The New York State Fair is heading into Monday after a strong weekend that brought more than 208,000 people through the gates, including the fair’s largest single-day crowd since 2019.
Saturday drew 114,644 people, up sharply from 88,060 on the comparable day in 2025. Another 94,059 attended Sunday, bringing the two-day weekend total to 208,703 and overall attendance through the first five days to 408,238.
Saturday’s crowd was fueled in part by a packed entertainment schedule. Third Eye Blind drew an estimated 49,000 people to Suburban Park, placing the concert among the three largest in State Fair history.
Sunday remained strong despite falling short of Saturday’s surge. The 94,059-person crowd was more than 34,000 higher than the 60,028 reported on the same day of the 2025 fair. Through Sunday, this year’s attendance is running well ahead of last year’s pace.
Monday marks Day 6 of the fair, with a full schedule of concerts, animal attractions, competitions, demonstrations and family activities stretching from the morning into the evening.
Monday is Law Enforcement Day
Monday is Law Enforcement Day at the fair, with a ceremony scheduled for 11:15 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial. The program will honor members of law enforcement who died in the line of duty.
The New York State Police exhibit will also host demonstrations throughout the day, including a rollover simulation at noon, an underwater recovery team demonstration at 12:30 p.m., a canine and bomb disposal demonstration at 1:15 p.m. and a Special Operations Response Team demonstration at 2 p.m. Additional demonstrations are scheduled later in the afternoon and evening.
Glenn Leonard’s Temptations Revue, Hinder and Ashanti headline Monday
Music will be spread across the fairgrounds throughout Monday, with three major performances anchoring the schedule.
Glenn Leonard’s Temptations Revue performs at 1 p.m. at Chevy Court. Hinder takes the same stage at 6 p.m., while Ashanti closes out the major concert schedule with an 8 p.m. performance at Suburban Park.
Other live entertainment includes Jon Stetson “The Mentalist” at the Empire Theater, performances at the Pan-African and Asian villages, live music at several fairground restaurants and pubs, and roaming entertainment along Restaurant Row and Chevy Court.
Corgi races, stunt dogs and racing pigs return
Some of the fair’s most popular animal attractions are also scheduled throughout Monday.
The Fast and the Furriest Corgi Races will be held at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. in the Exposition Center. The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show is scheduled for 1:30, 4:30 and 7 p.m. at Central Park. Hollywood Racing Pigs will compete at 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. in the Family Fun Zone.
Birds of Prey presentations are scheduled at 11 a.m., 2:15 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at State Park at the Fair, while the Coronas Family Petting Zoo is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The poultry building will host a rooster crowing contest at 11 a.m., while a youth goat costume contest is also scheduled for 11 a.m.
Food, agriculture and competitions fill the daytime schedule
Monday’s activities begin as early as 9 a.m. with the State Fair 4-H Dog Show at the Toyota Coliseum.
At 10 a.m., Best of the Fair Food judging will focus on the best savory food at Harvey’s Garden at the Empire Room. Elsewhere, visitors can watch blacksmithing, woodworking, quilting, weaving, wool spinning and basket-making demonstrations throughout the day.
The Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen will feature several presentations, including maple caramel popcorn at 11 a.m., family-style bowls at 2 p.m., German pretzels at 3:30 p.m. and a tailgate-themed session featuring New York beer and cheddar soup at 5 p.m.
Other daytime attractions include hands-on butter making at 2 p.m., the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., Circus Hollywood throughout the day, the fair’s sand sculpture in the Center of Progress Building and numerous exhibits at State Park at the Fair.
With five days complete, the 2026 fair has already recorded more than 408,000 visits. Monday’s attendance will determine whether the strong weekend momentum carries into the workweek as the fair moves toward its second half.
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