The Great New York State Fair Is August 26–September 7 — Upstate New York's Biggest Tradition, 90 Minutes Away

The Great New York State Fair opens in Syracuse on August 26 and runs through September 7 — 13 days of the spectacle, community, and traditions that make this annual gathering one of the most anticipated events in Upstate New York. Called the oldest and most affordable state fair in the United States, it brings together everything from butter sculptures and tractor pulls to national concert headliners and every kind of fair food you can imagine.

Date: Wednesday, August 26 through Sunday, September 7, 2026 Time: Opens daily (hours vary by day) Location: New York State Fairgrounds, State Fair Boulevard, Syracuse, NY Cost: See nysfair.ny.gov for current admission pricing and free days

Syracuse is about 90 minutes from Rochester on the New York State Thruway. Check nysfair.ny.gov for the full 2026 schedule, concert lineup, and tickets. Many Rochester families make this a late-summer tradition every year.