🎡 Your complete county fair guide 🍗 🍦

Today in The 518

• Your complete guide to the Capital Region’s county fairs 🍦 

• Free admission at Empire State Aerosciences Museum 🚀 

• A Victorian beauty in Troy is our Home of the Week 🏡 

• Plus, all the music listings 🎸 you need

Your complete guide to the Capital Region’s county fairs

Is there anything better than strolling a county fair on a hot day and stuffing your face with some ridiculous deep-fried treat or ginormous turkey leg? Well, yes, but this comes darn close to hog heaven.

In honor of the Saratoga County Fair kicking off the Capital Region’s fair season this Tuesday, we’ve put together a guide to the area’s best and biggest fairs.

Before you head out for some farmtastic fun, here are some tips to get the most out of your time:

Check for discounts: Every fair offers discounted admission for seniors and active military. Nearly all of them have special admission days (usually weekdays) when prices are lower. Wednesday at the Columbia County Fair is just $5 (vs $15 for regular admission), and all active military and vets get in free during American Hero Day (Aug. 10) at the Schoharie fair—rides included! Be sure to buy tickets and Midway wrist bands in advance for the best prices, and consider a season pass if you plan to go a lot.

Make a list and check the map: This tip is especially useful if you have young kids in tow. Before you go, decide which shows, rides and attractions you most want to see and check the schedule (and map) to plan out your day, otherwise you might be hoofing it across a packed fairground with a couple of cranky kids trying to make the last magic show of the day.

Pace yourself: There’s so much to see at every fair, it’s not possible to do everything in one day. Bring plenty of water, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, hand sanitizer and wipes (to clean those inevitably messy hands and faces). Know when to call it a day before someone has a total meltdown 🫠 

Saratoga County Fair: July 23-28, Saratoga County Fairgrounds

Tickets: $15; children 12 and under free; $30 ride band

Highlights: Comedy juggler Neils Duinker, BMX bicycle stunt group Dialed Action Sports, Wild West Show, and Saratoga’s Got Talent

Schoharie County Sunshine Fair: August 6-11, Cobleskill Fairgrounds

Tickets: $15-$22; children 3 and under free; admission includes unlimited access to all 25+ Midway rides

Highlights: Chubby Checker (yes, that one), Josh Turner, Immortal Wrestling, Demolition Derby, Zerbini Family Circus

Click here to see details for Altamont, Washington County, Columbia County and Fonda Fair.

“Life is like a ferris wheel. Sometimes you’re up. Sometimes you’re down.”

Settle in for a few days of warm summer rain, and another perfect July weekend 🥳 🤠 

Tragic loss for Glenville elementary school

The community at Glen-Worden Elementary School is mourning the loss of Principal Nicholas Criscone, 50, who died Saturday when his car veered off Stage Road in Saratoga County. His vehicle hit a tree and caught fire. Criscone is being remembered as the “heart and soul” of the school. [Times Union]

Aerosciences museum celebrates 40 years

The Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville is marking its fourth decade with a series of special events this week, including free admission on Wednesday, a gala fundraiser on Thursday, and a screening of “Top Gun” on Friday with F-4 Phantom pilot Lt. Col. Dan Petkunas. [Daily Gazette]

South Troy playground gets major makeover

We used to live on Third Street and Canal in Troy, where there was a small park on the corner with a sad assortment of rusty playground equipment. Now Canal Park has been expanded and improved with $621,000 worth of upgrades, including two playgrounds, a swing set, new fencing and lighting. It’s all part of ARPA-funded improvements throughout the city. [Troy Record]