When visiting the New York State Fair, one stop worth considering is the Pan-African Village located on the east end of the grounds. That’s where you can learn about New York’s African American history, and enjoy diverse food and music.
If you’re lucky, you may even run into the man many believe is the reason the village opened at the fair.
Van Robinson is a guy that everyone looks forward to seeing at the fair. Robinson, 85, has spent close to three decades overseeing the operations in the fair’s Pan-African Village.
What You Need To Know
- Van Robinson, 85, is now acting superintendent of the Pan-African Village at the State Fairgrounds. This is the first year Robinson has the official title, but he’s actually been overseeing the operations in the village since it opened in the mid 1990s
- The former Syracuse Common Council president has spent his life as a civil rights activist
- Through his efforts, along with a few others, the NAACP was able to open a booth at the fair, which later became the Pan-African Village
“First-year superintendent, officially. Unofficially, I’ve been superintendent quite a while,” said Robinson, the acting superintendent of the State Fair’s Pan-African Village.
The former Syracuse Common Council president has spent his life as a civil rights activist. He’s been involved with the Syracuse Chapter of the NAACP for more than 40 years, helping people in communities of color find jobs and live better lives.
He remembers when the village opened as a small tent in 1993 on the west end of the grounds thanks to the NAACP.
“We had discussions with the State Fair director and senior staff about the lack of diversity at the fairgrounds,” Robinson said.
That small tent was moved across the fairgrounds in 1995, and is now located in a place where a few dozen diverse vendors call home. Today, the Pan-African Village is known for its delicious food, music, performances, workshops and stores.
“It makes you feel good, when you think about, when there was nothing. And now you’re looking here and see you have a whole block,” Robinson said.
Five years ago, the block was renamed the NAACP Van Robinson Pan-African Village – a justified designation as the village continues to gain popularity.
“I’ve watched it steadily grow. It’s so amazing to hear Van Robinson tell the stories of back when the NAACP just sold hot dogs and water and juice, and he had a vision for this village,” said Henry’s Hen House owner Kevin Henry Sr.
Sarita Ruiz was celebrating her tenth anniversary as a fair vendor in the village this year.
“If it wasn’t for Van, we wouldn’t be here. I know I wouldn’t be here. And you know, he really cares. He’s always involved and he’s committed and dedicated, and you can tell that this is something that is very, very important to him,” said Ruiz.
It’s a place that certainly has high importance to an abundant amount of fairgoers, which gives Robinson a sense of fulfillment. He admitted he doesn’t move quite like he used to, but he said he has been blessed to be able to still be a part of the fair and fun.
“Watching and looking at those coming up now, taking over, I’m happy to see it will continue,” said Robinson.
The village is likely to remain a mainstay at the fair for many years to come.
Live music and workshops begin in the Pan-African Village at 10 a.m. every day. For a full schedule of events in the village, visit NYSFair.ny.gov and click on the concerts and entertainment tab.
