The New York State Fair enters its final weekend with attendance running more than 50,000 ahead of last year’s pace, setting the stage for what could be one of the busiest stretches of the 2026 fair.
Another 86,564 people attended Friday, pushing total attendance through 10 days to 694,203. Friday’s crowd was 1,133 larger than the 85,431 visitors recorded on the corresponding day in 2025, continuing a year in which several exceptionally strong early crowds have more than offset weather-related losses earlier this week.
Through the first 10 days last year, the fair had drawn 642,474 people. That puts this year’s attendance 51,729 ahead of the same point in 2025 with Saturday, Sunday and Labor Day still to come.
The strongest gains came during the opening weekend. Opening day attendance reached 66,898, more than double last year’s 32,736. Saturday, Aug. 29, drew 114,644 people, up 26,584, while Sunday attendance reached 94,059, an increase of more than 34,000.
The fair lost much of that momentum Wednesday when severe storms, flooding and an early closure held attendance to 29,771 — more than 30,000 below the comparable day last year. Crowds rebounded to 61,858 Thursday before climbing again Friday.
Saturday historically begins the fair’s largest final-weekend push. Last year, Day 11 drew 100,396 people, while the all-time Day 11 record is 147,749, set in 2019.
Saturday’s schedule gives fairgoers plenty to work with, including the return of strawberry milk, an all-day funk festival at Chevy Court, country star Trace Adkins at Suburban Park, animal competitions, boxing, line dancing and the fair’s regular family attractions.
Strawberry milk returns for final weekend
Strawberry milk returns Saturday at The Milk Bar and will remain available through Labor Day or while supplies last.
Cups of fresh New York milk cost 25 cents.
The return has become part of the closing weekend tradition at the fair and comes as food and agriculture programming continues throughout the grounds.
The Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen starts Saturday with an 11 a.m. presentation featuring “Eggroll in a Bowl,” followed by a 12:30 p.m. demonstration from Julia Freeman of Savorcuse and buffalo chicken nachos with Wegmans Chef Matt O’Hara at 2 p.m.
Hands-on butter making is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Daniel Parrish Witter Agricultural Museum.
New York State Apple Day and New Hope Mills Mix Contest culinary results are also scheduled to be posted at 2 p.m. in the Wegmans Creative Arts Center.
JAMS Funk Fest takes over Chevy Court
The Chevrolet Music Series will devote much of Saturday to JAMS Funk Fest 2026, with performances stretching from noon into the night.
CJack Run kicks things off at noon.
Kevin Stephens & Free Spirit perform at 2:15 p.m., followed by Magnetic Flow at 3:20 p.m. and Brownskin Band at 4:25 p.m.
TT315 takes the stage at 5:30 p.m., with E.U. featuring Sugar Bear scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Stokley closes the festival with an 8:35 p.m. performance.
The music isn’t limited to Chevy Court. The Jackson Trio performs at 7 p.m. at the NAACP Van Robinson Pan-African Village, while THEKOIWAY performs at Latino Village at 6 p.m. and Europa, a Santana tribute band, takes over the village at 8 p.m.
Sophistafunk performs at Funk ‘n Waffles at 6 p.m., with additional music scheduled throughout Restaurant Row, the Grange Building and several fair pubs.
Trace Adkins headlines Suburban Park
Country music star Trace Adkins takes the Suburban Park stage at 8 p.m., providing Saturday’s other major concert.
The longtime country performer caps a full day of entertainment around that area, which also includes Ski Extreme Productions at 11 a.m., 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Saturday’s weather is expected to cooperate, with sunny, mild conditions and temperatures around the mid-70s forecast through the weekend.
Job fair, music bingo and line dancing
The Rhythm & Resources Job Fair will be held under the Chevy Court Pavilion, connecting fairgoers with employers and organizations including Syracuse University, Upstate, Byrne Dairy and Crouse.
At The Empire Room, Country Music Bingo runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by line dancing from 2 to 8 p.m.
Ray Rinaldi Boxing is scheduled from 2 to 6 p.m. at the NY 529 College Savings Sports Activity Center.
The Talent Showcase will also hold its Mini Final Contests beginning at 10:30 a.m. and Maxi Final Contests at 2:30 p.m.
Horses, rabbits and tractors among agricultural events
The North American Classic Six-Horse Hitch begins at 1 p.m. in the Toyota Coliseum.
A Kiddie Tractor Pull is scheduled for noon at the Antique Tractor Exhibit, while the Rabbit Hopping Contest begins at 3 p.m. in the Poultry Building.
The Rooster Crowing Contest Jamboree is set for 11 a.m.
The Horticulture Building hosts the Cut Garden Flowers and Rose Show beginning at 10 a.m., container gardening programming at 11 a.m., a flower giveaway at 2 p.m., a dahlia program at 3 p.m. and “Meet the Begonias” at 4 p.m.
Traditional demonstrations continue throughout the day at the Daniel Parrish Witter Agricultural Museum, including weaving, quilting, wool spinning, woodworking and Adirondack basket making.
Corgi races, stunt dogs and racing pigs return
Many of the fair’s recurring family attractions return for multiple performances Saturday.
The Fast and the Furriest Corgi Races are scheduled for 11 a.m., 2 and 5 p.m. at the Exposition Center.
The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show takes over Central Park at 1:30, 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Hollywood Racing Pigs are scheduled for 11:45 a.m., 2:45 and 5:45 p.m. in the Family Fun Zone.
Circus Hollywood performs at the Exposition Center at 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. at Central Park, while Hilby — The Skinny German Juggle Boy — performs at the same times in front of the Expo Center.
The Coronas Family Petting Zoo will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Birds of Prey presentations hosted by Hawk Creek Wildlife Center are scheduled at 11 a.m., 2:15 and 4:30 p.m. at State Park at the Fair.
State Police demonstrations continue all day
The New York State Police Exhibit will again feature several demonstrations.
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., while another canine and bomb disposal demonstration begins at 3:15 p.m.
Another rollover simulation is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
The fair continues Sunday before closing on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7.
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