Cups of milk at the Milk Bar inside the Dairy Building at the New York State Fair.Nate Mink

For many Central New Yorkers, the State Fair is a cherished tradition. Most have some kind of childhood memories there. Some have been going every year for decades.

But for newcomers, the region’s biggest festival can seem, well, strange. After all, it’s just a fair, right?

Syracuse.com sent about two dozen reporters to the fair last week. Among that group were at least two first-time fairgoers: Orange football reporter Emily Leiker and features reporter Jules Struck.

We asked each to offer some advice for fair newbies: What surprised you? What was the best part? The worst part? What would you recommend to other fair first-timers?

Here are a few takeaways from their outing last week:

Emily recommended going with someone who’s been to the fair before (she spent opening day sampling cocktails with food and drink writer Don Cazentre, for example). The grounds at the fair are huge, and it’s easy to get lost. If you don’t have someone with you, she said, take a map.

“The fairgrounds are sprawling, and even after having someone show me around most of the day, I still got slightly lost later trying to make my way back to a certain vendor we’d stopped at earlier.”

It’s late August in Central New York, which typically comes with a soggy heat and dangerous sun. This year is no exception.

“Wear sunscreen (I learned this the hard way),” Jules said.

Emily suggested planning your trip for later in the evening, if possible.

“If there’s something you really want to see or experience that’s only available in the daytime, be sure to bring something to protect yourself from the sun (sunscreen, hat), lots of water and don’t be afraid to spend an extended period of time cooling off in front of one of the many water-misting fans they have around the fairgrounds.”

Sure, there are countless places to get something deep fried or delicious at the fair. But a full day on the grounds will catch up to your stomach and your wallet (especially if you’re visiting with a family).

“It’s hard to find food that will sustain you for a day, and most of it isn’t cheap,” Jules said. “Consider bringing a granola bar or sandwich from home (can you bring food into the fair?)”

Yes, you can bring your own food or non-alcoholic drinks into the fair. You can even bring in a cooler. Your bag might be subject to search when you enter, though.

4. Try a wine slushie and a potato

It’s just wine and crushed ice.

“There were lots of good drinks at the fair, but I’d say my favorite was Ashley Lynn Chillbilly (a mix of sangria and raspberry) wine slushie I had after I was done with work. ...

As for food? Well, there are lots of options.

“I didn’t try a whole bunch of food, but I did have a lobster roll – my first, actually – and made sure to get a $1 potato, which was a great way to sober up at the end of a long day.”

5. Holy cow, there’s a lot of milk; Drink some.

The butter sculpture remains one of the fair’s most revered traditions. But it’s not the only dairy-centric attraction at the fair.

“This might seem silly, but the fact that there was an entire space devoted entirely to dairy products kind of blew my mind,” Emily said. “I’m used to fairs having barns full of live cows and other animals to look at, not buildings with a literal milk bar, multiple milkshake stands and frozen cheesecake on a stick. I haven’t been to whatever part of New York they’re keeping all these cows in, so I definitely was surprised by how much of the fair was devoted to dairy.”

We talk a lot about the food and the drinks and the concerts. But this festival’s roots remain in agriculture. Both reporters were surprised by just how many animals were at the fairgrounds.

From Jules: “Pet the goats! The agricultural building has great stuff to buy for super early Christmas shopping.”

“Also the ‘cow birthing tent’ was unexpected.”

Headed out the fair this week? We’ve got you covered with everything

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