Featuring Daily Entertainment and Pour-Your-Own-Beer Wall by Harvey’s Garden
Country line dancing, a Buffalo Bills pep rally, and a Silent Disco walk into a bar…or the Empire Room at The Great New York State Fair to be exact. Bringing together exciting new programming, a premium pour-your-own beer wall, and plenty of Fair fun in one of the most popular indoor destinations on the Fairgrounds, the reimagined Empire Room provides fairgoers with more entertainment than ever before, all included with the cost of admission.
The Empire Room is host to the Harvey’s Garden beer wall, featuring an impressive selection of beers available for guests to discover and enjoy. Non-alcoholic drinks are available as well, and guests are welcome to bring tasty food from anywhere across the Fairgrounds to the Empire Room.
Free daily programming is another highlight of the ample, air-conditioned space. Fairgoers can take part in select theme days, including a Taylor Swift themed day with Swiftie Bingo, a performance by tribute band Cruel Summer, and a friendship bracelet exchange. Checking out the Trace Adkins concert on September 5? Then be sure to stop by the Empire Room for country bingo and line dancing. Daily DJ Nights, a Silent Disco, and a Bills Pep Rally offer something for every fairgoer.
And this year, the Empire Room is adding a little friendly competition to the mix. Not only will there be Trivia Games hosted by Syracuse Trivia Company and Music Bingo, open to any fairgoer, but there will also be the first-ever “Best of The Fair” awards for select vendor foods in categories such as Savory, Sweet, Fried, Mocktail or Non-alcoholic, and Alcoholic beverage. Fairgoers are invited to vote for the "People’s Choice" for best food and drinks at The Fair. Voting takes place Wednesday, August 26 to Sunday, September 6 in the Empire Room. In addition, a local panel of celebrity judges and one lucky fairgoer will taste-test entries and choose their top menu items for these inaugural awards. Stop by at 10 a.m., beginning Monday, August 31 through Friday, August 4, to get the judges’ reactions and watch the winning vendors claim all the glory on closing day of The Fair, September 7.
Harvey’s Garden is also offering a pick-your-favorite slushy challenge, a choice between Betty Blueberry and Pete Pickle. To learn more, visit the Empire Room to sample both slushies and select your top choice.
Need even more competition? Check out the State Arm Wrestling Championship, taking place Sunday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., or enter the first-ever Fair Olympics for your chance to take home your own version of a blue ribbon. Competitions include Milk Jug Holding, Corn Shucking, and Husband Calling. May the ultimate fairgoer win!
“We had an opportunity to bring something truly unique to this space, so being able to provide more entertainment at no added cost to the fairgoer is a huge win,” said Fair Director Julie LaFave. “The partnership between Michael Greene and Harvey’s Garden and our new Events Superintendent, Isaac Rubenstein, has allowed us to bring fun, fresh programming to The Fair. We’re excited to see the Empire Room become a new destination for fairgoers to relax, enjoy a drink, catch some great entertainment, and discover something they might not have experienced before.”
"Harvey’s Garden is all about bringing the community together to have fun, and there’s no better place to do that than the Great New York State Fair,” said Michael Greene of Harvey’s Garden. “We’re honored to bring that same community spirit to the Empire Room and help create a memorable experience for fairgoers from across New York State."
Whether guests are looking for a place to catch some entertainment, sample something new, or simply take a break from the summer sun, the Empire Room offers an inviting destination with something happening throughout the Fair. Visit The Fair’s website for a full listing of Empire Room entertainment: Harvey’s Garden at the Empire Room - The Great New York State Fair
The Fair starts Wednesday, August 26, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. All concerts are included in the price of admission. Tickets are on sale now at The Fair’s website, nysfair.ny.gov. Packed with value, a single admission ticket costs $8 and includes access to all grounds entertainment and The Fair’s award-winning concert lineup. In addition, a Frequent Fairgoer ticket option is available for $25.
The Fair continues to be one of the most affordable fairs in the nation, with admission remaining free for those aged 65 and older along with children 12 years old and under.
Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.
The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.
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