The New York State Fair has reduced the cost of admission tickets to $5 at the gate and $3 when purchased online. (Eric Reinhardt / CNYBJ file photo)
GEDDES, N.Y. — The New York State Fair announced it has reduced the cost of admission tickets to $5 at the gate and $3 when purchased online.
The new lower price represents the lowest price since 1990 and a “significant drop” from the pricing of $6 before the Fair and $10 during the run of the Fair that has been in place since 2005, per a Tuesday news release.
The State Fair will maintain its variety of free and low-cost admission days for certain groups, and the Fair will continue admitting children age 12 and under free of charge.
“Admission prices at major fairs across the country continue to rise, which strains the ability of many families on ever-tighter budgets to enjoy a day together. We believe all New Yorkers should be able to come to their state’s fair to enjoy the many free and low-cost activities we provide while spending the money they do have to make the most of their day,” Troy Waffner, State Fair director, said in the release.
Attendance at the nation’s “first and oldest” state fair has grown more than 46 percent in four years, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, which operates the Fair, said. It cites expanded marketing efforts, making the Fair more “affordable,” increasing the amount “and quality” of free or low-cost entertainment, and the state spending more than $120 million to improve the Fairgrounds as reasons for the increased attendance.
One-day sale
The State Fair will hold a one-day sale of admission tickets for $2 each on Thursday. The “online only” sale will be at the Fair’s official ticket seller, Etix.com. Purchasers may buy up to eight tickets per person. With fees, each $2 ticket will cost $2.16.
Up to 10,000 tickets will be available, and the sale will end at 11:59 p.m. or “when all tickets are sold.”
Purchasing tickets
Regular sales of $3 admission tickets will begin April 1.
All sales will be only via Etix’ online channel or by phone to Etix customer support at 1-800-514-3849.
Tickets ordered by phone incur a $4.25 delivery charge.
The Fair says its retail sales program has been “discontinued.” Tickets may be purchased online or by phone through the end of the Fair. Only those buying tickets from a ticket sales booth at an entrance gate will pay $5.
Online buyers may show either printed-at-home tickets or show the tickets on their phones at Fair entrance gates.
Special and promotion days
The State Fair says “before buying tickets, buyers should be aware of the Fair’s special and promotional days, which offer discounts for certain groups.” They include:
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A late Wednesday morning ceremony at Wilson Park in Syracuse included the…
ROME, N.Y. — The city of Rome continues to clean up from a devastating, confirmed…
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — SUNY officials on Monday announced the launch of Upstate Biotech Ventures, a…
OSWEGO, N.Y. — Oswego Health says it had the system’s first robotically assisted surgery using…
JOHNSON CITY, N.Y. — Tioga State Bank (TSB) will open a new branch in Johnson…
UTICA, N.Y. — A report by the Oneida County Childcare Taskforce made a number of…