Greetings from... West Springfield, Massachusetts and The Big E! I hope you're excited, because I know I am! This is my first "Greetings From..." story and I'm happy to be talking about one of my favorite fairs. The Big E is put on by the Eastern States Exposition, "a not-for-profit corporation committed to excellence in providing year-round opportunities for the development and promotion of agriculture, education, industry and family entertainment while preserving our New England heritage", as described on their website.
The Big E goes on for 17 days each fall in West Springfield- that is, until this year. The fair has been canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, so looking back on my favorite things from the fair as I write this blog is bittersweet. Hopefully it'll make us all even more excited about going next year though! Wine tasting, agriculture, fried food, butter sculptures, carnival rides, live music, gourmet treats, parades, Beer Gardens, boutique vendors, Storrowton Village; the list of attractions goes on! So, without further ado, let's dive in!
The Food
Depending on which entrance to the fairgrounds you use, one of the first things you'll come upon at The Big-E is the Wine and Cheese Barn. Those wineries that offer tastings are also eligible for prizes. One of 2019's big winners was Raven Hollow Winery for their Apple Cranberry Flirt. My favorite from the day I visited the Wine and Cheese Barn was Amherst Farm Winery.
Throughout the fairgrounds there are a plethora of food vendors: smokehouse brisket, Chinese and Greek favorites, snow cones and fried dough, and many more options! Is your mouth watering yet? Two of the most well-known Big E treats are the giant Cream Puffs and Eclairs from The Big E Bakery. And when I say giant, I mean giant. Just check out the picture below!
Lastly, it's necessary to take a trip to my favorite part of The Big E fairgrounds- the Avenue of States. There are six grandiose buildings dedicated to each of the states in New England: Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Each building is filled with the food, vendors, and tourism booths that best represent that state. You can get great seafood in Rhode Island, learn about Cranberry Bogs in Massachusetts, and test the best of Vermont's cheddar. The Avenue of States is where I like to head for my lunch and/or dinner. Last year I went to the Massachusetts Building and got a Maple Slushie from the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association and a Pilgrim Sandwich with Butternut Squash & Apple Soup from Main Street Deli (of Agawam, MA) and Kettle Cuisine. For dessert I went to the Maine Building and got Blueberry Pie from the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine and a large, coconut-flavored Whoopie Pie from Wicked Whoopies.
The Big E Bakery's Giant Cream Puffs Photo Courtesy of The Big E
The Agriculture
Showcasing agriculture is a major part of The Big E. There are hundreds of farm animals, livestock, giant vegetables, and many other 4-H exhibits to see, many of which participate in the competitions at The Big E. Another huge agricultural draw is the Butter Sculpture, an annual display since 1996. Pounds upon pounds of butter are donated by Agrimark/Cabot Creamery and the sculptors are Jim Victor and Marie Pelton. Last year's sculpture featured a young boy pulling a wagon for a parade. On the wagon were items that represented multiple milestones being celebrated at the fair; the 100th Anniversary of the Massachusetts State Building, the 100th Anniversary of Cabot Creamery, and Chocolate Milk Day. Last year I particularly enjoyed seeing the Butter Sculpture, watching a working sheepdog demonstration, and visiting the llamas and alpacas.
Butter Sculpture Photo Courtesy of The Big E
The Rides
Rides are not usually my favorite part of a fair (the food is, as you can tell by the long, detailed description above), but The Big E offers many Midway games and rides for thrill seekers. Take home a stuffed bear for your loved one from a ring toss game or take a ride on the Power Surge. There is also a designated section for young riders and game-enthusiasts, Kiddieland. Two low-stress rides to definitely check out though, are the Double Decker Merry Go Round and the Giant Ferris Wheel.
Photo Courtesy of MassLive
The Entertainment
There are three concert stages at The Big E and the best part is that concerts are free with admission! You can, however, pay extra if you would like to guarantee premium reserved seats for a particular concert. Past performers include Beyoncé and Destiny's Child, Reba, and Blake Shelton.
In addition to the concerts, you can catch entertainment during the daily parades. The Big E Daily Parade happens every afternoon and the Mardi Gras Parade happens every evening. The Daily Parade features marching bands from local high schools and colleges and the famous Budweiser Clydesdale Horses, among other things. The Mardi Gras Parade lives up to its name with giant, vibrant Mardi Gras-themed floats and beads flying out to the crowd. The parades come together on the weekend for the Grande Mardi Gras Parade.
The Shopping
The Big E is filled with shopping opportunities, which is perfect if you want to get a head start on Christmas/holiday gifts. There are five places in which to shop: the Better Living Center, Craft Common, Outdoor Exhibitors, Shops at Storrowton, the State Buildings, and the Young Building. You are bound to find something with all of the options! I still wear one of my favorite purchases from a few years ago every fall; a black and white, plaid, hand-woven poncho/shawl.
The Village
Last but certainly not least, on the grounds of The Big E and Eastern States Exposition is Storrowton Village Museum, a collection of 18th and 19th century buildings gathered around a town green to emulate a historic village. The Village operates all year round, providing Museum Tours, STEAM Tours, Storrowton Ghost Tours, and History & Harvest Tours. Additionally, they have their own shopping area (as mentioned above) and special events throughout the year.
I've really enjoyed this trip down memory lane, especially since The Big E has been canceled this year due to COVID-19. I hope you enjoyed reading about this amazing fair yourself and are considering going if you haven't been already! The dates for next year have already been announced, so put it in your calendar: September 17th - October 3rd, 2021. Certain buildings and events on the Eastern States Exposition/The Big E grounds are still operating with COVID-19 restrictions, so be sure to check out their website for these details. I will be providing links below to the things I've mentioned in the blog.
Monday I'll be back with another Mac Weekly Highlight. Talk to you then and enjoy the Labor Day weekend!
~Claire
The Big E Website: https://www.thebige.com/
Eastern States Exposition Website: http://www.easternstatesexposition.com/
Amherst Farm Winery: https://www.amherstfarmwinery.com/
Massachusetts Maple Producers Association: https://www.massmaple.org/
Main Street Deli: https://www.mainstreet-deli.com/
Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine: https://extension.umaine.edu/blueberries/commission-advisory-members-researchers/
Wicked Whoopies: http://www.wickedwhoopies.com/
Storrowton Village Museum: https://www.storrowtonvillage.com/
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