Where can you smoke at the NYS Fair? New rules push tobacco, cannabis use off the fairgrounds

This post was originally published on this site.

The New York State Fair has adopted a new policy that prohibits all smoking and vaping (both tobacco and cannabis) on the fairgrounds.

Instead, the fair has identified new designated smoking areas located about 50 feet outside of five pedestrian-use gates, fair spokesperson Alice Maggiore said. That means there will be no smoking allowed either indoors or outdoors on the fairgrounds itself.

Fairgoers will able to smoke in the designated areas before they enter the fairgrounds. They will also be allowed to exit the gates (and obtain a re-entry wristband), then return after using the smoking areas.

It’s a change from last year, when the fair adopted new rules that limited smoking to several enclosures on the grounds. Before that, the long-time policy was that smoking was allowed in most outdoor areas of the fairgrounds, but not inside buildings or covered tents and pavilions.

Things began to change in 2021, the first fair after marijuana use became legal in New York. Many fairgoers complained to officials about the marijuana smoke and smell that began to permeate the grounds. Complaints continued last year because some fairgoers believed officials were not adequately enforcing the designated areas.

Under the new policy, enclosures similar to those used on the grounds last year will be found outside pedestrian gates 3 and 4 along State Fair Boulevard, 9 and 10 on the west end of the fairgrounds and 11A along Bridge Street. There will be signs marking the areas an receptacles for used smoking products. (See map)

Smoking is prohibited by law inside buildings and under tents and pavilions, Maggiore said. The new rule on designated smoking areas is a policy of the fair, Maggiore said. She noted that policy “is consistent with the experiences visitors have at other large, outside public spaces including New York State public parks and beaches.”

The 2023 fair runs from Aug. 23 to Sept. 4.

2023 NYS Fair tickets on sale Thursday, including new $20 pass for ‘frequent fairgoers’

NY State Fair’s finances improve, but it took a $7 million taxpayer bailout to break even

NYS Fair nearly finalizes 2023 concert lineup with country singer

Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.