August 21, 2025

Opening day at the Great New York State Fair is always a special one. There’s something about walking through those gates on Day One—the excitement, the smells of food everywhere, and the buzz of people happy to be back at the Fairgrounds. This year, my first day was packed with great eats, fun stops, and a little bit of New York State tradition.A $2 Zweigle’s Hot Dog at Limp Lizard BBQ

Day One at The Great New York State Fair

A $2 Zweigle’s Hot Dog at Limp Lizard BBQ

The first bite of the day came from Limp Lizard BBQ, back at the Fair for the first time in years. Tucked behind the Expo Center, their truck was serving up a classic—$2 hot dogs made with Zweigle’s from Rochester. For me, this was the perfect way to start the day: a simple, no-frills hot dog with that signature Zweigle’s snap. Sometimes the best fair food is the simplest one, and this hot dog hit the spot.

Milk and Cookies with Governor Kathy Hochul

From there, I made my way into the Dairy Building, where I joined Governor Kathy Hochul for one of the Fair’s sweetest traditions: milk and cookies. The chocolate chip cookies from the BakeLab are a true Fair staple. They’re baked right in front of you, with trays of hot, fresh cookies rolling out nonstop. Soft, chewy, and still warm, paired with an ice-cold cup of milk—it’s as classic as it gets.

A Refreshing Twist: The Dr. Pickle

Next stop was Fair Deli, where I tried something that might sound unusual at first: the Dr. Pickle drink. It’s a mix of Dr. Pepper and pickle juice. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but honestly? It was oddly refreshing. The tangy kick from the pickle juice gave the Dr. Pepper a unique twist without overpowering it. Strange? Yes. Worth trying? Absolutely.

Comfort in a Cup: The Sweet Potato at Baked Potato Express

Then it was time for one of my favorite stops of the day: The Baked Potato Express. I went for their sweet potato topped with butter, marshmallows, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Talk about the ultimate comfort food—this one was warm, silky, and sweet, with just enough spice to bring everything together. On a cold and rainy opening day, it was exactly what I needed. Cozy, comforting, and downright delicious.

The Boozy Buttercotch Wine Milkshake

To wrap things up, I headed over to the Ashley Lynn Winery K-Rock Trailer for something truly unique: their butterscotch wine milkshake. This wasn’t just any milkshake—it had caramel, chocolate, butterscotch whiskey, and their signature wine blended right in. The result? A sweet, creamy, boozy treat that felt like dessert and a cocktail all in one. It was the perfect way to end Day One.

Final Thoughts

That was Day One at the Great New York State Fair: a $2 hot dog, milk and cookies with the Governor, a quirky pickle drink, the most comforting sweet potato, and a boozy milkshake to top it all off. The food, the atmosphere, and the traditions are what make the Fair so special every year, and if opening day is any sign, this year’s Fair is going to be one to remember.