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The Big Party Kicks Off in Geddes, Love It or Dodge It

Mark Bialczak

The dusty trek around Geddes begins in earnest tomorrow.

How many times will you walk through the gates of the New York State Fair?

  For Central New Yorkers, the 12-day stretch that finishes with Labor Day is a thing of ... well, some folks consider it a highlight of their year, and others plan their routes to head the other way. 

When I worked over at the big daily, 21 years as the music reviewer meant a pretty impressive stretch of attending the fair every day of its run, to watch the afternoon show at the free admission court and the paid show at the grandstand. In between, besides darting to the media house to write my review of the first show, I'd walk the grounds, grab dinner, watch people and perhaps drop into an exhibit or two. And my dear wife Karen and I have our own yearly tradition of walking the fair together at least twice to check out, well, whatever we choose.

So I am in group one. I favor the fair. Bring on the crowds. I have become an accomplished bobber and weaver, on the Midway and in the exhibits. Don't let the knots of stopped people deter you! I have developed a fast stride when I hit open ground that my wife even has termed my State Fair walk.
Karen and I -- and my daughter Ellisabeth and her boyfriend George -- are looking forward to the Train concert Tuesday at the grandstand, with the Wallflowers as the openers. A couple years ago, while I was still doing the reviewer thing over yonder, I thought Pat Monahan and Train outdid Adam Levine and Maroon 5 in their grandstand double bill. The other day, I made sure that Karen pulled her car into the Quickway parking lot so I could run in and buy four Fair general admission tickets for $6 each. That's $4 off the price they'll charge at the gate starting tomorrow. Yes, you can still get them today at plenty of places, including the service desks at Wegmans and Price Chopper, and the fair box office.

Credit Mark Bialczak
Fan of Train waited in line for tickets back in April

So, if you're on the fence, not a lover or hater, here are a couple of events that may get you to go.

At Chevy Court ...

For the price of that fair ticket, you can see two shows each day, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. There are bleacher style benches spread out in front of the raised stage, but avid fans of the acts tend to fill them quickly, and the best one are usually taken hours before show time. Otherwise, fair officials have tried mightily to make the entire square concert-friendly, with a video screen flanking the stage, and several more at the booths that flank the court. Their are plenty of picnic tables in the grassy area at the far reaches of the court, but they're better for listening than watching. Karen and I caught a lot of Vince Gill's show from their last year, and I enjoyed it.

Tomorrow, Chevy Court music starts with country singer Kellie Pickler at 2. She's the graduate of "American Idol." It continues with Canadian pop-rockers Barenaked Ladies at 8. They're the ones with the big hit "If I Had a Million Dollars" who soldiered on after the departure of singer Steven Page, who now spends part of his time living in Central New York.

Fair officials try to bring all types of music -- and a chef -- to the court. I always dig Jersey shore icon Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, who play at 8 p.m. Aug. 29. Oops, that's opening night for the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome, and we've got our season tickets. AI" champ Phillip Phillips at 8 p.m. Aug. 31 sounds promising, and there's the Doobie Brothers to close things at 6 p.m. on Labor Day.

At the Grandstand ...

Country music has proven to be a favorite at the paid grandstand, and so Brad Paisley has been chosen to open the series at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow, with three openers. More country comes Aug. 27 with another "AI" champ, Carrie Underwood, and Aug. 30 -- the final Grandstand show before two motor sports events -- with Jason Aldean headlining, with very popular Florida Georgia Line and Tyler Farr.

The 17,000-seat Grandstand will be virtually filled for Aldean and Florida Georgia Line. Only obstructed view seats remain.

Rock fans can opt for the daylong UPROAR Fest featuring Godsmack on Friday, or the longstanding raw edge  of Kid Rock on Monday or the classic anthems of Journey with Cheap Trick on Aug. Aug. 28.

Hip-hop and pop fans get the cool of Pitbull on Saturday night.

Of course, there are the rides on the Midway, if you're bringing the kids or are still a kid at heart. There are exhibits and animals galore. Do not forget the agricultural glory of New York. I am partial to the goats. 

Any kind of filling food you want to eat, you can eat. What food will be fried that will surprise you this year?  Drink? Yes.

Everybody can people watch. Do not forget that other people will be watching you.
 
 
 
 
 

Mark Bialczak has lived in Central New York for 30 years. He's well known for writing about music and entertainment. In 2013, he started his own blog, markbialczak.com, to comment about the many and various things that cross his mind daily.