Nearly 98,000 people packed the New York State Fair on Saturday, pushing attendance for the first 11 days of the 2026 fair to 792,165 as the event heads into its final Sunday with Robin Thicke, family programming, competitions and dozens of demonstrations on the schedule.
Fair officials reported 97,962 visitors Saturday, Sept. 5. That was 2,434 fewer than the 100,396 people who attended the corresponding Saturday in 2025 and well below the Day 11 record of 147,749 set in 2019. Despite Saturday’s year-over-year decline, cumulative attendance through 11 days is running ahead of the same point last year, when 742,870 people had attended.
Sunday is Day 12 of the 13-day fair, which concludes Labor Day. The schedule stretches from morning religious services through an 8 p.m. concert by Robin Thicke at Suburban Park, with another full slate of agricultural exhibits, competitions, family attractions and performances in between.
Robin Thicke headlines Sunday concert schedule
Robin Thicke is Sunday’s featured concert performer, taking the Suburban Park stage at 8 p.m.
The Grammy-nominated R&B and pop singer closes a day of music that also includes Stella Lefty at Chevy Court at 6 p.m. Earlier in the day, “The Magic School Bus” takes over Chevy Court at 1 p.m. for a family-oriented performance.
Music and entertainment will also be scattered across the fairgrounds throughout the afternoon and evening. The Gravel Hill Revival with John Bromka & Friends performs at the Grange Building at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., while The Ingersolls are scheduled at the Daniel Parrish Witter Agricultural Museum at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The Latin Divas of Drag perform at Latino Village at 4 p.m., followed by La Nueva Secuencia at 8 p.m.
Other Sunday performers include the TJ Sacco Band, Steve MacLean, Luke Hart Collective, Name Brand Cover Band and Dangerous Type at venues across the grounds.
Corgi races, goats and arm wrestling among Sunday highlights
Sunday offers several events likely to draw families and crowds away from the concert stages.
The Fast and the Furriest Corgi Races are scheduled for 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. inside the Exposition Center.
The Youth Goat Costume Contest begins at 11:45 a.m. at the Goat Pavilion, followed by an “I Milked a Goat!” event at 2 p.m. in the Goat, Llama & Swine Barn.
The Unified Annual New York State Armwrestling Championships will run from 1 to 6 p.m. at Harvey’s Garden at the Empire Room.
Draft horse hitch classes begin at 11 a.m. at the Toyota Coliseum, while the Rooster Crowing Contest Jamboree is also scheduled for 11 a.m. in the Poultry Building.
A boys 12-and-under basketball tournament begins at 10 a.m. at the NY 529 College Savings Sports Activity Center and continues throughout the day.
State Police demonstrations run throughout the afternoon
The New York State Police exhibit will host a series of demonstrations beginning at noon.
A rollover simulation is scheduled for 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.
The Special Operations Response Team will demonstrate its capabilities at 2 p.m., with additional demonstrations continuing throughout the afternoon and evening.
The Underwater Recovery Team returns at 2:45 and 5:15 p.m., while the canine and bomb disposal team is scheduled again at 3:15 p.m. Special Operations Response Team demonstrations are also set for 4 and 6 p.m., with another rollover simulation at 4:45 p.m.
Family attractions continue across fairgrounds
Many of the fair’s recurring attractions remain on the schedule Sunday.
The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show performs at 1:30, 4:30 and 7 p.m. in Central Park. The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., also in Central Park.
Hollywood Racing Pigs perform at 11:45 a.m., 2:45 and 5:45 p.m. in the Family Fun Zone, where Coronas Family Petting Zoo will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Circus Hollywood has shows scheduled for 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. in the Exposition Center.
Hilby — The Skinny German Juggle Boy — performs outside the Expo Center at 11:30 a.m., 2:30 and 5:30 p.m., while Bandaloni, the One Man Band, is scheduled along Restaurant Row at 1, 3 and 6 p.m.
Birds of Prey programs hosted by Hawk Creek Wildlife Center will take place at State Park at the Fair at 11 a.m., 2:15 and 4:30 p.m.
Agricultural, cultural and food programming fills the day
Sunday’s schedule also includes demonstrations tied to the fair’s agricultural and cultural roots.
The Daniel Parrish Witter Agricultural Museum will feature woodworking, wool spinning, weaving, quilting, chair caning, Adirondack basket making and an authentic 1800s cabin exhibit beginning at 10 a.m.
Hands-on butter making is scheduled there at 2 p.m.
At the Haudenosaunee Village, Iroquois social dancing is scheduled for 11 a.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., with a Tuscarora Day special social dancing performance at 2 p.m.
The NAACP Van Robinson Pan-African Village will host an African drumming demonstration beginning at 10 a.m. and the Cora Thomas Gospel Show from noon to 8 p.m.
The Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen will feature a cut flowers demonstration at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., mushroom risotto at 2 p.m. and demonstrations involving herb-infused simple syrups, bouquet making and hummus at 3:30 and 5 p.m.
The State Fair’s sand sculpture remains on display all day in the Center of Progress Building, while the Historic Train Exhibit will be open from noon to 6 p.m.
Sunday begins with Catholic Mass at 9:15 a.m. at the Empire Theater and a non-denominational church service at 10 a.m. in the Grange Building.
With only Sunday and Labor Day remaining, the fair enters its final stretch after attendance rebounded Friday and remained strong Saturday. Sunday attendance will determine whether that momentum carries into the final day, when the 2026 New York State Fair closes Monday night.
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