Syracuse Winter Fair counters harsh winters with summer fun, live music
Solange Jain | Photo Editor
The Syracuse Winter Fair was held from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 at the New York State Fairgrounds. With unique performances by entertainers, the fair was much more than an escape from the cold for community members.
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Roshni More was itching to be part of the fun. Even though there was a large audience, More felt compelled to join her friends who danced to salsa music with strangers.
“There are diverse individuals coming to the front and dancing together and I think that’s really a great thing to see,” More said.
Despite temperatures dropping to single digits, thousands of attendees made their way to the Syracuse Winter Fair. The fair, which was held indoors from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, featured 20 different entertainers to cultivate a warm atmosphere and invite communities together.
“We’re not only the heart of New York, but we also have a great community in central New York,” Steve Becker, who organized the fair, said. “We draw people from all over and so the idea was to bring different communities together.”
Since the New York State Fairgrounds opened its doors in 2019 for Syracuse Winter Fair, it’s welcomed thousands of visitors annually. The fair was first organized as a way to bring summer fun indoors, rather than keep community members cooped up in their homes.
Becker knew he wanted to feature usual fair elements, like food vendors and prize games. When it came to deciding on what performances to feature, he guaranteed two things: each entertainer was from CNY and full of talent. Becker wanted the cream of the crop.
“I used to be in radio and when I came here a few years ago, I got to know a lot of these great local groups. I do a rotation of different regional groups and it’s a whole variety,” Becker said.
As the fair’s organizer, Becker called the shots. He chose local legends, like Letizia and the Z Band and Todd Hobin, and non-music events, like the Urban Fashion Show coordinated by LS Jones, to feature in the winter fair. But when it came to choosing the fair’s opener, Becker knew it had to be someone with a strong and enduring voice. It became an easy choice for him, as Becker turned to his friend Cheri Giraud to set the fair’s tone.
Solange Jain | Photo Editor
ATLAS, an upstate New York party-dance band performed at the Syracuse Winter Fair. The band played hits from artists like Bruno Mars and Michael Jackson.
If it weren’t for her friends Letizia and Todd Hobin, Giraud wouldn’t have been convinced about the opportunity. Even after Giraud’s years of performing, opening the event was nerve-racking.
“I got up on stage and I have this whole view of, ‘Oh my God, this is the fairgrounds and I hope that people come out,’” Giraud said. “I hope that people know that this is something for them to do. It’s great music.”
Playing songs from the Great American Songbook, Giraud paved the way for the rest of the performances. Where typical fairs tend to stick to live music, Becker also featured dance groups, like La Familia de la Salsa, to get patrons on their feet.
“I was looking out at the audience and we would make people move and smile. Salsa is a great addition to this fair,” Roberto Perez, co-founder of La Familia de la Salsa, said.
Salsa dancer Sharon Bridley-Pelkey hopes her group’s performance introduced the salsa community to a larger audience. Bridley-Pelkey said salsa allows anyone to make new friends within the community, with the added benefit of inexpensive costs. After dancing for her entire life, Bridley-Pelkey said her dance community is the most loving group she’s a part of.
Solange Jain | Photo Editor
The Syracuse Winter Fair brought in performers from around central and upstate New York. The entertainers ranged from a cappella gospel groups to R&B bands.
On the fair’s last day, Becker celebrated Black History Month by featuring different gospel groups, such as the a cappella group Five to Life Ministries, and traditional West African drumming from the Adanfo Ensemble. To end the night, CNY’s premier band, UAD Show Group Kings of the Fall, performed different R&B, funk and soul music to cap the event off on a sweet note.
With each group bringing a unique skillset and introducing their own communities, Becker’s slate of entertainers made the Syracuse Winter Fair more than an escape from the winter’s cold.
“Central New York is blessed with talented performers. It’s hard for me to say that I have a favorite,” Becker said. “I have truly enjoyed it all.”
Published on February 2, 2025 at 11:51 pm
