National Grid to Sponsor Fire, Rescue, EMS and Armed Forces Days at the 2026 New York State Fair
Our communities depend on fire and rescue workers and members of the military to run towards danger to keep us all safe. In an expression of our gratitude for their service and sacrifice, National Grid is proud to announce its sponsorship of two community donation days at the New York State Fair, which offer free admission to participating individuals.
In celebration of Fire, Rescue and EMS Day on Tuesday, Sept. 1, all active or retired members of a fire department, emergency services or EMS organization will receive free admission when presenting a photo ID from the department they serve or served, courtesy of National Grid.
Active duty or veteran members of the military will receive free admission on Thursday, Sept. 3 for Armed Forces Day by presenting a valid military identification card, DD-214 form, or state-issued photo identification card with a veteran designation.
“National Grid has been a proud supporter of the New York State Fair for decades,” said Alberto Bianchetti, National Grid’s Central New York Regional Director of External Affairs. “The Fair celebrates what makes the Empire State a great place to live, work and visit. By sponsoring Fire, Rescue and EMS Day and Armed Forces Day, we’re honored to help say thank you to the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities and make this beloved community tradition more accessible to them.”
“Honoring our first responders and service members has become one of our favorite Fair traditions,” said Fair Director Julie LaFave. “We’re grateful to National Grid for helping us continue that tradition, and even more grateful to the brave people who serve near and far— this is our way of saying we see you, and we thank you.”
In 2025, more than 5,000 individuals received free admission to the Fair from National Grid’s sponsorship of these days.
The Fair will also commemorate these days with recognition and remembrance ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial near the Horticulture Building on the featured days at 11 a.m. to honor both those who serve and are no longer with us. The daily 6 p.m. parades on these days will pay tribute to each group.
The 185th annual New York State Fair, the oldest state fair in the United States, will take place Aug. 26 to Sept. 7 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Learn more about these and other special fair days at nysfair.ny.gov.
About National Grid
National Grid (NYSE: NGG) delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 20 million people across New York and Massachusetts. We’re committed to meeting our customers’ energy needs and supporting economic growth across the regions we serve—providing safe, reliable energy today and building the resilient networks of the future. National Grid Ventures, our commercial business, develops and operates infrastructure that delivers affordable and reliable energy to consumers. National Grid Partners, our corporate investment and innovation arm, invests in and collaborates with technology companies that are transforming the energy sector and accelerating industry-wide innovation.
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