What to Know
- The shape of the corn maze, called the Amazing Maize Maze, is inspired by a 1954 Ford tractor that was donated to the farm by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
- There will also be free (!!) mac n' cheese at the Queens County Fair, given away by the Cabot Cheese Cruiser Cheese Truck. The fair will be open for a ribbon cutting event at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8, then from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday
- Other highlights include a beer garden and food vendors curated by the Queens Night Market, two stages for entertainment acts, carnival rides, midway games, hay rides and contests like pie-eating and corn-husking competitions
A corn maze in New York City? It's almost hard to picture it, but it's coming the second weekend of September.
The Queens County Fair returns for its 40th year starting on Sept. 8 and continuing throughout the weekend to kick off the fall season.
The shape of the corn maze, called the Amazing Maize Maze, is inspired by a 1954 Ford tractor that was donated to the farm by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The farm is also offering hay rides on the tractor, to really get fairgoers in the fall spirit.
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And we may have buried the lead here, because there will also be free (!!) mac n' cheese at the fair, given away by the Cabot Cheese Cruiser Cheese Truck, according to the farm.
Some of the other highlights coming at the fair, held at the Queens County Farm Museum in Floral Park, include:
- Taste New York Pavilion: Showcasing foods from the state's growers and producers
- Beer Garden: Curated by the Queens Night Market, it will showcase beers and ciders from across New York, along with the farm's famed apple cider donuts and pieces.
- Food vendors: Teriyaki Plus, CBao Asian Buns, TaDa Noodles, Tania’s Kitchen, Our Green Acres Corn, Ed’s Italian Sausage & Polish, Long Island Seafood, Cousins Maine Lobster, Wafels and Dinges, Kelli’s Funnel Cake and more
- Heartee Mushroom Vessel: Featuring gourmet mushroom tastings, recipes and other education material from a vertical mushroom farmer
- Paint the Farm: Offering free face painting, caricatures, farm-themed temporary tattoos and the Growing Artists Challenge, a competition for children to draw their favorite farm animals to be featured in maps and signs at Queens County Farm Museum
- Main Stage entertainment from acts including Fogo Azul, the NYC-based all-women Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line; Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, The Bone Squad, Surya Botofasina Band and MOMENTNYC: Tribute to Queens
- Family Entertainment Tent with acts including Midnight Radio Show, NuTribe Dance Company, jugglers, acrobats, Shinbone Alley Stilt Band & Harold the Unicycle Clown, plus free games
- Con Edison Ecology Booth: Featuring free crafts, sustainability tips and the ever-popular Adopt-a-worm composting program
- Carnival rides and midway games
- Hay rides
- Free games and contests, including pie-eating and corn-husking competitions
The fun kicks off on Friday, Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony, complete with celebrated inaugural band Dr. K’s Motown Revue. There will also be a limited-edition apple cider margarita and souvenir cup from East Coast Street Tacos.
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“Forty never looked so good!” said Jennifer Walden Weprin, Executive Director of the Queens County Farm Museum. “There is something for everyone at the 40th Annual Queens County Fair between the opening Motown concert, two full days of live entertainment on the Main Stage and the Family Entertainment Tent, plus the Taste NY Pavilion, all of our community collaborations and free mac n’ cheese. We are so excited to welcome everyone down on the farm.”
The Queens County Farm Museum is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park. Dating back to 1697, it is the largest tract of farmland in the city. Tickets for the fair start at $15, with single, 2- day and 3-day passes available.
After Friday night's launch, the fair will be open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
