The Maple Experience Interactive Educational Exhibit with Demonstrations of Maple Production Will Be Located Between the Horticulture Building and the State Police Exhibit, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Fairgoers Can Test Their Maple Trivia Knowledge for a Chance to Win Maple Ice Cream
A Bag of Maple Cotton Candy Will Be $1 Off
Leafy, the Maple Producers Association Mascot, Will Be on Hand for Photos
Maple syrup, maple ice cream, maple popcorn, maple cotton candy… maple dog treats? Yes, maple may be one of the most versatile flavors around, and on Monday, August 31, The Great New York State Fair will celebrate New York’s growing maple industry with the return of Maple Day at The Fair! Sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers Association, Maple Day brings the distinct taste and tradition of the sugarbush to the Horticulture Building, where fairgoers can enjoy a hands-on experience celebrating New York’s maple heritage.
Maple Day joins Agricultural Career Day, Grape Day, Beef Day and Dairy Day as part of The Fair’s lineup of special days celebrating New York agriculture and the people who help make it a vital part of the state’s economy.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York is proud to be one of the nation’s leading maple-producing states, and Maple Day at The Great New York State Fair gives us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the hardworking producers who make this industry such a sweet part of New York agriculture. Maple production is rooted in tradition while continuing to evolve through innovation and education. I encourage fairgoers to stop by the Maple Experience mobile classroom, meet the next generation of agricultural leaders, and learn more about how New York’s maple producers turn sap into a product enjoyed around the world.”
Fair Director Julie LaFave said, “One of our most sought-after booths, we’re proud to showcase the Maple Producers Association at The Fair. We wouldn’t be The Great New York State Fair without our delicious food options, and the Maple Booth serves up some of the most unique maple products, alongside important educational opportunities for fairgoers to learn where their maple comes from.”
Executive Director of the New York State Maple Producers Association Helen Thomas said, “I encourage everyone to come out and stop by the Mobile Maple Classroom on Maple Day to learn how maple syrup is made and get a first-hand look at all the wonderful things we’re teaching our school children in grades K-12 about New York’s maple industry. We will also be highlighting all our wonderful maple products, so fairgoers should look for them at the Mobile Classroom and check out a full range of products, including maple cotton candy for $1 off.
From the first tap on a maple tree to the final taste of sweet, pure syrup, fairgoers can follow the journey of New York maple at The Maple Experience, a 24-foot mobile classroom that travels throughout the state educating visitors about the maple industry. Inside, interactive displays bring the maple-making process to life, giving visitors a chance to see how trees are tapped and how sap is collected, boiled, evaporated and transformed into syrup using both traditional and modern techniques. Guests can explore everything from wooden sap spouts and traditional tapping tools to modern power drills and plastic tubing used in today’s sugarbushes.
This year, FFA students from Morrisville Central School will take visitors even deeper into the process with live demonstrations highlighting the many steps involved in maple production. Visitors can test their knowledge in hourly trivia contests for a chance to win a free maple ice cream cone.
Of course, no maple experience is complete without a taste of pure maple goodness! Fairgoers can sample real New York maple syrup before heading out to say hello to Maple mascot “Leafy,” who will make special appearances throughout The Fair. The Maple Experience will be parked next to the Horticulture Building near the State Police Exhibit and will be open to fairgoers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
Fairgoers can also step foot inside the Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen at 11 a.m. to learn the art of making maple caramel popcorn, presented by Merle Maple LLC and the Maple Producers Association. For a full list of cooking demonstrations, visit here.
So, just how much do fairgoers love maple? The numbers from the Maple Booth speak for themselves! During the 2025 Fair, visitors purchased:
- 9,177 ice cream cones
- About 2,000 mapleccinos
- About 2,900 maple milkshakes
- About 3,000 units of maple popcorn, made with 44 gallons of maple syrup
- More than 6,000 bags of maple cotton candy
- 700 bags of maple dog treats
- More than 1,100 pounds of pure maple sugar shapes, made with just over four barrels of maple syrup
- 400 pounds of maple hard candies
- 800 maple lollipops *
- 1,856 jugs of maple syrup
- More than 2,700 maple donuts topped with pure maple cream
New York ranks second in the nation in maple production and is home to the largest resource of tappable maple trees in the United States, along with more than 2,000 maple sugar makers. The state’s maple industry experienced another terrific year in 2025, producing 829,000 gallons of maple syrup.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets supports the industry through funding for promotion and educational programs included in the New York State Budget, as well as investments in research, including Cornell University’s Maple Program at the Arnot Teaching Forest. The department also promotes New York maple through its NYS Grown & Certified and Taste NY marketing programs.
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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