The swing carousel is one of many rides and attractions on The Midway at The Big E.
Unique foods, such as deep fried oreos, delight those who attend The Big E in West Springfield.
The ferris wheel ride is a beacon of The Midway at The Big E.
"Mardi Gras revelers" throw beads from a float in the Big Parade, a daily occurrence at The Big E.
Unique foods, such as deep fried oreos, delight those who attend The Big E in West Springfield.
The ferris wheel ride is a beacon of The Midway at The Big E.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Big is Back!
That's the motto at the Eastern States Exposition where the 105th edition of The Big E is in full swing. The fifth largest fair in North America opens its gates Friday, welcoming in visitors from across New England and the Northeast. The fair, which welcomed over 1.6 million visitors in 2019, runs through Oct. 3.
Where: Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave. West Springfield
When: Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 3
Hours: 8 a.m., gates open. Buildings, exhibits and crafts are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.. Storrowton Village, the Yankee Candle Shop, Avenue of States and New England Center are open until 9 p.m.. The Village Craft Area is open until 10 p.m.. The North American Midway is open 11 a.m. to 10 pm., Sunday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday.
Admission: $15, adults; $10 for children age 6 to 12; free for 5 and under. $30, Midway Magic pass. 17-day value pass: $40, adults; $20 ages 6 to 12.
Discounts: Six-After-Five, tickets are $6 after 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Senior Days, $12 for 60 and over, Monday through Thursday.
Tickets: Purchase at Big Y World Class Markets, online at thebige.com or at any Big E Gate when the fair is open.
All shows take place at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Tickets are available at TheBigE.com and The Big E Box Office and include Fair admission when purchased prior to the show date.
Sept. 17: Machine Gun Kelly with jxdn and Kennyhoopla (SOLD OUT)
Sept. 19: Zach Williams with Cory Asbury of Bethel Music
Sept. 24: FlatOut Freestyle, 8 p.m. (Free)
Sept. 25: Flo Rida with Ying Yang Twins
Sept. 26: Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo (doors open at 6 p.m.)
Oct. 2: A Day to Remember, the Re-Entry Tour, with Asking Alexandria and Point North (7 p.m. showtime)
All concerts are free with Fair admission.
Sept. 17-26: Tom Franek, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m.
Sept. 17: Jesse McCartney, 8 p.m.
Sept. 17-19: Jay and the Americans, 3 p.m.
Sept. 18: Kameron Marlowe, 8 p.m.
Sept. 20-21: Raniere Martin in the Donna Summer Experience, 3 p.m.
Sept. 20-21: Little Texas, 8 p.m.
Sept. 22-23: Exile, 3 p.m.
Sept. 22: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 8 p.m.
Sept. 24-26: The Bar-Kays, 3 p.m.
Sept. 24: Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band, 8 p.m.
Sept. 25: Plain White T’s, 8 p.m.
Sept. 26: Don McLean, 8 p.m.
Sept. 27-Oct. 3: The Everly Set, 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Sept. 27-28: Here Come the Mummies, 3 p.m.
Sept. 27-28: The Outlaws, 8 p.m.
Sept. 29-30: Big Brother and the Holding Company, 3 p.m.
Sept. 29: Lisa Lisa, 8 p.m.
Oct. 1: Kashmir: The Live Led Zeppelin Show, 8 p.m.
Oct. 1-3: Tribute to The King performed by Taylor Rodriguez, 3 p.m.
Oct. 3: Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of RUN DMC, 8 p.m.
Fair organizers are hopeful that visitor turnout will be high, following last year's hiatus, a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Keeping the organization afloat through 2020 was almost impossible, so this is a great exciting time for us," said Gene Cassidy, president and CEO of the Eastern State Exposition during a recent interview. "It's a great exciting time for us in the role we play in civic life. We represent the best part of the American way of life."
Last year, The Big E held several drive-thru food events, offering fair foodies a chance to enjoy some of its concessioners' traditional deep-fried goodness.
"Much of that was a service we provided to our concessioners, who support us by being in business," Cassidy said. "Unfortunately, many small concessioners and small craft people didn't survive the economic turmoil. During the past year, we tried to provide opportunities for them to make a living. As soul proprietors of small businesses, they were the last on any kind of list for any type of assistance."
But, Cassidy said he expects patrons of The Big E are eager to return and take part in all of The Big E's traditional offerings, which include a wide variety of unique food options, shopping, agricultural and farm-related displays and events, daily Mardi Gras parades, a midway of carnival rides, pig races and even a butter sculpture.
Known as the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard, The Big E offers an up-close view of life on the farm.
The swing carousel is one of many rides and attractions on The Midway at The Big E.
Witness the elegance of horses trotting, cantering and galloping in the Eastern States Exposition Horse Show, a United States Equestrian Federation Heritage Competition, sponsored by Budweiser.
Have a hankering for a hunk of cheese? Or a wine slushie? Grab a wine slushie and cheese plate, or a wine sundae in The Wine Café and relax in the courtyard. The Farmers Market and Wine Barn is home to some of New England’s finest wines, cheeses and ciders. You can also view agricultural demonstrations, such as spinning and weaving, during your visit.
Inside the New England Center, you'll find the Exposition's annual Creative Arts contests — photography, quilting, sewing, knitting, pottery, beading, decorative paintings on fabric, hand weaving and other needlework entries and winners. You can also find 4-H Clubs, the New England Center Community Stage and the Demonstration Corral here.
New England Center contest lineup includes:
"Mardi Gras revelers" throw beads from a float in the Big Parade, a daily occurrence at The Big E.
Visit this reconstructed, 19th-century New England Village humming with the activity of demonstrations of broom making, tinsmithing and glass blowing.
Entertainment at the Storrowton Village Gazebo with host Jimmy Mazz will take place daily at 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.:
Visit all six New England States without leaving the fairgrounds. Each state puts its best foot forward offering unique products, crafts, foods, vacation information and more.
Start (and finish) your holiday shopping. The buildings and byways overflow with shops and vendors to satisfy all your shopping needs.
Jennifer Huberdeau can be reached at jhuberdeau@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6229. On Twitter: @BE_DigitalJen
Jennifer Huberdeau is The Eagle's features editor. Prior to The Eagle, she worked at The North Adams Transcript. She is a 2021 Rabkin Award Winner, 2020 New England First Amendment Institute Fellow and a 2010 BCBS Health Care Fellow.
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