New York State Fair to open at 100% capacity this summer. What you need to know.

ALBANY - More funnel cakes for the family!

The New York State Fair near Syracuse will open at 100% capacity this summer as COVID rates continue to decline and vaccination rates increase, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.

The fair is scheduled Friday, Aug. 20 through Monday, Sept. 6. It was originally slated to open at 50% capacity.

"When the facts change, then change your strategy," Cuomo said of lifting restrictions on the State Fair.

Unvaccinated people will still need to wear masks at the fair, and indoor spaces will be subject to capacity limits to allow attendees to be socially distanced within each building.

But the fair will have all the amenities and attractions as in previous years, state officials said.

The fair in recent years has broken attendance records, with more than 1.3 million people visiting in 2019 as the state has pumped millions of dollars into upgrades.

But the fair was canceled last year due to COVID.

Now with COVID rates hitting a mere 0.4% on Sunday, compared to nearly 8% in January, the fair should be a safe environment for visitors, Cuomo said.

The fair's reopening announcement comes as Cuomo also announced a $40 million ad campaign to help bolster tourism in New York, urging people to stay in-state as they resume vacations as COVID wanes.

"On the numbers, on the facts, it’s amazingly good news," Cuomo said of declining COVID rates.

"If you ever predicted this, people would have thought we were being overly, overly ambition."

The fair has already announced a series of concerts at the fair.

Here's the lineup so far:

• LoCash, Friday, August 20 with time to be announced
• Nas, Friday, August 20 at 8 p.m.
• 98 Degrees, Saturday, August 21 at 2 p.m.
• RATT, Saturday, August 21 with time to be announced
• Brothers Osborne, Sunday, August 22, 8 p.m.
• Bishop Briggs, Monday, August 23 with time to be announced.
• Foreigner, Monday, August 23 at 8 p.m.
• Dire Straits Legacy, Tuesday, August 24 with time to be announced
• Train, Tuesday, August 24 at 8 p.m.
• REO Speedwagon, Wednesday, August 25 at 8 p.m.
• Three Dog Night, Thursday, August 26 with time to be announced
• Bell Biv Devoe, Thursday, August 26 at 8 p.m.
• Sister Sledge, Friday, August 27 at 2 p.m.
• Melissa Etheridge, Friday, August 27 at 8 p.m.
• Vixen and Great White, Saturday, August 28 with time to be announced.
• Noah Cyrus, Sunday, August 29 at 2 p.m.
• Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Sunday, August 29 with time to be announced
• Dropkick Murphys, Sunday, August 29 at 8 p.m.
• Pat Noone, Monday, August 30 at 2 p.m.
• Grandson, Monday, August 30 at 7 p.m.
• The Oak Ridge Boys, Tuesday, August 31 at 2 p.m.
• Halestorm, Tuesday, August 31 at 8 p.m.
• Sheena Easton, Wednesday, September 1 at 2 p.m.
• Blue Oyster Cult, Wednesday, September 1 with time to be announced
• Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Thursday, September 2 with time to be announced
• Uncle Kracker, Friday, September 3 at 2 p.m.

Joseph Spector is the Government and Politics Editor for the USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Group, overseeing coverage in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware. He can be reached at JSPECTOR@Gannett.com or followed on Twitter: @GannettAlbany

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