Last year, the pandemic canceled the State Fair in Syracuse along with the tri-county fair in Altamont.

Governor Andrew Cuomo was in Syracuse Monday to announce the 2021 Reimagined New York State Fair will run from Aug. 20 to Sept. 6.

When asked about plans for the Altamont Fair, its director, Amy Anderson, responded in an email to The Enterprise on Tuesday, “We are very excited about the governor’s announcement regarding the opening of the State Fair.

“This announcement gives all 56 fairs in the state of New York hope that we will actually be able to open this year and continue the amazing tradition of teaching people about history, agriculture, and the arts through fun, interactive ways.”

Last year, in announcing the cancelation, the Altamont Fair board said, “We are heartbroken for the small businesses, family farms, 4-H clubs, competitors and exhibitors, entertainers, vendors and carnival who rely on the Altamont Fair.”

The Altamont Fair this year is scheduled for Aug. 17 to 22. The fair, which is more than 125 years old, serves Albany, Schenectady, and Greene counties.

  Cuomo said at Monday’s event at the fairgrounds in Syracuse, “We’re going to understand the reality that we’re dealing with but the fair will go on for the full 18 days …. We’re going to have the fair set up in four areas so we have a better sense of what the capacity is and what the crowd size is. We want to keep the crowd size at about 50 percent.”

The four areas are: Food and beverage, amusement rides, concerts, and the agricultural exhibit.

Cuomo also announced on Monday that, outside of New York City, outdoor stadiums can go from 20 to 33 percent capacity, offices can go from 50 to 75 percent occupancy, casinos can go from 25 to 50 percent occupancy, and gyms and fitness clubs can go to 33 to 50 percent occupancy.

“And as our positivity’s coming down, and our vaccination is going up, you're going to see more reopening,” he said.