The Great New York State Fair to Ban Open Outdoor Smoking In 2022, Creating Designated Areas For Smokers

The Great New York State Fair will ban smoking on nearly the entire Fairgrounds for the 2022 Fair, creating small, designated outdoor smoking areas to increase the comfort of fairgoers. Smoking is already prohibited by law inside Fairgrounds’ buildings and by policy at the Fair’s Chevy Court and Chevy Park concert venues. Locations for the designated areas are to be determined.

Troy Waffner, Fair Director, said, “Smoking always ranks high on the list of issues fairgoers want us to tackle and the issue was particularly acute this year. We’re pleased to take this action to make the Fair as comfortable and family-friendly as possible for everyone.”

The new policy only covers the Fair. Smoking policies for non-Fair events will remain the responsibility of individual event promoters in accordance with state law.

Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Indu Gupta said, "I applaud the New York State Fair for protecting the health of the community by taking steps to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke for all those working at and visiting the Fairgrounds. With smoking in Onondaga County and NYS at an all-time low, this is an important step to create an environment that not only protects our vulnerable but also supports those who have quit or are trying to quit, all while maintaining a family-friendly and fun event."

Richard Kilburg, associate administrator of the Upstate Cancer Center, said, “Thank you to the New York State Fair for further limiting the number of designated smoking areas at this grand event. It’s the right thing to do for families and others who attend this event. It’s a move that helps clear the air at the New York State Fair.”

Dr. Leslie Kohman, American Cancer Society Central NY Board of Advisors member, said, "On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the New York State Fairgrounds each year, we applaud this move to limit smoking to a few designated areas. Secondhand smoke has more than 7,000 chemicals, including at least 70 that can cause cancer. This is a major step toward protecting the health of those who come to experience all Central NY has to offer."

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. The 2022 Fair runs from August 24 to September 5.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Find the Great New York State Fair on its website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and enjoy photos from the Fair on Flickr. Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York State Fair to statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.

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