Episode 1409 – Return to the Great New York State Fair
[START OF RECORDING]
SCOOTER: Friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, whether you like the musical State Fair or you're feeling somewhat fair or you're in a state where you're like, I’d like a podcast to take my mind off of stuff and put me to sleep, welcome to Sleep With Me. It’s a podcast that’s here to do that, really. I’m here to be your friend in the deep, dark night, take your mind off of stuff, tell you a story, and see if I can carry you off into dreamland. This show is a bit different. The way it works is I send my voice…oh wait, no, this is the very beginning of the show. Whoops. Well, welcome. You'll kinda see how it works.
It slowly unfolds to slowly carry you off into dreamland and help you wind down first. What we got coming up is support so that paying for the podcast is optional, optional for the people that are new, optional for the people that listen from time to time, who aren't in a position or choose…don't want to support the show. That’s what this support after this makes possible, that and the listeners who support the show back, but only if the podcast makes your life better on a regular basis. Then after the support is a long, meandering intro meant to ease you into bedtime, and then after that will be a discussion of the Great New York State Fair, a preview.
I don't know if there will be a post-view or a double preview yet, but yeah, that’s what we got coming up. I’m glad you're here, and…yeah, if this show does make your life better on a regular basis, you find yourself listening night after night, episode after episode, or you fall asleep fast, you've listened for longer than a year, longer than three years, longer than five years, we really could use your help to keep the show going for you and everybody else, and here’s the ways you could help the show back.
INTRO: [INTRO MUSIC] Hey, are you up all night tossing, turning, mind racing? Trouble getting to sleep? Trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome. This is Sleep With Me, the podcast that puts you to sleep. We do it with a bedtime story. Alls you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press Play. I’m gonna do the rest. What I’m going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever’s keeping you awake. That could be thoughts on your mind, things you're thinking about, thoughts about the past, the present, the future…thoughts; always on my mind, in my…always all around me, within me, thoughts.
It could be feelings, anything coming up for you emotionally related to those thoughts or feelings that are just there, feelings from the day that just passed, the years that just passed, or feelings about something coming up, physical sensations, changes in time, temperature, routine, maybe you work a different schedule, maybe you're going through something, in the middle of something. Whatever it is, I’m here to take your mind off of stuff and keep you company so you could fall asleep, which is a little bit different of a technique. I don't think it’s actually a technique. It’s…I think it’s a traditional-type thing that kids get. It’s a little bit different, I think, for grown-ups, though most of us are only grown up…officially grown up, according to the statistics. Statistically, I’m grown up. That’s the only place I’m grown up.
But…yeah. The reason I make the show is what I like to point out first, and right now I’m really in the middle of it, right? I’m recovering from something, so I can't physically…I can't sleep very well, and I’m really tired all the time. So, I am trying to sleep even more often than bedtime, and there’s a lot of physical sensations along with the thoughts and the feelings. So, it’s a drag, to be honest, and the reason I tell you that is 'cause I know there’s a lot of you out there that can relate to that in some way. I share it to try to bring you comfort, like a shared sense of comfort that none of us are alone, as much as it can feel that way, because I’ve been dealing with this now for over a week, and it’s gonna be at least a few more weeks of this, and it’s unpleasant. I think the part that we share is that part.
It’s like, hey, I’d rather not have this, but I don't really have a choice in the matter kinda thing, and that’s something that’s somewhat peculiar to bedtime, and only for some of us and not everyone. It might be different for you, right? Whatever brought you to this show, whether you're a regular listener or you're new and just checking it out, I’m glad you found this podcast and I hope it can help you. But even if it doesn't, I hope you leave with a sense that there’s other people out there that really do get where you're coming from. Even if you're like, no, you can't relate to me, Scooter, Drew…I don't deal…what I’m dealing with is pretty unique.
I’d say, okay, I hear you and I want to give you a reassurance that there’s a lot of people listening right now around the world, and there’s a pretty good chance that there’s someone else out there listening right now, thinking fondly of you and hoping you get the rest you need, and that can relate in some manner to whatever it is that you're dealing with. But they're also rooting for you because this podcast helps them. They're a regular listener. They probably support the show on a regular basis. They're invested in this podcast and they're invested in the people that listen to it. So, they're thinking of you, right, and thinking of you fondly. So, yeah, I just want to tell you that because that’s an important part of this podcast. It’s weird and it’s indirect, and…I get it, but we share something here.
Even if you're like, well, I’d rather share at a distance, I say, that’s fine. That fits right in with my style and the style of the show. But I am glad you're here, and I do hope the show can help you out, and I hope that one day, if you become a regular listener, you're in that place of rooting for people going through a tough time right now. So, that’s one of the things. But the other side of it is you deserve a bedtime where you could get the rest you need so your life is more manageable and you could be out there flourishing, right? That if you get the rest you need on a regular basis, your day’s gonna be better tomorrow, your week’s gonna be better, your month’s gonna be better.
Or…or and/or like…not Andor or Andor the show, but and/or or yes/and…maybe this podcast can also make bedtime a little bit less full of dread, or at least some of the time be like, well, at least I got that podcast to listen to, and I know that podcaster will be there, old Scoots, to kinda keep me company. So, I don't know, that kinda gives me a little bit of reassurance. I know he’s gonna be there to be my bore-friend, my bore-bae, my bore-sib, my neigh-bore, my bore-bie. So, yeah, that’s why I make the show. The way it works is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky, dulcet tones, pointless meanders, and superfluous tangents. So, I go off topic and I get mixed up, I forget what I was talking about, then I kinda double back, then I’m like, wait a second, what? That’s all…some of it’s natural.
Like, my voice is not traditionally soothing, but it’s not bad. My inability to get to the point or the fact that I get mixed up or I go off topic, it’s intentional and organic together, I guess. What else do you need to know? Well, there’s a couple things about the show that take some getting used to, right? If you're new here, you might not be sure, right? Whatever brought you here…you might be wondering, is this podcast for me? I thought this was a sleep podcast. I was searching for something. I’m skeptical. I’m doubtful. I’m a little bit irritated. That’s a normal way. That’s how most people arrive at the show, and it does take two or three tries — that’s on the advice of most people that regularly listen to the podcast and support it — to kinda get used to the show. So, give it a few tries and see how it goes.
If you decide this podcast is not for you — 'cause you have nothing to lose, right? — just give it a shot. If…or if you already know…you say, no, I’m not giving it any more tries; don’t like you, don’t like the podcast, that’s totally fine, too. We have a website set up, sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou, where you could discover other sleepy stuff that’ll help you fall asleep, other sleep podcasts. So, just use that. But give the pod…that kinda gives you…free to say, hey, let me give this three tries and see what happens.
The reason for that is that most regular listeners…well, a couple things that take some getting used to is one, this is a podcast that you just kind of listen to, kind of like background noise, kind of like a out-of-focus picture, like a TV on in the other room, like a party way, way down the street, a show streaming under your pillow, sand running through your fingers. It’s something that’s there that you could pay attention to but you don’t need to and that’s not kind of begging for your attention or that’s so interesting you're like, I can't not listen. So, just give it a few tries and see what happens. But that’s kinda one of the things that takes some getting used to, right? It’s a podcast I don't listen to? But, yeah, like a lot of people, they wake up the next day after the third…second or third try; oh, wait a second, now I get it.
He’s serious when he’s like, this podcast is always going nowhere, always never getting started. So, just see how it goes. The other part that takes some getting used to is that this is a sleep podcast I’ve been making since 2013, before this idea…before this was a big thing, bedtime stories for adults and sleep podcasts. But this podcast…you that have been around since then, it’s not here to put you to sleep. I’m not here…there is no pressure to fall asleep with this show. There are people listening who can't sleep at all or who need a break during the day or at night or in the middle of the night. So, there’s no pressure to sleep. I’m here over an hour for a reason, so you don’t have to think about…when is the episode gonna end.
So, just kinda see how it goes, because my job is to be here for you to listen to me or not listen to me, just like you call a friend in the middle of the night and say, hey, talk to me about nothing. Okay, no problem. Yeah, 'cause my job is to be a presence here, your bore-friend, your bore-bae, your neigh-bore, your bore-sib, your bore-bud, your bore-bie, your boreman, your Boris Borlaf, your chairman of the boreds, your best bore-friend f’eva, to just hang out with you while you fall asleep or while you get a little bit of break from that rigmarole or a little bit of a interruption.
I could have really used this podcast last night because, yeah, I woke up at 4:00 and I could not get comfortable, and then I couldn't get back to sleep, and then I was…and I did not use the tools that I know I should have used, which is getting out of bed, reading a book, putting on something to listen to, and it didn’t work. I mean, eventually it did 'cause I was just so tired, but…so, that’s why I make this show, right? To be your friend and say, hey, no worries. I’ll be here to talk to you. You don’t have to handle it. I’ll handle it for you. We're not even gonna handle anything here. I’m just gonna talk and be here for you, and you could listen to me instead of thinking about the fact that you just can't get in the right position to sleep anymore and things are feeling uncomfortable and whatever, and then you have thoughts that go with that.
So, I’ll just be here to hang out with you. That’s what a bore-friend does. That’s why I apply for that role of best bore-friend f’eva, or just best bore-friend for right now. So, just see how it goes. There’s over 600 episodes ready to go, so you have so many to choose from. Yeah, so, what else do you need to know? Oh, the structure of the show. So, the show is structured in a very specific way, and if you're new, it can be confusing. This is the version of the podcast that benefits the maximum amount of people it can, but it is somewhat adjustable. So, I’ll give you the kind of adjustments and the whys here. So…not the…there’s not much wise from me, W-I-S-E, but the W-H-Y-S. W-H-Y-S…yeah. So, the show starts off with a greeting; friends beyond the binary, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Why?
So you feel seen and welcomed in. Then I say something somewhat humor-like, and you say, oh, okay, I kinda…I think I understand the nature of the show. It doesn't sound too bad. I’ll check it out. Then there’s support because most people prefer a free version of the podcast, 'cause either they only are listening for a little while or they're new or that’s just their preference, right? So, it needs listener support and sponsor support for us to be able to do that. If you prefer something without ads, you could get that at Sleep With Me+. But most people benefit from this free version of the show. If it was only a paid version, many, many, many less people would benefit from it, and that kinda goes against, whatever, somewhat of the ethos of the…or what I would have wanted last night, right?
So, yeah, if you prefer something ad-free and you want to support the show back, that’s the way to do it. Otherwise, yeah, we're here to try to help you. Then after the support, totally separate from the support, is the intro of the show. The intro is like, fifteen to thirty minutes long where I introduce what the podcast is, I follow a familiar structure, but I go off topic and I get mixed up. I do a new intro almost every single time, or pretty much every time, and that’s because whatever keeps me awake, it needs something familiar and reassuring but also distracting. Like, for example, last night I didn’t try anything other than trying to convince myself…hey, let’s just find…let’s find a somewhat-comfortable position to sleep in. It didn’t work, right?
But what does work for me a lot of times is something familiar, something soothing, but something that whatever it is that’s keeping me awake can't predict. So, that’s what the intro does. But the other reason the intro’s fifteen to twenty minutes long is to ease you into bedtime, to help you wind down, to put a sunset on the day or a buffer versus just, hey, I’m gonna put you to sleep right away. That never has really worked for me, and it’s just nice. So, a lot of people are getting ready for bed, some people are in bed getting comfortable, and most listeners are winding down or chilling out or doing some relaxing activity, even if it’s doodling or looking out the window, because that’s just what’s been shown to work and what works for me most of the time. Not all the time. It’s kinda like a hang time.
If you prefer something without intros, we have another podcast, Bedtime Stories from Sleep With Me, in every podcast app. It’s also listener ad-supported, so you could get it wherever. Or if you support the show, you get a whole podcast of just story-only versions of all the episodes we make as they come out. But see how it goes at first, 'cause the intro is kinda the hang time, and it’s pretty popular for some people, but not everybody. That’s why we’ve adjusted how we make the show and put out other versions. So, that’s the intro. Then after the intro will be support, and then there will be our state…Great New York State Fair coverage.
All told, we’ll be here about an hour to keep you company and take your mind off of stuff so you could fall asleep. I’m really glad you checked the show out if you're new or you're coming back, and I really want to help you fall asleep. Thanks again for coming by, and if this show does help you on a regular basis and you want to help the show back so we can be here…we do count on you if the show helps you, makes your life better on a regular basis. These are the ways you could do that. Thanks.
Alright everybody, this is Scoots here, and this episode of Sleep With Me is about the Great New York State Fair. I’m not sure how it’s gonna turn out. I know we’ve done episodes about the Great New York State Fair before, and…but it’s been a little while. The Great New York State Fair is a big part of my childhood. I don't think I was ever a lad, but as someone who grew up in Syracuse, New York, it’s kinda a big part of growing up there for a lot of people, and a yearly tradition. I have not been in quite some time, I think since my daughter started middle school, maybe.
So, I think it’s been at least eight, nine years since I’ve been there, and…just 'cause the school schedule changed I think when she got to middle school, and school would start before the…school started in California before the state…New York State Fair runs…maybe I should do some facts, maybe a little Wikipedia about the New York State Fair, and then we’ll…what I’m gonna do is kinda look through…talk about what I want to see when I’m there, the dates that I hopefully…'cause hopefully when I’m hearing this, I’ll have been to the Great New York State Fair, and then either the second half of this episode or a future episode will be me reviewing it or talking about it, or it’ll just come up in the show naturally.
Oh, 'cause the Great New York State Fair has been the setting most recently…parts of it in my mind, at least, the fairgrounds…not the Great New York State Fair, but the Great New York State…the Great New York State Fairgrounds were part of the Butter episode. Let’s see what we got here. What are the dates? Do we have a Wikipedia article about it, most importantly? Not coming up right away. Well, let’s look up…let’s just type in ‘Wikipedia’. Great New York State Fair…Wikipedia…and just read through that article. I don't know, the way searches come up has changed on my phone. Here we go. So, the New York State Fair, also known as the Great New York State Fair, is a thirteen-day showcase of agriculture, entertainment, education, and technology with midway rides, concessionaires, exhibits, and concerts.
It’s become New York’s largest annual event and a summer tradition for hundreds of thousands of families. The first fair took place in Syracuse in 1841, and it took permanent residence there in 1890. It is the oldest and one of the largest state fairs in the United States, with over a million visitors annually. In 2024, 868,000 people went. It begins in August, runs for thirteen days, ending on Labor Day. It’s held in a 375-acre Empire Expo Center on the shores of Onondaga Lake in the town of Geddes on the border of Syracuse. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets owns five of the buildings and employs the workers. In 1832, the New York…State Agricultural Society was founded in Albany…farmers, legislators, and others to promote agriculture. First state fair was held in 1841.
10 to the 15,000 people attended. Second fair in Albany…then between 1842 and 1889, it traveled between different cities. Then in 1890, they donated a hundred acres to the Agriculture Society, and it became its permanent home and stayed that way. There’s been a lot of different…I won't read through all the history of it 'cause it’s pretty long. So, yeah, let’s go to the app now, and then I’ll run through app because…so…okay, so, it’s…when I’m recording…when you're hearing this, it’ll be 2025, I hope. But when I’m recording this, it is 20…oh, it’s still 20…oh no, it’ll be 2026 when you're hearing this. It’s 2025 when I’m recording, in early August, and I still live in California, but I’m move…I’m bringing my daughter to college, and after I bring her to college, I’m planning on going to the state fair.
Thirteen days…so, what is the first date? That’s the first thing we need to establish so that we can know when we're gonna go, right? Thirteen days prior…well, let’s see if we can find…no…buildings, cancel, schedule…is that the first day, August 21st? 20th, 31st…no, that’s definitely…23rd, 22nd, 21st, 20th, 31st…so, I guess the 20th plus thirteen…opening day is August 20th. So, let me take a look at what dates I may be able to go now. I think on the 21st is the first day I may be able to attend. Okay, August 21st, yeah. So, anywhere…21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th are the days I could try to go. Okay, so, we’ll skip the 20th since we know we can't go there. So, the 21st…first I’ll run through the schedule, we’ll see what looks good, and then we’ll dig deeper and maybe compare days.
Okay, so, that’s Student Youth Day and Agriculture Career Day. There’s a classic…Hunter and Jumper Classic Horse Show from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. That’s at the Toyota Colosseum. Then we have dairy cattle judging; that’s at the Dairy Cattle Building…9:15 a.m., 4H. Then we have basketball…okay, State Fair Sand Sculpture, all day long. Sandman Matt…that’s at the Center of Progress Building. We're gonna want to catch…check that out. Okay, now we get into the shows. Jon the Mentalist; that’s at 11:00 a.m. I wish this had a checkbox, 'cause I definitely want to check that out. But we’ll see if Jon’s performing multiple days or not. Rooster crowing competition…I’d like to see that. That’s at the Poultry Building. Petting zoo…that’s open 9:00…11:00 to 9:00.
Basketball, social dancing, Iroquois social dancing; that would be nice to check out. Bird show; that’s 11:45. Fourteen…another dance show, Gotta Dance. Pigs…the Living Zolthar…it doesn't say what that is. That’s outside the Dairy Products Building. So, that interests me just by the name. Oh, Taylor Dayne. 1:00 p.m. there’s Irish dance, McDonald’s School of Irish Dance. Taylor Dayne is playing a concert at Chevy Court. I don't want to miss that blast from the past. Circus of Hollywood; 2:00 p.m. Pop pipes…Organist Nancy, Pop Pipes. I’d like to see that. I don't know what that means, but that sounds interesting. Stacey Lynn, Dave Wolver; those are different musicians, I think. Zoltar…Jon the Mentalist again…so, a lot of chances to see those. More Iroquois social dancing, Circus Hollywood, bird show…what else?
Okay, so, we got…there are different performers, 'cause I’ve seen different ones. Okay, so, that looks good for August 31st. Okay, Friday, what do we got? Different things. Friday’s Pride Day, New Americans Day, Family Fishing Day. So, a couple different days covered. So, let’s see, we’ve got…anything…the Goat Bowl, the State 4H Goat Bowl Trivia Contest. That’s at the Goat Pavilion, 9:00 a.m. I wonder if they sell shirts. I’d like a shirt that says ‘I was at the Goat Bowl’. Okay, Pride Day flag raising, horse show, drasage, sand sculpture, Jon’s performing again, the Mentalist, roosters, Family Fishing Day, Zolthar…okay, here’s…this…okay, so, this one has different things. Adirondack Mountain Cloggers are at the Grange Building, Friday at 1:00 p.m. I’d like to see that, definitely.
Youth Avian Bowl…barrel racing practice runs; I’d like to see that. Lily Rose at Chevy Court, and JP Shaggy…okay, what else? Just Joe, Talent Showcase Preliminary Contest, Iroquois social dancing, Adirondack…so, two chances to catch the Adirondack Mountain Cloggers, so that’s…Little Queen; that’s 4:30 p.m. Four on the Floor, Jon the Mentalist again…Neon Trees, 6:00 p.m. There’s a free concert. Lily Rose, Neon Trees, Taylor Dayne…now you're at the fair, right? Llama Costume Contest at the Goat, Llama, and Swine Barn; 6:00 p.m. These are things you don’t want to miss, a llama costume contest. I may start taking screenshots and circling stuff, 'cause it’s like, yeah, we can't miss some of this stuff. Jessie Murph, Lady Gaga Tribute; that’s at 9:00 p.m.
Circus Hollywood, Iroquois social dancing…okay, so, let’s review our first two days, right? Student Youth Day…we want to…specific stuff. I guess we could get Jon Stetson…a rooster crowing contest…okay, obviously, right? Then we want to see this Jon Stetson…Living Zolthar…okay. Taylor Dayne…so, we got a lot of pressure here. Don't want to miss out on…I’m sure there’s undiscovered gems here, too. Okay, let’s check…where’s Jon Stet…? Jon Stetson again…oh, the Widener…Wildoner’s Pop Pipes; we want to see that. Some of the stuff, you know, you could do a little jump…dive in and then…whoa, whoa, I didn’t even see this; Cheap Trick is also playing. Okay, so, that is…alright, we got…so, Friday…what do we want to get here in Friday?
Jon Stetson already…talent show, rooster crowing…yeah, 11:00 a.m. Living Zolthar, Cloggers…okay, the Cloggers at 1:00 p.m. So, I’m gonna be on a tight schedule. And Lily Rose…okay, what else do we have in here? Four on the Floor, Neon Trees…okay, let’s move to Saturday, make sure we have everything covered here, everything on Saturday. Okay, Saturday…wrestling, sand sculpture, Goat Fitting and Showmanship…oh, horse…Barrel Horse Show; that’s all day long. I wouldn't mind seeing that. I don't know what it is, but…more rooster crowing. Organist Geraldine Speck, another organist…that’s always good. Then Living Zolthar…Erie Canal Cloggers…so, we got more than one set of cloggers, too. Circus Hollywood…oh boy, Kidz Bop, 1:00 p.m. Definitely want to see that, though. What will they cover?
Something. Will they cover, cover me? Probably not. Kidz Bop…okay, and then Organist Nancy Widener or Woodner…what else do we have here? JP Shaggy again…Kaleb Dorr, Living Zolthar, canines…Little Britches Open Dairy Cattle Show, Jon Stetson, Erie Canal Cloggers, Kick It Up, Kameron Marlowe, Circus Hollywood, the finals of the barrel horse racing…okay, so, that’s interesting. Now we’ll go to Sunday, which is probably our last day we can catch anything. Okay, we got the sand sculpture, pickle ball demonstrations, talent show preliminaries, more rooster crowing. Jon Stetson and the rooster crowing is very available. Living Zolthar…Los Lonely Boys; 1:00 p.m. Wow. Edelweiss Schuhplattlers; I don't know what that is, but I think I need to see that. Edelweiss Schuhplattlers…C-H-U-H-P-L-A-T-T-E-R-S.
Some poetry reading at the Empire Theatre at 2:00 p.m…what do we got here? Salt City Getaway, Living Zolthar…Jon Stetson and Living Zolthar are really getting…Women’s Roller Derby at the Sports Activity Center; 3:30. That would be fun. Pretty much just gonna be…and then Geraldine Speck, Iroquois social dancing, and Edelweiss Schuhplattlers all at 4:00 p.m., also. What else do we have? More Jon…I wonder if…I gotta look up this Living Zolthar. Just Joe, Group Love…okay…oh, Busta Rhymes is playing at night. Alright, so, next up we have…is the map. So, the schedule doesn't have any details. Oh, really? Okay, no, it doesn't. Find…okay, that doesn't help. Schedule…we saw that. Okay, so, we have two different…we have a satellite map and then a regular map.
So, the next thing you do, I guess, is imagine we're going in. Now, we usually go in in a specific way, but it’s changed a lot. Oh boy, and it’s changed…looks like the way we usually go in. Oh, it still looks like it’s there. Let’s take a look. We usually go in on the side here, Gate…whatever 12 is. If I hit it, it doesn't say…yeah, and I guess that’s a gate, Gate 12. That’s where the daily parade starts. Then…well, I guess there’s nothing labeled on here on the satellite…so, yeah, when you go in Gate 12, on your left is the Carousel of Progress, and that’s a good building to not go into immediately, 'cause if it’s warm out…but you could go into it immediately.
Then there’s a restroom there, there’s a place to get drinks, then you go to the main gate, then Chevy Court, where a lot of the performers are doing, and then a lot of the up and down the streets on Chevy Court, which is kinda like a parade ground. There will be the newscasters and stuff like that. So, what we would do probably is…I guess the first thing…we’d probably…okay, yeah, here’s what I think we should do. Well, let’s see…let’s think about our move here. I would say we might as well go through the Carousel of Progress Building now. So, we’d go through Gate 12, we’d take a left, go through the Carousel of Progress Building, then walk through Chevy Court, kinda see what’s going on, then check out the Pan-African Village, and…I don't know what this is; Art Daniellis. Is that a restaurant?
Then once we…I say once we come out of the Pan-African Village, we’d cross over past Chevy Court and go into the Dairy Products Building, and then get…that would be…check out the butter sculpture and the milk…Rainbow Milk Bar, then go to the aquarium and the Science and Industry Building, and then…and have…would have to start to think about our next moves, right? Because…I guess we're gonna come back, so we might as well go deeper…go out of the Science and Industry Building into the Dairy Cattle Building. There’s a New York State Lottery Pavilion. That’s probably good for getting a stress ball or two. Sports Activity Center and the Toyota Colosseum…so, we would check the schedule for that.
Then you could continue down…there’s the Goat, Llama, and Swine, there’s the Wag…there’s carriage and agriculture stuff, there’s the horse barns, the sheep, so you could see all the baby stuff. Then even…then there’s the…where you could see…go to the Iroquois social dancing and learn more about the Iroquois, then there’s the 4H Youth Building there. There’s the Talent Showcase Stage, then you're at the back of the fair, which is…looks like that’s…there’s some sort of race track back there. There’s the 4H Arena and Stable, FFA Exhibit Building…I don't know what that is. There’s a Family Fun Zone, antique tractors, outdoor 4H horse arenas, dairy…more dairy and cows and stuff, then I think the back parking lot. But…oh, there’s other stuff back here.
Suburban Park…I don't know if that’s where they have concerts. There’s 4H tents…oh, and then there’s a RV park. So, maybe…I don't know, that might be what they changed around when they change stuff. So, we’ll come back down. Oh, they have the Skyliner ride. So, I don't know if we’d ride that yet. It might be nice…and then take a break. There’s also the Family Fun Zone, there’s a Exposition Center, Voice of the Farmer, sheep tents, Restaurant Row…so, that’s where you'd go to eat, one of the places you'd eat, actually. So, the restaurant Row would be one place to eat, but then there’s also the Taste of New York Building, which is good, which is towards the front again. So, you'd go to the State Park thing, there’s memorials, and the Taste of New York Marketplace. So…oh, and there’s the Historic Train Exhibit.
I’ll take my nephew there. There’s also…or used to be model trains somewhere. So, I have to look that up. But yeah, there is some sort of people…a skyline ride, which would be good to go over the fair. Exposition Center…so, yeah, I guess what I’ll do next is either come back with a full review of the fair or see what else I can learn more, 'cause I’m not finding anything else in here that’s really helpful. Buildings and Exhibits…wait a second. Oh no, that just zooms in on them. Find buildings and exhibits…there’s a special train stop during the fair. Oh yeah, Twin Trees, that’s…oh, these are all places…yeah, Pizze Fritte, that’s a famous place to eat.
Different pubs…I Love New York Exhibit, 54 Central…there’s a dog show, historic trains, the Midway, Suburban Park; that’s where there’s outdoor concerts…the Family Fun Zone, Kiddie Midway, 4H, FFA, Future Farmers of America; that’s what that is. Iroquois Village has archery, crafts, food, music, and dance. The Goat, Llama…we gotta get to that Goat, Llama Dress-Up Show. I wonder if they dress up llamas as people or people as llamas. Chevy Court…oh, a lot…if you drink, you could get wine slushies. Those are popular. Okay, butter sculpture, Cheese and Milk Bar; that’s at the Dairy Products Building. There’s another place called The Eatery that has other places to eat. Broadway Skyliner, Horticulture Building…oh, there’s a Maple Center in there, and also, we gotta find that sand sculpture.
I think that’s in the Carousel of Progress or Center of…Carousel of Progress in Disney World. Center of Progress…Taste of New York Marketplace, Chevy Court, and…yeah. So, I guess that’s a good start for the fair, and then future Scoots for me but past Scoots for you will give some sort of rundown or maybe…not Ray. Maybe Ray could have his own thing, 'cause hopefully Ray gets to the fair with me. But yeah, that’s a little getting ready for the fair. Thanks, everybody.
Alright everybody, Scoots here. This is…I haven't been to the New York State Fair yet, but I’m doing another segment, and then maybe we’ll do a post cap, 'cause I found on the…you know mobile websites and apps are always different, but I didn’t really get all the information I wanted out of the app. So, what I did was I went to the website, and you're able to make your own itineraries. So, I made an itinerary. I think I’m gonna get a Frequent Fair Pass, 'cause there’s quite a few days I could go for a little while. But so, I was doing a rough sketch, then there’s a lot of performers and stuff I didn’t…I’d like to know more about from the website. So, I made a rough schedule of stuff I wanted to see. But so, let’s just dig in more and then we’ll see what the future holds, right?
Okay, so, the first time I can go is in the afternoon to the evening one day. So, I was like, huh, what does the schedule look like for that? I guess since this…come out after, this is the first day of the fair. It’s a good thing I checked, 'cause it looks like the night show is only that night. Or, I didn’t see it any other nights. So, here’s the things I put down, and then we’ll go back. We’ll go through my itineraries and then we’ll dig deeper. How about that? So, the things that caught my eye were a twenty-four-hour dairy goat milk production contest. That’s all the details I had. That’s kinda all the details I need to at least check that out. That’s at the Goat Pavilion. Probably…you say, Scoots, where’d you spend the most time? Llama Pavilion, Goat Pavilion. I don't know what that is, but I just sounds interesting.
The goats might say, not…we want to go to bed, man. I say, yeah, I think you're only part of the process, hopefully. Okay, then there’s a circus. That’s at 6:00 p.m., but it’s twenty-four hours. So, if it starts at 6:00 p.m., that would be exciting, 'cause anytime a twenty-four-hour contest starts or concludes, that’s exciting. I happened to be…I wasn’t there…I was there close to the start, and I think it got made into a documentary. I think it was in San Diego but it might have been somewhere else where people were riding a roller coaster for twenty-four hours, or attempting to, and we just happened to be there that day. Anyway, so, that’s at 6:00 p.m. Then 7:00 p.m., there’s Circus Hollywood of one of the two circuses that seems to be forming there. That’s at the Family Fun Zone, 7:00 p.m.
Then, I don't know anything more about this other than I like the title; Showtime: The Band. That’s at 7:30 p.m. That’s at the Suds Factory Courtside Grill. Then 8:00 p.m…I was trying to find something to do 'cause I want to stay for the drone show, right? That’s at 9:30 p.m. So, I saw Nate Smith. I don't know who Nate Smith is, but I think they're famous. So, I said, huh, maybe we’ll see Nate Smith. So, that’s that day. The rest of them I filled out full days even though I know I won't be there. But…okay, so, the next day would be the next day, Thursday the 21st. They have mini-golf all day at the State Park at the fair. There’s this…I don't know what it is, but it sounds interesting; CNY Gladiodus Show. I don't know what that is, but I said, huh, interesting. Build a bluebird house or a bee pollinator; that’s all day long.
I’d like to do that. State Fair Sand Sculpture by Sandman Matt Long all day…there’s a presentation from Ford Ontario, which is important to me 'cause that’s in Oswego. Then there’s American Chestnut Tree Science Fair Projects. I thought to check that out. Then there’s some recurring things that we want to knock of our list, very important; Jon Stetson: The Mentalist, the rooster-crowing competition, there’s a Wheels of Agriculture Game Show featuring Trivia Tractor. At first this didn’t catch my attention, but the idea that it’s featuring Trivia Tractor…is that a tractor, like a sentient tractor that does trivia? I said, okay, wait a second. Then there’s a Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, Living Zoltar…so, all those are kinda recurring things that I’ll want to see at some point.
Okay, the other thing, though, we gotta make sure we cover is…I’ll get out my highlighter. How about that? Let’s do highlighting one-time stuff in red. Okay, then there’s the Tiki Shack. I don't know if that’s a Tiki band, because it’s listed as its own thing, right? So, I said, oh, I like Tiki music. Goat Knowledge Olympics Contest…okay, that’s at 1:00 p.m. But also at 1:00 p.m. is the Island Hoppers Steel Drum Band. I love steel drums. Also at 1:00 p.m. is Taylor Dayne. I think the Pan-African Village is near Chevy Court, so I’d try to see both of those, like maybe go to the Island Hoppers Steel Drum Band and then go to Taylor Dayne, 'cause I think…no offense to Taylor Dayne, I don't know a lot of Taylor Dayne songs, so I probably want to be there for the last song and the encore.
Then the other circus I want to see is called the Stilt Circus, and then we have a couple organ shows that I want to see at some point; Organist Nancy Wildners Pop Pipes, Living Zolthar or Zoltar, and Jon Stetson: The Mentalist. So, I guess I was planning on leaving that day in the afternoon. Oh no, I have more. Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, Circus Hollywood, Iroquois social dancing; that sounds interesting. That’s recurring. Cheap Trick…so, I mean, dropping by for a little bit of Cheap Trick’s always a good idea. Then Stilt Circus…okay, Friday we’ve got State Fair Science Projects Chemistry Demos…I mean, that could be handy for the podcast. Build a bluebird house or a bee pollinator…that is on my must-do one of those days, especially if I have any neices or nephews with me.
Rooster crowing competition…that’s multiple times, but I’d like to do that. Oh, but I just used the wrong color for that. Okay, so, undo. Oh, Amber Skies Drag Us to the Fair…that’s a drag show. That’s at noon. Empire Theatres…that’s indoors, too. Oh, wow, I didn’t even think about that, rainy day activities. Family Fishing Day, then…oh, this one I definitely want to see at least once that day, Adirondack Mountain Cloggers. That’ll help me with the Clomps, and it’s something I had seen in the parade. I said, I didn’t know there was modern cloggers, but there’s two different clogging shows at the fair, and that’s the one performing that day. Lily Rose…wouldn't mind stopping by to see a couple songs from Lily Rose. Then the Talent Showcase, the Maxi Preliminary Contest; that could be good.
The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus Concert; that’s also indoors at the Empire Theatre. I’d like to see that. That’s at 3:00 p.m. Then this one is just a interesting title; The Heat Squad, 4:00 p.m. So, I said, wait a second, The Heat Squad? That’s got my attention, you know? The rest of them are repeats; Adirondack Mountain Cloggers, Jon Stetson, Living Zoltar, Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show. Neon Trees is at 6:00 p.m. Oh, and then this is a must-do; back to…Llama Costume Contest is at…whoops, I lost everything there. That’s okay. So, that’s an important one, so make sure we get that one down. 6:00 p.m. Friday…what are you doing Friday night? Going to a llama costume contest. Do you dress as llamas or do llamas dress as people, or what? I don't know. I’m going, though. So, you're going as a llama?
I guess I could go as a llama in a costume, right? That’d be very Sleep With Me. Then there’s a Lady Gaga Tribute. That’s at 9:00 p.m., though. Okay, then we have Saturday. All day Saturday is barrel racing. So, I said, okay, I wouldn't mind checking that out. Wrestling…it doesn't say anything more about it. So, I don't know what type of wrestling that is, like for entertainment or sport, you know? Then Science Fair Projects Digital Eyes. I said, oh, that sounds interesting. That’s…I don't know what it means, but I wouldn't mind popping by. There’s a Rose Society Show at 10:00 a.m. Talent Showcase, Organist Geraldine Speck…oh, here’s the other cloggers; Erie Canal Cloggers. That’s on Saturday. Oh boy, but at the same time is Kidz Bop. I wonder if they're…oh no, they're not near each other.
But the Erie Canal Cloggers also play at 5:00 p.m. But yeah, I definitely want to see Kidz Bop, at least a couple…I mean, 'cause Kidz Bop, the good thing is you know all the songs. You know you're gonna know all the songs. Oh, Womba African Drumming and Dance; that’s at 2:00 p.m. Nancy Widener’s Pop Pipes; that’s also at 2:00 p.m., and then the horse race…barrel racing finals, that’s Saturday. Okay, Sunday…in the…oh, all day, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. is New York State Park’s Black History at Historic Sites. I definitely want to see that. Then also they're having…they have some Herkimer Home Historic Site where…fiber working. So, that’d be cool to have presentations and then some reenactment of fiber working or whatever.
More Talent Showcase, rooster crowing competition, Los Lonely Boys…oh, these Edelweiss Schuhplattlers…so, we gotta figure out who they are. Cora Thomas Gospel Sunday; that’s all day, though, 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. Not all day, but all evening. Edelweiss Schuhplattlers, Organist Geraldine Speck, Edelweiss Schuhplattlers, Faded Vinyl, and then capping off the night, Busta Rhymes. Okay, so, that’s a sketch of my things, but let’s go to the website, and hopefully we can get the non-mobile website. We’ll see, though. Okay, New York State Fair…okay, so, this did work. Okay, so, let’s dig into some of these things that we don’t know. Okay, the Gladodius Show or whatever…huh, no details at all. Okay, let’s see if we…search it, though? Okay, just give me a second. I’m trying to get us all the information we need.
I don't know what that word even means. Oh, these are popular flowers for Chinese New Year celebration and the Lunar New Year. So, okay, it’s a flower show. Okay, that’s helpful. We’ll make sure there’s not different…oh yeah, it’s Central New York. Gladiodus, Gladiolus, Gladiolus. Oh, and they look familiar. Okay, that makes sense. Alright, cool. So, there’s one thing solved, right? One mystery solved. Oh, Storybook Blooms, artistic flower design show…Ice Age Experience…I don't know if that’s the movie Ice Age or…it doesn't say. Frozen Wonders of the Past…is that a ticketed thing? It’s at the Expo Center. I don't know if it costs extra money or not. Step into a breathtaking journey through time. Immersive exhibit, lifesize animatronics…okay, count me in. That runs all day from 10:00 a.m.
It doesn't say if it has a separate admission, but that sounds cool. I’m going to that for sure. Okay. Okay, what else do we need to know? Oh, New York State Park’s shows…we’ll check that. See if we can get any info on the sand sculpture any more than we need. Oh boy, actually, I hit the wrong thing. Since 2001, Sandman Matt has been making the sculptures…oh, around the world for every event. That will be in the Center of Progress Building each day. Sculptures will be worked on from the 20th to the 24th and completed the deadline, 25th. Okay, don’t be late, Matt. New York State Park Historic Sites…it doesn't say anything about that. Okay, Ice Age Experience we now know. Okay…oh, build a bluebird house…I think these ones don’t have a lot of details, though.
Talent Showcase…let’s see if any…oh, they must be adding new stuff. There’s a gymnastics show. Oh, let’s find out if this says anything about Trivia Tractor. Jon Stetson, Iroquois social dancing, Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show…oh yeah, there’s new stuff. Haybale Throwing Competition…oh, I guess 'cause this was the day I didn’t think I could go in the morning. So, that’s why. Oh wow, 'cause K-pop…Tribute to Abba, 1:00 p.m. But yeah, we won't be…I won't be able to come until the afternoon. So, let’s just try to get ahead of ourselves. Okay, we got…what happened in the afternoon? Oh, 24-Hour Goat Production Contest…whoa, whoa, whoa, holy moly, I didn’t see this; George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic are playing. I did not see that on my other schedule. So, these must be…they're still booking stuff.
Time Tracks…I don't know what that is, either. Let’s look that up. Ten To…oh, Showtime the Band. Let’s find out about them. Can't believe Funkadelic’s gonna be there. Mountain River Traveler…Mountain River Traveler…doesn't say any more about that. Okay, let’s see, Showtime the Band…I don't have any information about them. That’s okay. That’s the Showtime…rooster crowing competition…it’s always at 11:00. The roosters gotta be like, yo, we're used to doing it in the morning. Come on. Okay, Wheels of Agriculture Game Show is a fun-filled, interactive experience. Celebrates agriculture…engaging stage show. Complimenting this, the Trivia Tractor is a lively mobile game show with audience participation, giant foam dice, and prizes.
It’s popping…could pop up anywhere at the fair to deliver dice-driven questions about local farming in an unpredictable way. Sounds cool. Okay. Let’s keep an eye out for that, right? Jon Stetson: The Mentalist…mind reading has never been this much more fun. From the CBS…the real-life inspiration behind the CBS TV show, The Mentalist. I love that kind of stuff, so that’s gonna be cool. Okay, the Iroquois social direction is…or Iroquois social dance is another direction of Chief Chatner, traditional dancers from Tonawanda Senecas, Allegany Senecas, Cataraga Senecas[?], the Qeugas[?], the Onondagas, the Tuscarora, Oneidas, the Mohawks from…near Macina. At creation, we believe the world was covered with water, and the great spirit called on the turtle to rise.
Other water animals brought dirt from the bottom of the sea to place on the back of the great turtle, forming the Earth we know today. These seasonal and social dances still form the basis of our ancient culture. So, I’ll definitely check that out. Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show…experience the thrill. Expert lumberjacks do stuff. Log-rolling, action-packed, family-friendly performance celebrating the rugged spirit of lumberjacks. Cool. Okay. That’s not far from the Poultry Barn, it says. Okay, haybale throwing…that doesn't have anything. Serena’s Touch…it doesn't…that’s a performer. 24-Hour Goat Contest…it doesn't have any info. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic…how did I not see this? It’s a free concert, free. Legendary funk musician George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will appear live.
Chevy Court, Wednesday, 6:00 p.m. Wow. That’s amazing. I don't know if I can get there for that, but I will try. Time Tracks, Ten To…those are just bands, I guess. They don’t have anything about them. Okay, so, where did we last leave off? We were trying to get more…oh, who’s Nate Smith? We were gonna get more info about Nate Smith. I don't know if that’s someone…maybe that’s someone who’s famous, you know? The Drone Show…what else do we need to know more about? Oh, we want to find out more about the…those other shows. Okay, Gotta Dance…oh, this is the day we…no, no, it’s Thursday. We can go for that. K-pop, it says…oh, but it doesn't say any more about it. Okay, it’s amazing that they keep adding more and more stuff. It’s great news.
Island Hoppers Steel Drum Band, Taylor Dayne…let’s see what Taylor Dayne’s…we’ll read Taylor Dayne’s bio. Okay, Stilt Circus…we want to find more about that. Culinary competition…Canned Food Day; that could be interesting. Stacey Lynn…these are a lot of performers. Oh, the Living Zoltar, we want…that’s…we want to find out more about that for sure, or read the bio for that. Pakistani Community of Central New York…what else do we got? Tiki Shack…let’s see what…I guess we could hit the Tiki Shack to see what it says about that. Okay, anything else on Thursday? Wayne Tucker…DIP…these are I think all just performances, and they never…they don’t have any bios for everybody. Let’s see what Cheap Tricks…if they have a bio. Stilt Circus, other dance shows…Guarding Violet, is that a famous band?
No, I think the big band that night is AJR. Okay, let’s go on to the next day and just see what else…what other bios we want to look up. We got the sand sculpture…and I think the biggest one is that llama…I mean, it cannot…the one can't-miss thing is the Llama Costume Contest. So, I have to build my entire trip…'cause it’ll be right after I drop my daughter off at college that I’ll be free, but it’s not the same day as the llama contest, so…okay, what else do we have here? Stilt Circus, culinary competitions, Fake Cake Day, Vendors Special…so, if you want to save some money…Just Joe; that’s a good name for a band. It doesn't have more about it, but…Just Joe. Okay, Circus Hollywood, did we check a bio for them? Let’s see. I don't know. Broadway Cabaret; that’s at 4:00 p.m. at the Empire Theatre.
Oh, the Heat Squad…let’s just double-check that they don’t have a bio. But none of the smaller bands have bios. Adirondack Mountain Cloggers…let’s check. They don’t have a bio. Anything else here? This is serious sleep podcast stuff, huh? I’m actually getting sleepy myself, and I’ve been taking a lot of naps. Llama Costume Contest; that’s Friday night. Friday night, the most important thing on my…you say, Scoots, what did you miss? Well, I missed that. I’m sorry I did. Okay, we’ll move on to Saturday. Just checking any more…and stuff that’s been added since the last check. Oh, Organist Geraldine Speck…I don't know. Let’s just see just in case there’s…Serena’s Touch is playing again. Oh, Erie Canal Cloggers, let’s see if they have a bio. Oh yeah, let’s check the bio. Let’s see if Kidz Bop has a bio, of course.
Anything else in here? Okay, I don't want to use up all our time without going through some of these bios. We opened up a tab for the Heat Squad. I hope the Heat Squad has one. Let’s see…oh, there’s…they don’t have a head…they have one that’s called Headliner, 7:00 p.m. I don't know if there’s a band called Headliner or that’s just like…they're holding the spot. Okay, and then Sunday…let’s do a quick run-through of Sunday. Sunday…on the weekend, that’s when I want to cover anything I missed of these ones that do a lot of repetition. Oh, Edelweiss Schuhplattlers…we’ll even look them up. I think that was the last one, though. Edelweiss Schuhplattlers…just 'cause of the way it sounds, is…anything else…?
Oh, wait, roller derby…okay, that’s also on Sunday only. I’d like to check that out. That’s entertaining. Okay, so, we got some decent things that we need to do here. I gotta…I guess I have to re-plan my…there’s Busta Rhymes. Okay, now…okay, so, roller derby; that’s Saturday night, 3:30 to 6:00. Nate Smith is famous. Nate Smith is set up to light it up, 8:00 p.m. Academy Country Music’s Male Artist of the Year. So, big deal, Nate Smith. So, that’s something to check out. Okay, what about Edelweiss Schuhplattlers? No bio, but what we’ll do is Google it. Of course it’s…I’m not running with two hands right now, so that’s why it’s even more delayed than normal. Okay, these are dancers. German, Austrian folk dance from Utica. So, that’s cool. So, that will be good to check out. I’m looking forward to it.
Do they have a Instagram or anything? Oh, there’s more than one group, too, but this is the Utica group, I believe. Oh yeah, and they probably have some good music, too. Nice. Alright, I’ll check that out. A drone show…that’s only Wednesday, the opening night. So, that’s kinda key. Here’s Kidz Bop live bio, certified Bop Tour. Don’t miss your chance to see Kidz Bop live in the afternoon. Aleah, Cliff, Shila, Maddy, and together the family-friendly group captivates. It’s launched in 2001. But yeah, they're gonna be doing…they said they're gonna do a little Tate McRae here, it says. So, yeah, Kidz Bop…too bad I can't go to my…with my daughter. Okay, Taylor Dayne, with a career spanning three decades and chart topping hit singles, global pop icon Taylor Dayne is performing Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Multiple genres; pop, dance, R&B, adult, contemporary, and rock. Tell It to My Heart and Love Will Lead You Back…Taylor Dayne has crossover popularity. Debut single Tell It to My Heart was a overnight sensation. Seventeen top-20 singles, Love Will Lead You Back, I Will Always…I’ll Always Love You…so, definitely checking that out. Stilt Circus does not have…oh no, it does; it has a bio. The wonder of Silt Circus, talented performances on stilts. The show is daily at 1:15 and 6:00 p.m. So, great, every day you could check Stilt Circus…there’s Living Zoltar, inspired by the blockbuster movie Big. It’s a unique attraction. Since 2009, Robert Nash, magician, actor, and comic, has gone around…that sounds really cool. That’s a limited engagement. It’s only the first six days. Tiki Shack is a band, it looks like.
It’s a lively hut on wheels. So, it’s kinda like a traveling one-person band, it looks like. Cool. Cheap Trick, they have a long bio, the longest bio I’ve seen. They're there for dreams, man. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, Cheap Trick, will be Thursday at 6:00 p.m. Founded in 1974 with I Want You To Want Me, Surrender…what else do we got? It had a great famous live show and a couple other really famous albums. Oh, this one you do have to pay to get into. I don't know how they're gonna do that, 'cause it’s at Chevy Court. All concerts included in the price of admission. Oh, 'cause the fair only costs eight bucks. Okay, that makes sense. Okay, Erie Canal Cloggers, they do not have a bio. Organist Geraldine Speck…yeah, my love for music began listening to Mitch Miller, Ray Conniff, Keely Smith, and Louis Prima and Louis Armstrong.
Then Lionel Hampton on the xylophone…and I also have a love of theatre. So, this…that’s another one I want to check out, organist Geraldine Speck, Circus Hollywood…four generation of circus performers. Okay, that’s a must-see, obviously. The Heat Squad does not have a bio. They're playing Friday and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Adirondack Mountain Cloggers, they're only on Friday at 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. Llama Costume Contest; Friday at 6:00 p.m. So, yeah, that’s…I think that’s it. It’s a pretty ambitious schedule, but I thought I’d work on my…what I want to do even more, and then maybe do another episode you hear next month or a month or two from now where I review what I saw. Maybe Ray will do that episode. Who knows? Ray’s day at the fair? I don't know. So, thanks so much for listening, and goodnight, everybody. Thanks.
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(Transcription performed by LeahTranscribes)
