2025 Temporary Food, Beverage and Catering - NYS Fairgrounds

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Division of the New York State Fair (the “Department” or the “Fair”) is accepting applications from food and/or beverage service vendors to provide one or more of the temporary service options below:

1) Temporary catering service (with or without alcoholic beverages) for non-fair shows or events held throughout the year on the New York State Fairgrounds (Town of Geddes, Onondaga County, Syracuse, New York) where there is no contracted permanent food and beverage vendor;
2) Temporary alcoholic beverage concessions service for non-fair shows or events held throughout the year on the New York State Fairgrounds (Town of Geddes, Onondaga County, Syracuse, New York) where there is no contracted permanent food and beverage vendor;
3) Temporary food, non-alcoholic beverage and/or alcoholic beverage concessions service in the Horticulture Building restaurant space for non-fair shows or events held throughout the year on the New York State Fairgrounds (Town of Geddes, Onondaga County, Syracuse, New York);
4) Temporary catering service (with or without alcoholic beverages) for special events held in the Exposition Center or other venues as required during the 2025 Great New York State Fair held on the New York State Fairgrounds (Town of Geddes, Onondaga County, Syracuse, New York).

Temporary catering service is defined as food, non-alcoholic beverages and/or alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, cider, and spirits) provided for a pre-determined number of patrons that includes a limited, pre-determined menu and a lump sum fee charged to the contracted event promoter/organizer. Temporary concessions service is defined as individual customers purchasing items from a menu with listed prices and payment is collected from the customer at the point of sale.

The following facilities on the Fairgrounds have contracted permanent food and beverage vendors and are not covered by this contract: Empire and Somerset Rooms in the Art & Home Center; Exposition Center main floor concessions only; and Center of Progress Building. This contract is also not applicable to the annual Syracuse Nationals event held at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Temporary Food, Beverage, & Catering Service:
The Fair will maintain a list of licensed vendors authorized to provide the temporary service options listed above (“Approved List”). Any non-fair event promoter/organizer or fair-time special event organizer who requires one of the temporary service options listed above may only use one or more vendors chosen from the Approved List to provide those services.
Each vendor on the Approved List must sign a contract with the Department and maintain General Liability Insurance, Liquor Liability Insurance (if applicable), Workers’ Compensation Insurance, and Disability Insurance (sample contract is attached for reference). Vendors on the Approved List must also pay the Department twelve (12%) percent of the gross revenue, less New York State and Onondaga County sales taxes, from the sale of all food and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages.

When a promoter chooses a vendor(s) from the Approved List, the selected vendor(s) must submit a form with supporting documentation to the Department identifying the service(s) provided for the show/event and the location where service(s) will be provided. After the show/event, the selected vendor(s) from the Approved List must submit a form with supporting sales documentation to the Department. The Department will verify the sales data and invoice the vendor accordingly for the percentage payment due.

Communication with respect to this procurement initiated by or on behalf of an interested vendor through other than the “Designated Contact Person(s)” identified below may constitute an “impermissible contact” under state law with respect to Procurement Lobbying, and could result in disqualification of that vendor.

Any updates or changes will be posted to the New York State Contract Reporter.