk.
8. The Tadros Family’s Hot Beef Sundae
The Tadros family has been a longtime staple at the fairgrounds and one of the first places to turn when considering what to eat at the New York State Fair. That includes an unconventional take on what is traditionally considered a sweet treat.
The Hot Beef Sundae, consisting of two hearty scoops of mashed potatoes, braised beef tips, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and a cherry tomato on top, has been a fair staple for over a decade.
9. Chinese Tanghulu and Vietnamese Mi Xáo at the Asian Village
The New York State Fair celebrates the state’s diversity with four cultural villages: the Asian Village (Aug. 26 through 31), the Latino Village (Sept. 2 through 7), the Pan-African Village, and the Haudenosaunee Village (both open throughout the entire fair).
The villages offer fairgoers ample opportunity to sample global cuisine, including Chinese tanghulu, skewered fresh fruit coated in a hard candy shell, and Vietnamese mi xáo, stir-fried noodles tossed with fresh vegetables.
What to know before visiting the New York State Fair
Make the most out of your trip to the New York State Fair.
Hours:
- General: 9 a.m.–11 p.m. daily, with no entry or re-entry after 9 p.m.
- Labor Day (Sept. 7) only: 9 a.m.–9 p.m., with no entry or re-entry after 8 p.m.
- Building hours (Center of Progress, Horticulture Building, Expo Center): 10 a.m.–9 p.m., closing at 8 p.m. on Labor Day.
Admission:
- Adults: $8 plus fees
- Children 12 and under: free every day
- Seniors 65 and older: free every day
- Frequent Fairgoer ticket (unlimited daily entry for the full run): $25.70
Parking:
$12 per vehicle per day plus fees. Must be purchased online in advance or paid by credit card at the lot—cash isn’t accepted, and EZPass Plus is no longer a parking option this year.
Travel by train:
New York City residents can take one of three daily Amtrak departures from Moynihan Train Hall directly to the fairgrounds from Aug. 26 through Sept. 7. Select “NYF” as the destination.
Free concerts at the New York State Fair
Concerts are free, but seating is on a first-come basis, so grab those snacks and make yourself comfortable.
Suburban Park stage (all concerts at 8 p.m.)
- Sean Paul, Thursday, Aug. 27
- Flo Rida, Sunday, Aug. 30
- ZZ Top, Thursday, Sept. 3
Chevy Court stage
- Gym Class Heroes, Sunday, Aug 30, 1 p.m.
- Wilson Phillips, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 1 p.m.
- Jesse McCartney, Thursday, Sept. 3, 6 p.m.
For the full lineup, visit www.nysfair.ny.gov/venue/suburban-park/
