Low or No Cost Fun for Kids at the Fair

The fair can be expensive with your family, especially the midway, but there are a TON of free activities at the fair that can keep children of all ages entertained from open until close! First, do your homework. Print out the daily schedule at www.nystatefair.org or get a copy at the local grocery store. Have a plan, so that you are not zigzagging back and forth between activities. Try to vary the activities so that the kids don't get bored. I love to see the animals, but traipsing through every livestock building becomes a chore instead of an experience. Know your audience. I am going to suggest a myriad of activities, you pick the ones that fit for your family; this is what works for mine..

When I was little, I counted down the days until the fair, and dreamed of our first stop of the day, the dairy building. I still go directly to the dairy Building with my own kids, who are now 9 and 12. This building offers 25 cent milk, a free cow merry go round for the little ones, and the infamous butter sculpture, which I still try not to learn about before we get there! From there, we wander over and check out the aquariums of fish and usually enjoy a few outdoor crafts that are offered. We never miss the groove and beat of the Pan African Village. Free entertainment that gets to your soul. As we wander down to check out the free model circus and train display in the Arts and Home Center, with its miniature moving rides and lights, and sounds, we stop by the NY State Police exhibit to check out the vehicles and watch a show. The horticulture building grabs us next to sample maple products, and gawk at the immense sand sculpture and check out the bees. I always stop at the 9/11 and Veteran's Memorial with my kids, because I want them to have a sense of pride and gratitude for what we have.

Its SHOWTIME! The list of free shows at the fair gets longer each year. Do yourself a favor-pick your favorites, and get to the seating area a minimum of 30-45 minutes ahead of time. This is a great built in break. This year brings duck races, the bear Mtn. Trained Bear Show, Coronas Circus, Pirates of the Sky, Sea Lion Splash, Hollywood Racing Pigs, Bwana Jim's wildlife show, and much more that your kids are sure to love! This year also brings the Dragon Knights Stilit-walking medieval characters and living statues throughout the fair.

By now, the shade of the trees in the Iroquois Indian Village calls to me. Check out one of the social dances or just wander through and see where lacrosse comes from. I love to check out the milking parlor at the dairy cattle center to show the kids the process of how our milk gets from that cow to the Rainbow Milk Bar; we stop by the Agricultural Museum to watch one of many demonstrations about soap making, hearth cooking, weaving, and broom making. We can't miss the wool center where wool is turned into yarn, and the carriage museum that houses over 50 horse-drawn vehicles. Then its off to the Youth Activity Building to make crafts and participate in a ton of chidren's activities thanks to the 4H groups there. Do not miss the chance to be part of the Backyard Circus and Puppet Parade, which takes place at 10:15 AM and 1:15 PM daily. Your children will become part of the show and the parade. They can dress up and carry puppets. Then, for us, its off to the NYS International Horse show to sit for a bit and watch those elegant creatures, in a cool building. Our day wouldn't be complete without a trip to the Hall of health to see the giant teeth, get our free dental goodies, enjoy free healthy food samples, and work up a sweat with the interactive exercise games.

This is a LONG day by kid standards, and they need fuel to keep going-me too! Eating at the fair can take a big chunk out of your budget, but it doesn't have to. First, pack a few snacks and drinks to bring with you. While you are waiting for the shows to start nibble away on granola bars and fruit, with a bottle of water. Then, choose wisely, there are tons of offers for $1 hot dogs or $1 slices of pizza. How about a sample of gator for a $1 in the horticulture building, or a cheap pint of ice cream that the family can share from the dairy building. look for deals, and then get something new and interesting to try for the first time, and something that is a fair favorite of yours from way back, me? I can't leave without a sausage sandwich loaded with peppers and onions and sauce.

Enjoy this day with your kids, and teach them a few things along the way, while staying on a budget. It doesn't get better than that.