“Our first year with Wade Shows was amazing – people loved the clean and uniform look of the Midway, the new shaded seating areas, and they bought tickets to the rides like never before. This partnership is delivering great benefits to Fairgoers and helping to grow the Fair. I can’t wait to see the Midway this year,” said Waffner.

“We are excited to be returning to the Great New York State Fair after a record setting first year providing the Midway. Everyone is asking ‘How are we going to be even better in 2015?’ We are bringing the largest portable coaster in the US—the Comet II, adding 13 new rides that were not at the fair in 2014, and adding some attractions for the smallest riders 32” and up. With all these great new changes, I’m very excited for a great year in 2015,” said Frank Zaitshik, owner of Wade Shows.

The Wade Shows Midway of 62 rides will include six thrill rides not present in 2014:

• The Comet II, a single car roller coaster that began life at the Texas State Fair but which has traveled with Wade Shows since 2010;
• The Extreme, a high flying thrill ride that spins riders 360 degrees while swinging them 50 feet above the Midway;
• The Freak Out, a ride that swings riders back and forth high in the air while turning them side-to-side;
• The Mega Drop, which takes riders up 130 feet in the air and sends them back to earth in a fast drop that will simulate zero gravity but which is controlled by always-on magnetic brakes;
• The Space Roller, in which riders swing on one end of a counterweighted boom arm while their seats spin randomly;
• The Super Himalaya, a music-oriented ride that takes riders up and down a circle of hills while giving them a taste of centrifugal forces.

All of Wade Shows’ rides in 2014 required riders to be at least 36” tall for safety reasons. This year, because of requests from families, Wade is providing at least four kiddie rides with a minimum height requirement of 32” for a new Kiddieland ride area. In addition, several rides allow parents to ride with their child, and those have specific height requirements. Guests should check the rules and details at the ride entrance or at a Wade Shows customer service booth.

New this year is a family ride with a spectacular view of the Fair. The Star Dancer Observation Tower gently rises 100' above the Midway, slowly spinning. Also making a first appearance at the New York State Fair’s Wade Shows Midway this year:

• The Flying Bobs spinning music ride;
• The Orient Express dragon-themed coaster ride;
• The Up, Up and Away balloon-themed ride.

There will be a new food offering in the Midway this year. The name of the stand—Everything Bacon—tells you what you need to know about a concession that will offer, among other things, bacon on a stick, chocolate covered bacon, and a bacon-wrapped corn dog.

Wade Shows Wednesday Offers Value
For its second year at the Fair, Wade Shows is offering a special promotion to ride lovers who like a great deal. Wednesday, Sept. 2 will be Wade Shows Wednesday on the Midway. Riders can buy a wristband good for 10 rides for just $10.

Ride-all-day wristbands are on sale now for $20, a savings of $5 over the weekday price during the Fair and $10 over the weekend price. Midway fanatics who plan to come to the Fair several times this year can earn significant savings by buying the Mega Pass, which allows a person to ride all day, every day of the 12 day Fair. The Mega Pass is $70 before the Fair opens and $90 for the first few days of the Fair.

Wade Shows will also participate again in the Fair’s Dollar Day on Labor Day promotion, when admission will be $1 and all rides will be $1.

Wristbands and Mega Passes are on sale now at the Fair’s only official online seller, etix.com.

Wade Shows joined forces with the Great New York State Fair last year after a competitive process resulted in the first change of vendor in the Midway’s history of more than 70 years. Fairgoers commented over and over again about the cleanliness, organization, and customer-focused attitude of the Midway and its staff. The new rides, combined with a reenergized Fair in general, helped create a record-setting year. The Fair broke its longstanding daily attendance record twice within 72 hours, capped by a crowd of 122,870 on Labor Day, drawn by $1 admission and Midway rides, a special early-evening concert by the Doobie Brothers, and fireworks to end the night and the 2014 Fair.

That day, the Midway set its own record, generating $223,360 in sales, which was more than double the amount taken in on Labor Day the year before.

The New York State Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August 27 to September 7, 2015. The Fair’s mission, reflected in its 2015 theme, “Summer’s Best in Show,” is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing top-quality entertainment. This year’s tagline – “New Attractions, Old Favorites, Timeless Fun” – highlights the more than two dozen new events and attractions and the expansion or enhancement of several Fairgoer favorites.

In addition to the annual New York State Fair, the Fairgrounds host dozens of agricultural events throughout the year, including some of the Northeast’s most prestigious horse and livestock shows.

The home of the Great New York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. A year-round schedule of events is available on the Fair’s website. Find The Great New York State Fair on Facebook, follow @NYSFair on Twitter, and enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/nysfair. Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.

Media Contacts:
Jola Szubielski
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets
518-457-0752

Dave Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377