MaltaMama - Family Fun Things to Do | Malta, NY, Saratoga County

Ahhh, the fair.  There's nothing quite like it.  The smells wafting from the animal tents greeted us as my friend and I paid our $8 admission to get in.  Kids under 52 inches are free by the way.  One of the first things you can see upon your paid admission is an opportunity to feed a tiger or lion.  I'm not sure how much it was, but you hold a piece of meat on a long skewer through the cage and the lion/tiger comes and eats.  Fantastic fun, and only at the fair.  Next door in the Farmer's Market tent you can ooh and ah over blue ribbon squash, giant tomato plants, second place blueberries and so on.  Walk in any direction and find a food vendor tempting with treats like fried pickles, souvlaki, frozen cheesecake, and your standard cheese fries, cotton candy, fried dough and so much more.  This ain't no mall food court people, this is straight-up fair cuisine and it doesn't get any better.  I don't care how much food you bring in for you and your family, you WILL buy food at the fair.  For that matter, you are almost guaranteed to spend more money at the fair than you had anticipated.  There's something in the air at the fair that keeps you reaching for your wallet.

The rides are a big draw, but also cost quite a lot of money; 3 tickets minimum per rider/$1 per ticket.  The more tickets you purchase the cheaper it is though.  A very kind ride operator gave my friend's baby and my son Robby a free ride on the ferris wheel.  Since I was "disabled" (pregnant) I couldn't ride... darn.  It was more fun waiting down below and watching the look on the kids' faces when the operator stopped them exactly at the top to let on more riders.  The kids did great though!  Speaking of rides, there are lots of rides that parents (non-pregnant mama's) can go on with little one's.

Tips if you go.  For some reason it always feels 10 degrees warmer at the fair, so dress accordingly.  If your kids are stroller-friendly, a jogging stroller is best because it's mostly a dirt terrain.  I saw lots of babies in front carriers which seemed to work well.  No real accommodations for diaper changes/nursing, so definitely plan ahead for that.  It's an experience for sure.  Wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water or Gatorade or you'll be stuck buying stuff!  Definitely bring snacks, but also some cash to buy fair-exclusive food.             

You could end up with a stomach ache, a giant stuffed animal, filthy hands/feet, heat exhaustion, pictures of cows, a souvenir mug, cowboy boots, goldfish, or all of the above.  You will end up with great memories and at least a few fair 'war' stories.