The tents are going up and the building is underway as the Great New York State Fair is less than four weeks away.

"The fair of today is not the fair of five years ago," said New York State Fair Director Troy Waffner.

Fair organizers have spent the last year coming up with ideas to get people excited. The addition of the Expo Center last year helped break attendance records.

This year, the list of new attractions is anything but short, starting with six new rides on the Midway.

"One I'm really excited for, it's called the Frisbee,” said Waffner. “It really tosses and turns you in every direction you can ever imagine."

As entertainment goes, a new show centered on bears will surely cause some roar. The shows at Chevy Court featuring the likes of Gavin DeGraw and Dropkick Murphys will keep the crowds cheering, but Waffner is excited to see somebody cooler.

"I'm looking forward to Ice Cube, he was a pioneer in hip hop and rap,” said Waffner. “I think he'll put on a great show and he's turn himself into a TV icon and movie Icon, I'm really looking forward to that one."

To help accommodate more people, staff are adding hundreds of picnic tables, benches, and seating options.

"One of the things fair goers said to us is they’d like more grass and they’d like wider open areas,” said Waffner.

A park will take over the old sheep barn, and another is being built by Gate 2.

There will also be plenty more food options with more than 50 new vendors.

And with all the added features, the fair will live up to its reputation.

"The New York State fair is exactly what you would expect out of New York,” said Waffner. “It's big, it's a little obnoxious at times, there are sights and smells. But it is fun at the end of the day. When you think of New York, you think of all that including the fun.”

Advanced sale tickets are available now until August 20.