New York State Fair opens with concerts for all kinds

Just five miles from campus, the Great New York State Fair has returned, welcoming more than 40 national recording acts, hundreds of attractions and all the fried food one could imagine. 

The oldest and most affordable fair in the United States will run from Aug. 26 to Sept. 7 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes, expecting to attract nearly 1 million visitors. The opening day attendance was estimated at more than 66,000.

The fair offers the best of agriculture, with local food and beverages from all 10 regions of New York State. For fairgoers, the entertainment options are endless, from circus performers to corgi races to a one-man band. 

This year’s concert lineup has something for every music taste. Sean Paul, Stella Lefty, The Commodores, Flo Rida and more will take the Suburban Park and Chevy Court stages over the 13-day event. All concerts at both stages are free to fairgoers with fair admission.

By 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, seats at the Suburban Park stage were filled with anticipated fair and concert goers. As the sun began to set, the crowd continued to grow, showcasing a strong start to the fair. The excitement was justified, being that The All-American Rejects had previously been on a decade-long hiatus from touring and just recently debuted their album “Sandbox” in May 2026, after almost 15 years without an album release. Fans could be heard anxiously talking amongst one another about what songs the band would play. 

As excitement continued to flood the park, 95X radio host Jack Ryan took the stage to introduce the band with a nostalgia-filled speech. Ryan and I spoke briefly about the band and the popularity it’s garnered in recent years from viral TikTok usage of their songs.

“I give credit to Gen Z for reigniting interest in the band,” said Ryan.

He spoke of his excitement seeing millennials and Gen Zers uniting alongside each other to celebrate a band that shaped early-to-mid 2000’s pop punk and alternative rock.

The All-American Rejects came onto the stage with “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show playing in the background; a fitting tribute song to the passing of legendary actor Tim Curry, whose death was only announced hours before. 

Frontman Tyson Ritter could be seen running across stage barefoot wearing baggy-cuffed jeans and an oversized shirt with the sleeves cut off. The rest of the band members followed Ritter as they took center stage.

“Let’s do the Time-Warp, here’s a 2002 for you,” Ritter exclaimed as the band launched into “Swing-Swing,” prompting shocked gasps from the crowd as they sang the lyrics. 

The All-American Rejects delivered a high-energy performance early on with songs like “Easy Come, Easy Go” and “Get This” off of their recent album. Lead guitarist Nick Wheeler brought sweet guitar riffs with strong power stances, projecting maximum power into the crowd. In between songs, Ritter could be heard playfully wooing the crowd with his memorable persona.

“Syracuse Girls are so pretty,” Ritter proclaimed as the band began “Beekeepers Daughter.” 

Guitarist Mike Kennerty and drummer Chris Gaylor showcased impressively erratic performances, with Kennerty seen enthusiastically running and jumping all over the stage throughout the night. The crowd responded strongly to the band’s stage presence, the energy amplifying during performances like “Dirty Little Secret” and “Move Along.” 

The group also took a moment to pay tribute to the passing of celebrated country singer and philanthropist Dolly Parton with Ritter performing his own rendition of “I Will Always Love You.” His deep vocals stretched out into the arena as the crowd silently listened.

The performance built to a memorable finish with crowd-surfing stuffed animals being brought to stage and Ritter pointing toward the crowd to bring up a young local girl to play the drums. The crowd cheered on the girl as the band closed out their show with their biggest hit, “Give You Hell,” a strong start to the fair’s nearly two-week run and an even stronger end to the show.

– Alejandrina Perez

For many people at the New York State Fair on Wednesday, the trip to Chevy Court was more than just another concert.

It was a chance to hear the music they grew up with.

The Commodores took the stage Wednesday afternoon, bringing generations of fans together for a set filled with tracks that have made the group a staple in funk, soul, and R&B.

Older fans came out to Chevy Court to enjoy the music they knew by heart, while younger generations sang along to some of the group’s biggest hits.

The group kicked off the afternoon with their signature hits like “Easy,” “Sail On,” and “Brick House” that had the crowd singing, dancing, and raising their phones in the air to capture the moment.

For some fans, hearing these songs live brought back memories from decades ago, but for others, it was an opportunity to experience an artist that their family members first introduced them to. 

William “WAK” King, one of the original members of The Commodores, performed alongside Brent Carter and the sons of former Commodores member Walter “Clyde” Orange, Cody and Colin Orange. 

It was clear that the connection between generations was not only in the crowd, but also onstage.

The performance only showed how The Commodores’ legacy was visibly prevalent and that their music continues to reach audiences to this day.

The Mean Machine backed the group throughout the performance, providing the rhythm behind the familiar songs like “Brick House”, which brought out the biggest energy of the afternoon. 

But the afternoon was not only about the biggest hits.

It was about seeing people come together through music that has remained part of their lives for generations.

The Commodores gave the older generation a reason to come out to the fair, relive memories and enjoy the music of their younger years. At the same time, they gave younger fans a chance to experience the songs that have been passed down through their families.

The singing and dancing didn’t stop for the whole performance. For one afternoon at the New York State Fair, The Commodores reminded everyone that some songs never get old. They just get passed down.

– Santino Castillo Jr.