The Big E
Encyclopedia
The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as "New England
's Great State fair
". The Big E serves as the de facto state fair for all six of the New England states: Connecticut
, Maine
, Massachusetts
, New Hampshire
, Rhode Island
, and Vermont
. Each of the New England states is prominently represented at the fair. The Big E is the sixth largest agricultural fair in the country, and the largest in New England.
Located in New England's Knowledge Corridor
region, directly across the Memorial Bridge from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts
, The Big E is held every autumn in West Springfield, Massachusetts
. Each year, the fair opens on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for seventeen days.
and World War II
, during which the military requisitioned the grounds as storage depots, have interrupted the annual tradition.
The fair was first titled "The Big E" in 1968 and remains true to its agricultural roots today, with more than 7,100 4-H
and FFA
participants, and 1,100 open show exhibitors, as well as educational displays and attractions.
The state buildings feature exhibits and vendors which best exemplify the heritage, food, and traditions of each state. Food vendors can be found in each building selling items that are traditional to their states. For example, the Maine House offers lobster
, blueberry
and potato items, while the Vermont
House has Ben and Jerry's ice cream, maple syrup and cheddar cheese. Vendors also sell locally-made products and handicrafts. The Maine baked potatoes have become something of a fair icon, with buyers regularly forming long queues during the fair's busier periods.
Much like national embassies, the state houses and the land on which they sit are actually owned by the respective states. Through an arrangement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, they are administered by representatives from each state's police force
during the fair. Due to this distinction, tickets for each state's individual lottery
can be purchased within the houses. There is also a heavy emphasis on tourism
promotion in each state house.
displays at the Big E. The Big E Coliseum
features daily horse show
s, while the Mallary Complex houses livestock and other farm animals, including goat
s, chicken
s, pig
s, and sheep.
Other animals, such as those found at petting zoo
s or in the Big E Super Circus, are also featured at the Big E. Small-scale dog and pony show
s are regular features of the fair.
There are also many 4-H youth livestock shows and a sale of the 4-H steers.
, corn dog
s, and lemonade
. Aside from the state houses, food sellers can be found throughout the main vendor areas and around the perimeter of the fairgrounds.
In recent years, the Big E has endeavored to introduce its own signature foods. This began in 2002 when the Big E introduced Big E Cream Puffs, which it intended to be the signature dessert of the fair. The Big E features the cream puffs in some of its advertising; additionally, the cream puffs have been featured on local and national TV shows, including Live with Regis and Kelly
. This was followed by the introduction in 2004 of "The Big (Chocolate) Eclairs" and, in 2006 of Big E Chocolate Chip Cookies, made with Ghirardelli
chocolate. In 2009, they introduced the "Craz-E Burger", which is a bacon cheeseburger on a glazed donut rather than a bun.
s and regional memorabilia, to household goods and clothing and accessories. Many vendors set up shops selling the same goods in multiple areas of the fair in order to attract as many customers as possible.
The Better Living Center is one of the largest vendor areas, featuring household wares, home improvement services, cookware, and health supplements. The International House is home to vendors selling items from other cultures, particularly those with a common connection with many New Englanders, particularly Irish
and Italian
imported goods.
The Court of Honor Stage, located right in the heart of the fairgrounds, also offers free concerts that can be seen just by passing by the stage. The music can be enjoyed from a distance or on one of the many benches that surround the stage.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
's Great State fair
State fair
A state fair is a competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs....
". The Big E serves as the de facto state fair for all six of the New England states: Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. Each of the New England states is prominently represented at the fair. The Big E is the sixth largest agricultural fair in the country, and the largest in New England.
Located in New England's Knowledge Corridor
Knowledge Corridor
The Knowledge Corridor is term for the area comprising north-central Connecticut and the south-central Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts...
region, directly across the Memorial Bridge from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, The Big E is held every autumn in West Springfield, Massachusetts
West Springfield, Massachusetts
The Town of West Springfield is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 28,391 at the 2010 census...
. Each year, the fair opens on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for seventeen days.
History
The first Eastern States Exposition occurred in 1917. It was originally conceived by Joshua L. Brooks as a way to help bolster the region's farming industry. The Exposition featured displays of innovations in the industry, and held contests designed to encourage farmers to better themselves through competition. Since the first Exposition, only World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which the military requisitioned the grounds as storage depots, have interrupted the annual tradition.
The fair was first titled "The Big E" in 1968 and remains true to its agricultural roots today, with more than 7,100 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
and FFA
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
participants, and 1,100 open show exhibitors, as well as educational displays and attractions.
Avenue of States
One of the most popular attractions at the Big E is the Avenue of States. The avenue contains smaller-scale replicas of the original statehouses of each of the New England states, as well as the New England Grange House.The state buildings feature exhibits and vendors which best exemplify the heritage, food, and traditions of each state. Food vendors can be found in each building selling items that are traditional to their states. For example, the Maine House offers lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
, blueberry
Blueberry
Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
and potato items, while the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
House has Ben and Jerry's ice cream, maple syrup and cheddar cheese. Vendors also sell locally-made products and handicrafts. The Maine baked potatoes have become something of a fair icon, with buyers regularly forming long queues during the fair's busier periods.
Much like national embassies, the state houses and the land on which they sit are actually owned by the respective states. Through an arrangement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, they are administered by representatives from each state's police force
State police
State police are a type of sub-national territorial police force, particularly in Australia and the United States. Some other countries have analogous police forces, such as the provincial police in some Canadian provinces, while in other places, the same responsibilities are held by national...
during the fair. Due to this distinction, tickets for each state's individual lottery
Lottery
A lottery is a form of gambling which involves the drawing of lots for a prize.Lottery is outlawed by some governments, while others endorse it to the extent of organizing a national or state lottery. It is common to find some degree of regulation of lottery by governments...
can be purchased within the houses. There is also a heavy emphasis on tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
promotion in each state house.
Livestock and animals
In keeping with the fair's farming roots, there are many livestockLivestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
displays at the Big E. The Big E Coliseum
The Big E Coliseum
The Eastern States Coliseum, better known as the Big E Coliseum, is a 5,900-seat multi-purpose arena in West Springfield, Massachusetts.-History:The Big E Coliseum was built in 1926...
features daily horse show
Horse show
A Horse show is a judged exhibition of horses and ponies. Many different horse breeds and equestrian disciplines hold competitions worldwide, from local to the international levels. Most horse shows run from one to three days, sometimes longer for major, all-breed events or national and...
s, while the Mallary Complex houses livestock and other farm animals, including goat
Goat
The domestic goat is a subspecies of goat domesticated from the wild goat of southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the Bovidae family and is closely related to the sheep as both are in the goat-antelope subfamily Caprinae. There are over three hundred distinct breeds of...
s, chicken
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
s, pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s, and sheep.
Other animals, such as those found at petting zoo
Petting zoo
A petting zoo features a combination of domestic animals and some wild species that are docile enough to touch and feed. In addition to independent petting zoos, also called children's farms or petting farms, many general zoos contain a petting zoo...
s or in the Big E Super Circus, are also featured at the Big E. Small-scale dog and pony show
Dog and pony show
Dog and pony show is a colloquial term previously used in the United States in the late-19th and early-20th centuries to refer to small traveling circuses that toured through small towns and rural areas...
s are regular features of the fair.
There are also many 4-H youth livestock shows and a sale of the 4-H steers.
Food
Many foods representing New England cuisine can be found at the Big E, along with traditional fair foods like fried doughFried dough
.Fried dough is a North American food associated with outdoor food stands in carnivals, amusement parks, fairs, rodeos, and seaside resorts . Fried dough is the specific name for a particular variety of fried bread made of a yeast dough; see the accompanying images for an example of use on...
, corn dog
Corn dog
A corn dog is a hot dog sausage coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried in oil, although some are baked. Almost all corn dogs are served on wooden sticks, though some early versions had no stick.-History:...
s, and lemonade
Lemonade
Lemonade is a lemon-flavored drink, typically made from lemons, water and sugar.The term can refer to three different types of beverage:...
. Aside from the state houses, food sellers can be found throughout the main vendor areas and around the perimeter of the fairgrounds.
In recent years, the Big E has endeavored to introduce its own signature foods. This began in 2002 when the Big E introduced Big E Cream Puffs, which it intended to be the signature dessert of the fair. The Big E features the cream puffs in some of its advertising; additionally, the cream puffs have been featured on local and national TV shows, including Live with Regis and Kelly
Live with Regis and Kelly
Live! with Kelly is a syndicated American television morning talk show, hosted by Kelly Ripa. The show has aired since 1983 in New York City and 1988 nationwide. Tony Pigg has been the show's announcer since its inception...
. This was followed by the introduction in 2004 of "The Big (Chocolate) Eclairs" and, in 2006 of Big E Chocolate Chip Cookies, made with Ghirardelli
Ghirardelli Chocolate Company
The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is a United States division of Swiss candymaker Lindt & Sprüngli. The company was founded by and is named after Italian chocolatier Domingo Ghirardelli, who, after working in South America, moved to California...
chocolate. In 2009, they introduced the "Craz-E Burger", which is a bacon cheeseburger on a glazed donut rather than a bun.
Vendors
Small shops are a primary attraction of the Big E. Vendors can be found across most of the fairgrounds, selling items ranging from state-specific trinketTrinket
A trinket is a small showy ornament or something that is a mere trifle. Trinket may also refer to:* Trinket Island, an island of the Nicobar Islands**Trinket , a village on the island...
s and regional memorabilia, to household goods and clothing and accessories. Many vendors set up shops selling the same goods in multiple areas of the fair in order to attract as many customers as possible.
The Better Living Center is one of the largest vendor areas, featuring household wares, home improvement services, cookware, and health supplements. The International House is home to vendors selling items from other cultures, particularly those with a common connection with many New Englanders, particularly Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
imported goods.
Concerts
The Comcast Arena Stage provides an open-air performing area with seating for over 6,000 people. Each weekend, big name bands and musicians come to perform on this stage. There are three ticketed shows (admission to the fair is included with the purchase of a concert ticket as long as it is purchased before the date of the show) and there are a number of free shows which are seated on a first-come, first-served basis.The Court of Honor Stage, located right in the heart of the fairgrounds, also offers free concerts that can be seen just by passing by the stage. The music can be enjoyed from a distance or on one of the many benches that surround the stage.
Other attractions
- Storrowton Village, where fairgoers can experience New England life from the 19th century
- The MidwayMidway (fair)A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
, home to carnival ridesAmusement rideAmusement rides are large mechanical devices that move people to create enjoyment. They are frequently found at amusement parks, traveling carnivals, and funfairs.-Notable types:*Afterburner*Ali Baba*Balloon Race*Booster...
and games and operated by North American Midway Entertainment. The Giant Slide is 46 feet high and 135 feet long. It was originally erected near Gate 5 in 1969 but moved to its current spot behind the Better Living Center in 1983. http://www.masslive.com/springfield/republican/index.ssf?/base/news-30/1286003866119960.xml&coll=1 - A daily Mardi GrasMardi GrasThe terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
-style parade - The Eastern States ColiseumThe Big E ColiseumThe Eastern States Coliseum, better known as the Big E Coliseum, is a 5,900-seat multi-purpose arena in West Springfield, Massachusetts.-History:The Big E Coliseum was built in 1926...
, more colloquially known as the "Big E Coliseum," an arena on the grounds where numerous special events are held and formerly a professional ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
venue.
Other uses
The fairgrounds are used for other events throughout the year, including- Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby ShowAmherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby ShowThe Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show is an annual show, covering Railroads, Railroad Museums, Model Railroading, and railroad related toys, held at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts by the Amherst Railway Society at the end of January and attended...
- Springfield RV Camping & Outdoor ShowSpringfield RV Camping & Outdoor ShowThe Springfield RV Camping & Outdoor Show is a show that is held annually since 1963 at the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts during President's Day Weekend...
- Massachusetts TwistersMassachusetts TwistersThe Massachusetts Twisters were an American indoor soccer was based in West Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Founded in 2003, the team played in every American Indoor Soccer League season and played one season in the National Indoor Soccer League....
National Indoor Soccer LeagueNational Indoor Soccer LeagueThe Major Indoor Soccer League , formerly known as the National Indoor Soccer League, is an indoor soccer league which began play in 2008. It is the third league to be known as the Major Indoor Soccer League...
home games - Society of Manufacturing EngineersSociety of Manufacturing EngineersThe Society of Manufacturing Engineers is a non-profit organization.-History of the Society:Founded in 1932 with 33 members, the organization was originally named The Society of Tool Engineers . A year later, it was renamed the American Society of Tool Engineers...
EASTEC exposition - Springfield Sportsman show
- The Equine Affaire