Charlie Miller | [email protected] Geddes, N.Y.
— Sunday seemed like the unofficial Irish Day at the New York State Fair. The 78,341 visitors were treated to an old-fashioned session at Chevy Court hosted on by The Elders, a Celtic band from Kansas City, that drew in more and more folks as the music went on . And six hours later, the Dropkick Murphys drew thousands of fans to Suburban Park for the night’s last concert.
(Photos below) Diana Ladio welcomes the audience to The Elders' show Sunday afternoon. The Elders played Chevy Court at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.
com) (Charlie Miller | [email protected]) Today is Law Enforcement Day, meaning active and retired officers get free admission by flashing their badge. A longtime food and drink stand — Tommy C’s — has set aside a table in the Colonnade for the two law enforcement officers gunned down in April, and today will raise money for their families .
The Meier’s Creek Brewing Co. created a special label to wrap around its Floatin’ On By pilsner. $1 from each can sold at the stand today will go to the families of fallen Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt.
Michael Hoosock and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen . When word spread Sunday about today’s fundraiser, fairgoers stopped by Tommy C’s to buy a can. A group of state troopers bought an entire case.
By the time the Fair closed, Tommy C’s had run out of the beer and ordered more for today. I’m at the Fair every day and night, and hey, a guy’s gotta eat (and drink). I write about food and drinks for syracuse.
com and The Post-Standard , so I might as well as pass suggestions onto you while I’m working here. That said, I’m no expert. I rely on readers to tell me what’s good.
If you find something that makes your tummy happy, text me at 315-382-1984 and I’ll give it a shot. I might join you for a meal or drink and pick up the tab. Lunch: Some colleagues raved about the chiktay from a soul-food stand in the Pan-African Village.
I just smiled and pretended to know what the heck they were talking about. After reading their story and doing a little research, I had to give it a try, simply because I enjoy smoked fish. Petu, located across from Henry’s Hen House, serves this traditional Haitian dish.
It’s usually made with smoked herring, but Petu uses shredded cod, peppers, onions and spices. It’s best on the accompanying bread. This $15 small plate is a true treat, but be sure to save room for dessert.
Chiktay from Petu Haitian Soule Food at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | [email protected]) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.
com) Dessert: Today’s sweet took me all of 33 steps to reach from the Haitian place. Goodway Gourmet Rum Cakes is back for a second year here. I bought a coconut rum cake last year for $16, thinking it would last a few days in our kitchen.
Well, it didn’t last the ride home. I dug in the second I got into my car. It’s that good.
This year I took home a black raspberry rum cake. Oops, I mean I had INTENDED to take home a black raspberry. These cakes will stay fresh for up to three weeks, but once again, it couldn’t last a 12-minute commute to Onondaga Hill.
A rum cake from Goodway Gourmet in the Pan African Village. (Charlie Miller | [email protected]) (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.
com) Beer of the day : The Rohrbach Oktoberfest has been featured at the Beer Garden for the past three years. Why? “Because the people LOVE it,” said Erinn McDowell, the fraulein in charge of slinging steins of beer at the garden. “Oktoberfest tastes like the first crisp winds that catch you by surprise on a late summer’s day.
It signals that pumpkins, ghosts and back-to-school are right on our horizon, but not quite yet.” Stave off those fears with this smooth amber beauty on this Monday Funday. The Oktoberfest lager from the Rohrbach Brewing Co.
is the Beer of the Day for Monday, Aug. 26. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.
com) (Charlie Miller | [email protected]) » Detailed daily schedule for Monday, Aug. 26 » Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone , 1 p.
m. at Chevy Court » CAIN , 6 p.m.
at Chevy Court » Megan Moroney , 8 p.m. at Suburban Park Today’s forecast: Enjoy the sunshine before expected rain later in the week Hours: The Fair is open 9 a.
m. to 11 p.m.
each day. Buildings are open 10 a.m.
to 9 p.m. The Midway is open 11 a.
m. to 11 p.m.
, but it closes at 9 p.m. on Labor Day.
Tickets : Entry to the fair is $8 for an adult. Seniors 65 and older get in free. So do kids 12 and under.
You can buy tickets online in advance . You won’t be able to pay cash for tickets at the gate — you’ll need to purchase them on your phone, or using a kiosk at the gate. Parking: Parking will run you $12 per car this year, up from $10 last year.
You can NOT pay with EZ Pass Plus, but you can pay with a credit card at entrance to the parking lot. You can also buy parking passes in advance online. Other rules: Smoking is only allowed outside the gates in designated area.
You can bring coolers with food and non-alcoholic drinks. No pets are allowed, unless they are working dogs or in a competition. Visitors must wear a shirt and footwear.
Last call for booze is 10:30 p.m. each day.
State Fair newsletter: Stay up-to-date on all New York State Fair news, food, music, schedules and more with our free newsletter. It’s emailed to you each morning. Click here to sign up .
**** Charlie Miller finds the best in food, drinks and fun across Central New York. Contact him at (315) 382-1984, or by email at [email protected] .
(AND he pays for what he and his guests eat and drink, just so you know.) You can also find him under @HoosierCuse on Twitter and on Instagram . Sign up for his weekly Where Syracuse Eats newsletter here .
More NYS Fair News Nearly 80,000 enjoy fifth day of the 2024 NYS Fair The Elders just did an old-fashioned Irish session at Chevy Court, and the youngsters ate it up (photos, setlist) NY State Fair forecast for day 6: Enjoy the sunshine before expected rain later in the week When the sun goes down at the NYS Fair, the volume goes up (video) NYS Fair vendor to donate portion of local beer sales to CNY families of fallen officers.
