The Empire State Fair Opens May 3 at NYCB LIVE Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale

Get up-close-and-personal with sharks, take a selfie with a goat, watch a BMX stunt show, and so much more!

By Melissa Wickes May 2, 2019

Look no further for family-friendly, unforgettable fun on Long Island this weekend than NYCB LIVE Nassau Coliseum. The Empire State Fair will take place on select dates from May 3-19 and will offer a lineup of free attractions that will provide something for everyone in the family. Jurassic Kingdom, the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, a Live Shark Encounter, and the Wolves of the World Show are just some of the thrilling experiences your family will see at the highly anticipated fair.

The fair will be open on Thursdays from 6pm-11pm, Fridays from 6pm-12am, Saturdays from 2pm-12am, and Sundays from 2pm-11pm.

You can purchase tickets at the Ticketmaster Box Office at NYCB Live for $12 at the gate for all ages. Parking is $5 per car. There are a variety of ticketing options including an Unlimited Ride pass for $25 on weekdays (Thursdays and Fridays) and $30 on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays). These passes don't include live animal rides. Fast Passes are $15 each and allow access to VIP lines on select popular rides.

While some of the live animal encounters require additional purchases, there is a variety of free shows and attractions included in your admission:

The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show will highlight the skills of world-class lumberjacks including ax throwing and log rolling.
Jurassic Kingdom invites audiences to see dinosaurs in action as well as interact with them throughout the show.
At the Empire State Fair's Live Shark Encounter, patrons can sit in a self-contained canopy and watch as sharks swim in their aquarium, narrated by a diver who can communicate to guests outside of the water.
Robert Castillo's BMX Freestyle Team is a high-energy, thrilling BMX Freestyle Stunt Show that your family won't soon forget.
Wolves of the World is a wolf pack performance including demonstrations of natural animal behavior as well as fun tricks like a high-wire walk.
A classic crowd favorite, the petting zoo gives adults and children the opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of animals, for selfies of course!

For more information on ticketing, 2019 Bargain Nights, and an event schedule visit the Empire State Fair website.