New York State Fair Changes Ticket Prices for 2024

The New York State Fair has been continuously ranked in the Top 5 Best US State Fairs. This historic fair dates back to 1841 and is also known as the Great New York State Fair. Food lovers make sure to stop by the Taste NY Food Truck Competition, where 40 different trucks will compete for the most "New York" items. This has become the largest annual event in the entire state as well as the oldest state fair in the country.

The New York State Fair Increases Admission for the Second Year in a Row

This year's New York State Fair is set to run from August 21st through September 2nd. For the second year in a row, the New York State fair is raising both ticket prices and parking prices. Adult admission will rise from $6 last year to $8 for the 2024 fair. Parking on the fair lots will increase from $10 to $12 per vehicle.

Timeline of The New York State Fair Admission Price Changes

• The last time tickets were $8 was back in 2001 and 2002.
• Admission then rose to $10 from 2003 until the pandemic.
• Once the fair reopened in 2021, admission was cut to $3.
• In 2023, admission to the fair rose from $3 to $6
• Now for 2024, admission has risen from $6 to $8

Admission to the State Fair will continue to be free for children under 12 and seniors over age 65. The fair also will continue its tradition of free admission days for groups that include law enforcement and firefighters.

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Attendance at the 2023 State Fair was more than 900,000, the highest since the pandemic started in 2020 but still less than the peaks of more than 1 million reached in the years before that.

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“The Fair plays an integral role as an educational opportunity for young people and as an economic engine for the region through tourism so it's critical that we continue to do all we can to put on the very best State Fair and provide fairgoers an improved experience while remaining fiscally responsible,” Jola Szubielski, director of public information for the fair, said in a statement.

List of Performers Announced for the New York State Fair 2024

People from all over New York State come together to experience the affordable, family-friendly, invigorating 13-day festival. The New York State Fair recently unveiled its all-star lineup of performances across the two weeks. Whether you like the Classic Pop or Rock n' Roll, Country or Rap, loud and obnoxious or family friendly, there is something for you! And did I mention these concerts were free with admission? We got the dates and times of who is playing this year below:

Favorites from last year like Chubby Checker, Herman's Hermits, Danielle Ponder, and Chapel Heart will be returning to the New York State Fair. Some major new additions this year include Dropkick Murphy's (who just played the MJN Convention Center in Poughkeepsie), Blue Oyster Cult, and TLC. We will be updating the list if and when more gets announced, but is a pretty stacked list already!

Wednesday, August 21st at 1pm - Chubby Checker

While he is best known for “The Twist,” the first number one song of all time from the Billboard’s Hot 100, he released singles through the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and most recently in the early 2000s.

Wednesday August 21st at 6pm - 90s Rewind: Digital Underground, Tone Loc & Color Me Badd

Digital Underground is widely recognized for its unique contributions to hip hop music, as well as possessing one of the best live performances the genre has to offer. The Grammy-nominated multi-platinum group, which was iNFLuenced by funk bands of the 70s, is best known for their hits “The Humpty Dance,” “Same Song,” “Kiss U back,” “Doowutchyalike,” and “I Get Around,” featuring Tupac Shakur. The group is also noted for introducing Tupac Shakur to the music industry in 1991. Digital Underground is Money-B, who is noted as having one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop, and the newest member of Digital Underground, Chris Clarke, or Young Hump.  Money-B has collaborated on and helped sell hundreds of millions of records with the likes of Tupac, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Raw Fusion, Ne-Yo, Ice Cube, George Clinton, The Luniz, Public Enemy, and more.

Tone-Loc, born Anthony Smith, soared from obscurity into pop stardom in 1989 when his hoarse voice and unmistakable delivery made the song “Wild Thing” a massive hit.  The song, which rose to #2 that year on the Billboard Hot 100, was co-written by Marvin Young, better known as Young MC, as was his second single smash, “Funky Cold Medina.”  The album ‘Loc-ed After Dark” became the second rap release ever to top the pop charts.  Tone-Loc expanded into acting in 1992 and 1993, appearing on the Fox sitcom Roc and in the films Posse and Ace Venture: Pet Detective.

Color Me Badd, or Mark Calderon, Bryan Abrams, Sam Watters, and Kevin Thornton, has sold over 12 million records worldwide, had two #1 hit singles, nine Top 40 hits, and a triple-platinum album. The group, which is best known for "I Adore Mi Amor,” "All 4 Love,” and more, was nominated for two Grammy Awards, won two Soul Train Music Awards, and one American Music Award, and nominated for five others. Their songs have been featured in movies and on television programs, including New Jack City, Mo' Money, No Strings Attached, and Glee. They made a cameo appearance as themselves on a 1992 episode of Beverly Hills, 90210.  The group reformed in 2010 and has been touring on several notable tours such as "I Love The 90's Tour,” and supporting other hit acts like Salt N’ Pepa, Vanilla Ice, Bell Biv Devoe, and many more. Founding member Mark Calderon is the only original member leading the group out on tour this summer.

Wednesday, August 21st at 8pm - Joey Fatone and AJ McLean

The Great New York State Fair is thrilled to announce longtime friends Joey Fatone and AJ McLean are “syncing up” this summer to “rock everybody” at the Fair! The pair hit the road in March as part of the “A Legendary Night Tour,” performing the biggest hits from each of their respective bands, and will take the Suburban Park Stage on Wednesday, August 21 at 8 p.m.

AJ McLean is known by fans across the world as a beloved member of the Backstreet Boys, a musical group known for its countless hits, record-setting tours, numerous awards and worldwide sales in excess of $130 million. Over the last few years, McLean has been hitting the road with the Backstreet Boys for the band’s international, stadium-filling “DNA Tour,” which performed over 150 shows across five continents.

Joey Fatone first rose to fame as a member of the record-shattering, multi-platinum boyband *NSYNC. Following the band’s incredible success with albums that sold over 10 million copies and countless awards, Fatone took on projects spanning from television, film and Broadway, and beyond. Fatone recently made headlines with a long-awaited reunion with his bandmates in NSYNC, releasing their first single in nearly 20 years in November 2023. The track, “Better Place,” was featured on the soundtrack of the third main installment in the Trolls franchise, the “Trolls Band Together.”

Thursday, August 22nd, 2024 at 1pm - RVSHVD

Rising country singer-songwriter RVSHVD will share his signature vocal tone and prolific songwriting skills with fairgoers this summer as he takes The Great New York State Fair’s Chevy Court stage on Thursday, August 22 at 1:00 p.m.

RVSHVD (pronounced RA-SHAD) hails from the small town of Willacoochee, Georgia. Ten years ago, he heard Keith Urban’s “Sweet Thing,” and dove headfirst into writing and recording country music, finding the genre more personal and rewarding. With the help of his smooth voice and a bare bones home studio, RVSHVD hit the jackpot on his country version of Roddy Ricch’s “Ballin.” The song went viral on Spotify, TikTok, Apple and YouTube, amassing over 25 million streams and lifting his catalog of songs to over 125 million streams. A preview of his recent single, “Shoebox Money,” struck a national conversation racking up 15 million plays, 1 million likes, and over 450,000 shares on Instagram Reels alone, a testament to his unique position in the country music lexicon.

 Thursday, August 22nd at 6pm - Ace Frehley

Rock ‘n’ roll and heavy metal wouldn’t sound, look, or feel the same without him and the only thing more recognizable than Ace Frehley’s signature “Spaceman” makeup is his guitar playing.  His thundering riffs and singable solos have enshrined him as one of the most influential, inspiring, and impactful musicians of all-time.  The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® inducted him in 2014 as a Co-founder and the original lead guitarist of Kiss. Guitar World named the Grammy Award-nominated, Bronx-born Frehley in the Top 15 of its “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time” and plugged the lead from “Shock Me” on the “50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time.” 

Friday, August 23rd at 1pm - Sophie B. Hawkins

American pop legend Sophie B. Hawkins will take the Chevy Court stage at The Great New York State Fair at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 23, 2024. A native New Yorker and dynamic creative force known for a spellbinding live show, Hawkins’ appearance at The Fair is part of her tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of her platinum-selling debut album, Tongues and Tails.

Friday, August 23rd at 6pm - Sister Sledge

The legendary vocal group are responsible for some of the biggest dance anthems of all time. “Lost in Music,” “He’s the Greatest Dancer,” and “Thinking of You” are universally cherished songs that bring people together in love, life, and soulful groove.

Sister Sledge, now featuring more of the Sledge family following the passing of Joni Sledge in 2017, continues the group’s sensational legacy. Under the vocal direction of founding member Debbie Sledge and the genius of MD Dominic Amato, along with an ensemble of insanely talented musicians, the group has achieved a ‘Sledgendary’ place in the entertainment industry.  Specializing in BRINGING THE PARTY with the family’s classic hits, Debbie Sledge, Camille Sledge, Tanya Ti-et, Thaddeus Sledge and David Sledge make one funky family affair. They continue to deliver the ‘Sledgendary’ message that “Nothing is Greater than Love,” honoring sister Joni Sledge’s memory, and spreading joy with music that uplifts and celebrates life, love, and togetherness.

Friday, August 23rd at 8pm - TLC

“Don’t go chasin’ waterfalls…” Plan a visit to the Great New York State Fair this summer instead! One of the most popular female music groups of the 1990s, TLC, is performing at The Fair on Pride Day, Friday, August 23. The ladies of TLC – Tionne “T-Boz” and Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas – will take the Suburban Park stage at 8:00 p.m.

Named for the acronym that came from the first letter of the nicknames of each member (Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes died in 2002), TLC formed in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The four-time Grammy award winning group went on to become one of the biggest-selling female groups of all time, producing an extensive musical resume that is supported with a variety of accolades.

Saturday, August 24th at 1pm - KIDZ BOP

Calling all the Fair’s youngest fans (and grown-ups too!): this summer, get a chance to sing and dance along with KIDZ BOP when they take the Chevy Court stage at The Great New York State Fair on Saturday, August 24 at 1:00 p.m. The #1 music brand for kids will perform today’s biggest global pop hits for fairgoers, stopping at the Fairgrounds during their KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024 tour. This announcement coincides with the release of KIDZ BOP’s latest album, 'KIDZ BOP 2024,’ which is out today, including the biggest bops of the year, sung by kids for kids.

Saturday, August 24th at 6pm - Ying Yang Twins

The Ying Yang Twins burst onto the scene in 2000 with their debut album “Thug Walkin,’” which included the smash single “Whistle While You Twerk” that reached #17 on the U.S. R&B/Hop-Hop Chart. The duo continued their rise to mainstream popularity after collaborating with Britney Spears on her album “In The Zone” and with Lil Jon on the single “Get Low,” which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The group’s third studio album, “Me and My Brother,” produced the mega hit “Salt Shaker,” which climbed into the Billboard Hot 100 at #9 where it remained for several weeks. The album was ultimately certified platinum with over one million copies sold and helped to cement the group’s legacy as one of hip hop’s greatest acts. The Ying Yang Twins’ song “Halftime (Stand Up and Get Crunk)” also found success as it was the unofficial anthem of the New Orleans Saints during their Super Bowl victory season. The song was also featured in several video Games including NFL Street 2 and Madden NFL 11.

Sunday, August 25th at 1pm - The Elders

Internationally known seasoned Celtic-rock band, The Elders will make their Great New York State Fair debut on the Chevy Court Stage at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, August 25. With 24 years of experience, an Emmy Award-winning DVD, and an induction into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame under their belt, the band is beloved by fans for their timeless sound, unique harmonies, unparalleled musicianship, and strong, narrative lyricism.

Sunday, August 25th at 6pm - Dax

Dax, a Canadian born Nigerian wordsmith with a cult following years in the making, is a brutally honest and gifted artist who has spent his career making music tackling compelling, relatable issues. The rising country and rap star has taken the music industry by storm, soaring to the top of the charts with his #1 Billboard hit, "Dear Alcohol." This platinum-selling single has captivated audiences worldwide, solidifying Dax's position as a force to be reckoned with in the country music scene. Dax continued with a flurry of releases, culminating in his “What Is Life?” EP in 2023, followed by a remix of “To Be a Man” with music icon Darius Rucker. Dax capped off a strong 2023 with his first US national TV performance on the Today Show.

Sunday, August 25th at 8pm - Dropkick Murphy's

After nearly three decades, the Dropkick Murphys remain bigger than ever, having generated half a billion streams and continuing to sell out venues around the world. The Dropkick Murphys will return to the Chevrolet Music Festival at Chevy Court for the fourth time. The Celtic-influenced rockers Dropkick Murphys have been beloved by fairgoers since 2018, when they were booked as a last-minute replacement for Dickey Betts. Since then, they’ve returned in 2019 and 2022, and are ready to hit the Suburban Park Stage again this summer at 8 p.m. Sunday, August 25.

Monday, August 26th at 1pm - Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone

Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone will return to Chevy Court to play through their repertoire of hits, including “I’m Henry the VIII I Am,” “I’m Into Something Good,” and “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.”

Monday, August 26th at 6pm - CAIN

Raised in Hartselle, Alabama as pastor’s kids and now residing in Nashville, the sibling trio comprised of Madison Cain Johnson, Taylor Cain Matz, and Logan Cain have been delighting audiences with their joyous performances since 2012, when they got their big break opening for Dave Barnes and Andrew Ripp. Since then, they have gone on to release four projects and shared the stage with artists such as TobyMac, Zach Williams, and Casting Crowns, while also performing on the famed stages of The Grand Ole Opry, Red Rocks Amphitheatre, and Ryman Auditorium.

Tuesday August 27th at 1pm - Little Anthony

On Tuesday, August 27, doo-wap singer Little Anthony will make his debut appearance at the Fair on Chevy Court at 1:00 pm. With over 60 years in show business and over 50 million records sold worldwide, Little Anthony, as part of his beloved doo-wop group, has “shimmy shimmied’ his way into the hearts of fans across generations. He will delight crowds at the Fair with hits, including “Tears On My Pillow,” “Goin’ Out Of My Head,” “Hurt So Bad,” and “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop.” Little Anthony was inducted into the 2009 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and most recently inducted into the 2018 class of The Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame.

Tuesday August 27th at 6pm - Blue Oyster Cult

For five decades, Blue Öyster Cult has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. The band continues to be revered within the hard rock and heavy metal scene for its pioneering work as one of very few hard rock/heavy metal bands to earn both genuine mainstream critical acclaim as well as commercial success. The band is often cited as a major influence by other acts such as Metallica, and BÖC was listed in VH1's countdown of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.

Tuesday, August 27th at 8pm - Stephen Sanchez

Sanchez broke onto the scene with his breakout single “Until I Found You,” which went multi-platinum, vaulted into the Top 25 of the Billboard Hot 100, and generated nearly 2 billion streams powered by the original, piano version, and duet with gold-certified pop singer and songwriter Em Beihold. He also delivered performances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Meanwhile, he also sold out successive headline tours and earned acclaim from Billboard, Consequence, and more. He was even invited by Sir Elton John to perform “Until I Found You” at Elton’s last show ever headlining Glastonbury. Most recently, Sanchez released his 2023 full-length debut, Angel Face. The record tells the tale of “The Troubadour Sanchez” a fictional musician who blew up in 1958 with “Until I Found You,” lit up popular culture, and was tragically gunned down in 1964 after falling in love with a mob boss’s girlfriend, Evangeline.

Wednesday, August 28th at 6pm - Danielle Ponder

Danielle Ponder is already well known throughout Western New York and in the Finger Lakes region. In 2018, she decided to pursue music fulltime. Now, as Danielle steps into the national spotlight with her debut album, “Some of Us Are Brave” (released in September 2022), her unique sound – a mix of pop, R&B, blues, rock and soul – is infiltrating radio stations across the country. NPR has described her music as “anthemic while compassionate; soulful, while bold and strong.”

Wednesday, August 28th at 8pm - Joan Jett and The Blackhearts

This will be Joan Jett and The Blackhearts’ fifth time playing to fans at The Fair since 2006. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts formed in 1979. When mainstream radio didn’t play their signature anthem, “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” fans rallied to request it. The iconic hit spent seven weeks at #1. Over the next 40+ years, the band went on to amass nine Top 40 singles, including “Bad Reputation,” “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” and “Crimson and Clover.” They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.

Thursday, August 29th at 6pm - Chapel Hart

In 17 seasons of AGT, Chapel Hart was only the second group to win the golden buzzer. The country trio dazzled judges and earned millions of fans after performing “You Can Have Him Jolene,” which was recognized as “International Song of the Year” in Scotland in 2021.

Known for their three-part harmonies, sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and their cousin, Trea Swindle, have sung together since they were children. Their sophomore album, “The Girls Are Back in Town,” delivers a blend of powerful ballads and music to dance to and has been recognized as “Album of the Year” at the British County Music Awards.

Saturday, August 31st at 8pm - Brian Kelley

While Kelley’s August 31 performance will be his first solo appearance at The Fair, it marks the third time he will grace The Fair’s stages with FGL’s debut in 2013, when they played to Chevy Court concertgoers in the middle of a downpour, and then returned a year later to open for Jason Aldean at the Grandstand.

Entering the next chapter of a record-breaking, history-making career, “BK” is first known as the Florida half of the GRAMMY-nominated Florida Georgia Line (FGL). The ACM Breakout Artist of the Decade Award recipients garnered 19 career #1s and became the first and only act to achieve two RIAA DIAMOND singles in Country music history (“Cruise” and “Meant to Be”). Surpassing 17 billion global streams, selling more than 40 million tracks and 4.8 million albums worldwide, plus playing to over four million fans, FGL has been honored by AMA, Billboard, CMA, and CMT Music Awards. He is also an established songwriter, co-writing several #1 hits, including Jason Aldean’s “Burnin’ It Down” and “You Make It Easy,” and Cole Swindell’s “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight.”

Sunday, September 1st at 1pm - Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour

Blippi inspires curiosity in preschoolers around the world by creating content and experiences that are relatable, accessible and make learning fun. So, come on! Dance, sing, and learn with Blippi and special guest Meekah as they discover what makes different cities unique and special. Will there be monster trucks, excavators, and garbage trucks galore? You bet! So, get ready to shake those wiggles out and OJ Twist your way through this brand-new musical party this Labor Day weekend!

Blippi has become a worldwide sensation with more than one billion monthly views across platforms including Netflix, HBO Max, Cartoonito, Sky, Amazon and YouTube and millions of fans around the world.  The franchise has expanded rapidly since it was acquired by Moonbug Entertainment in 2020.  Blippi is available in more than 20 languages, including American Sign Language, and is distributed by more than 30 global broadcast and streaming partners. Blippi’s buddies Meekah and Juca have spun off into their own shows and Blippi lives off the screen as well with sold-out live events, popular music tracks, and in-demand toys available at all major retailers.