This year’s New York State Fair finally felt more normal after it being cancelled in 2020 and not running at full song in 2021. While some vendors have decided not to come back and a couple of my favorites which had been there for years disappeared, still 2020 felt like The Fair (as we refer to it around here) got back on its feet.

My wife and I started the day with breakfast at JJ’s on Restaurant Row before heading over to the Dairy Building for a Labor Day weekend treat, strawberry milk from the Milk Bar.

This year’s sculptures, Sand and Butter, celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the passing of Title IX which gave women in collegiate sports more opportunities and funding.

Animals are a big part of the New York State Fair from livestock being showed off by farms around New York to championship horses from all over the Northeast and Midwest to the small creatures like this little bunny.

Labor Day weekend features a big show for Draft Horses with money, prestige and valuable points for the farms who bring in their big rigs of Belgians, Clydesdales and Percherons.

We ended our day back on Restaurant Row for fish sandwiches and a side of Cordon Bleu deep-fried balls at Horan’s. Yes, they were as good as you can imagine.

All in all, it was a good Fair this year. While attendance was not up to pre-Covid levels, the momentum has certainly swung in the right direction. Looking forward to 2023 and beyond.