State Fair Marks a Milestone

State Fair Meadowlands is 25 years old.

Turning 25 requires a special birthday – and this party will be attended by over 400,000 people. And his year, a special Fourth of July birthday celebration is planned with fabulous fireworks shows on July 3 and 4, and a special unveiling of the fair’s one-of-a-kind 25th Anniversary Cake by Buddy Valastro,  the TLC Channel's Cake Boss, on July 2 at 7 pm.

“Belleville has been State Fair's HQ for over 20 years,” says Michele Tartaglione, managing director of State Fair. “In addition to our event management division, we also own State Fair Superstore, a seasonal store located in the State Fair Shopping Center on Main Street, just off Route 21. Belleville allows easy access to major highways and other important resources to run our businesses.” 

The Dorso family of Belleville produces the Fair at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, which is run by the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority. The Fair began in 1986 as a 6-day event with a small amount of rides, games and entertainment set over 10 acres. In 2002, when the state of New Jersey put out an RFP (request for proposal), State Fair won the bid. They’ve been producing the Fair since 2003.

Twenty-five years after its initial opening, State Fair Meadowlands, which takes place this year at the New Meadowlands Fairgrounds with 25 percent more space, is now the largest fair in the Garden State and the New York metropolitan area. The 35 acres plus 26,000 parking spaces feature over 150 rides and attractions with over 50 food vendors from around the country, and plenty of live free entertainment. 

“Our new and expanded Kiddieland contains more than 30 fun rides for younger children, including a pumpkin ferris wheel, bumper cars, a kiddie coaster, a fun house and much more,” said Al Dorso, President, State Fair Meadowlands. “We’ve done a lot to make families comfortable this year, including bicycle rickshaws in the parking lot, increased stroller accessibility and more climate-controlled bathrooms.”

Preparation for the Fair is no easy task. It takes a year to coordinate and implement all aspects of a fair that last three weeks in June and July. And those three weeks are hectic ones. State Fair’s Onsite Office arrives 2 weeks before the start of the Fair. The Sky Ride begins set up about 10 days before the fair opens, and other larger rides begin set up by the week’s end, followed by smaller rides, including most kiddie rides. Concessions for food, game and merchandise arrive and set up the week of the fair, and that’s when local hiring begins for concessions, additional ride help and other temporary positions including ambassadors and office workers takes place. State Fair holds a Job Fair two weeks prior to opening, offering local workers an opportunity at short term employment and possible long term employment at their Superstore located in Belleville. Once the fair ends, State Fair takes two weeks to wrap up, and then begins planning the following year’s event. 

Admission prices remain unchanged in 5 years, and parking is free Monday through Wednesday, and  $4 other days and holidays. Call (973) 450-1073, or visit www.njfair.com regarding special group packages and special events per night.

“In the years that we have managed the Meadowlands event,” said Michele Tartaglione, “there has been resurgence in the number of families that attend and enjoy the various attractions that the annual event has to offer. Over 96 percent of the respondents of our exit survey stated that they absolutely had fun and planned to return to the fair in subsequent years."