Attendance at the New York State Fair rebounded Thursday after severe weather gutted Wednesday’s turnout, bringing the fair’s nine-day total above 607,000 as the final holiday weekend begins.
A total of 61,858 people attended Thursday, up sharply from the 29,771 who came through the gates Wednesday, when storms, flooding, shelter-in-place alerts and an early closure disrupted the fair. Thursday’s crowd was still 3,561 below the 65,419 recorded on Day 9 last year, but strong crowds earlier in this year’s run have kept overall attendance well ahead of 2025.
Through Thursday, 607,639 people have attended the 2026 fair. That’s 50,596 more than the 557,043 visitors recorded through the same nine days last year.
The difference has largely been built on a handful of exceptionally strong days. Opening day drew 66,898 people, more than double last year’s 32,736. Saturday attendance reached 114,644, up more than 26,000 from 2025, and another 94,059 visitors attended Sunday, about 34,000 more than a year earlier.
Those gains helped absorb Wednesday’s weather-related collapse, when attendance fell more than 30,000 below the comparable day in 2025.
Friday now opens the final four days of the 13-day fair with Native American Day, three major concerts, a late-night Shrek-themed dance party and a full slate of agricultural, cultural and family events.
Weather should also cooperate. Friday is expected to be sunny with a high near 78 degrees, with mostly sunny and slightly cooler conditions expected through the weekend.
Native American Day begins at 9 a.m.
Friday’s Native American Day observance begins with a flag-raising ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Main Gate. Members of Native American tribes receive free admission Friday, and fair officials said identification isn’t required.
Programming at the Haudenosaunee Village continues throughout the day. Iroquois social dancing begins at 11 a.m., followed by a puppet show with Kari Kennedy at noon and flute and guitar music from Jason John at 1 p.m.
A Veterans Memorial Program presented by Ron Cooke is scheduled for 2 p.m., followed by the Indian Village Smoke Dance Competition at 3 p.m. Iroquois social dancing returns at 4 and 7 p.m., with Music by Tonemah scheduled for 6 p.m.
The State Park at the Fair will also feature programming from Ganondagan State Historic Site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
African drumming demonstrations run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the NAACP Van Robinson Pan-African Village, where Womba African Drumming & Dance Group performs at 2 p.m. and Sean Seals performs at 4 p.m.
Better Than Ezra, Braxton Keith and Violent Femmes take the stage
Friday’s concert lineup starts at 1 p.m. when Better Than Ezra performs at Chevy Court.
The alternative rock band is followed by rising country artist Braxton Keith at 6 p.m. at Chevy Court.
Violent Femmes headline Suburban Park at 8 p.m. as the band marks 45 years of its folk-punk sound.
The night won’t end there. A Shrek-inspired dance party, listed by the fair as the Shrek Rave, is scheduled for 9 p.m. at Chevy Court.
Music will be spread across the grounds throughout the day. Utica Royalties performs at noon at the Pan-African Village, Kaleb Dorr takes the stage at The Shamrock at the Fair at 2 p.m., Mark Zane performs at 4 p.m. in the Empire Theater and Trio Los Claveles performs at Latino Village at 4 p.m.
Later performances include BSG at Funk ‘n Waffles, Mirianny Tifa at Latino Village and John Bromka at the Grange Building, all at 6 p.m. Professor Louie performs at the Pan-African Village at 7 p.m., followed by Grupo Pagán at Latino Village and Jeremy Keyes Band at the Haudenosaunee Village at 8 p.m.
Agriculture and competitions fill the daytime schedule
Agriculture remains a major part of Friday’s schedule.
Draft Horse Halter competition begins at 9 a.m. in the Toyota Coliseum, followed by the Belgian Six-Horse Hitch at 2 p.m.
A Hay Bale Throwing Competition is scheduled for noon at the Beef Barn, while the Junior & Bovine Costume Class Contest begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Dairy Cattle Building.
The Rooster Crowing Contest Jamboree starts at 11 a.m. in the Poultry Building.
Culinary competition results for Bread Day and the King Arthur Baking Co. adult and youth contests are scheduled to be posted at 2 p.m. in the Wegmans Creative Arts Center.
Best of the Fair judging for the best cocktail begins at 10 a.m. at Harvey’s Garden at The Empire Room.
The Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen will host “All Things Tailgating” from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while hands-on butter making is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Daniel Parrish Witter Agricultural Museum.
Corgi races, stunt dogs and longtime favorites return
The Fast and the Furriest Corgi Races return to the Exposition Center at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Circus Hollywood performs there at 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m., while The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show is scheduled for 1:30, 4:30 and 7 p.m. at Central Park.
The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show runs at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. at Central Park. Hollywood Racing Pigs take over the Family Fun Zone at 11:45 a.m., 2:45 and 5:45 p.m.
Birds of Prey presentations hosted by Hawk Creek Wildlife Center are scheduled for 11 a.m., 2:15 and 4:30 p.m. at State Park at the Fair, while Ski Extreme Productions performs at 11 a.m., 4:30 and 7 p.m. near the Suburban Park Pond.
The Coronas Family Petting Zoo will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Jon Stetson “The Mentalist” performs at the Empire Theater at 11 a.m., 3 and 5 p.m., while Hilby — The Skinny German Juggle Boy — appears in front of the Expo Center at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.
State Police demonstrations continue throughout Friday
The New York State Police Exhibit will again feature demonstrations throughout the day.
A rollover simulation begins at noon, followed by an Underwater Recovery Team demonstration at 12:30 p.m. and a canine and bomb disposal team demonstration at 1:15 p.m.
Special Operations Response Team demonstrations are scheduled for 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Additional underwater recovery demonstrations are set for 2:45 and 5:15 p.m., with another canine and bomb disposal demonstration at 3:15 p.m.
A second rollover simulation is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
The fair also continues its Boys 14 & Under Basketball Tournament throughout Friday at the NY 529 College Savings Sports Activity Center, with fencing demonstrations scheduled there at 5 p.m.
The 2026 New York State Fair continues through Labor Day, Sept. 7.
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