A three-day Fourth of July weekend carnival featuring food, drink and rides — and two nights of fireworks — is moving this year from the New York State Fairgrounds to Vernon Downs racetrack in Oneida County.
The Carnival Rides and Treats Independence Celebration will be held from Thursday, July 4, through Saturday, July 6, at Vernon Downs, 4229 Stuhlman Road in Vernon. The harness racing track is located just off Route 5 about seven miles from the Verona / Turning Stone exit of the state Thruway.
For the past four years, the event, produced by Solvay-based Main Event Amusements, has been held on or around the Fourth of July weekend, first at the State Fair’s Orange Lot and later on the Midway.
This year’s schedule:
July 4: Midway open 4 to 10 p.m. Fireworks at 9:45 p.m.
July 5: Midway open 4 to 10 p.m. No fireworks.
July 6: Midway open 1 to 10 p.m. Fireworks art 9:45 p.m.
Admission and parking are free. Rides, food and drinks are available for purchase. All-you-can-ride wristbands are available for $30 on Thursday and Friday and $35 on Saturday. They can be purchased in advance online.
This year’s fest features about 20 carnival rides, including old favorites such as the Tilt-A-Whirl, bumper cars, fun house and merry-go-round and new rides like Puppy-Roll, Zero-Gravity, Kiddie Dinos and Kiddie Pirate. (Rides subject to change).
Carnival Rides and Treats also includes games of skill and chance, with prizes. There is also air brush face painting.
Food options range from gyros to Italian sausage provided by Big Kahuna’s to Walking Tacos and Bloomin’ Onions from Dean’s Concessions. Treats such as cotton candy, caramel and candy apples, sno-cones, popcorn, fresh cut fries and lemonade will be provided by Main Event Amusements.
Carting prizes during Carnival Eats & Rides’ Independence Day celebration July 2, 2021. Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.com
Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.