The Eastern States Exposition

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The Big E
The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts in 2007
Status	Active
Genre	Agricultural show
Begins	Second Friday after Labor Day
Ends	Seventeen days after it opens
Frequency	Annual
Venue	Eastern States Exposition
Location(s)	1305 Memorial Ave. West Springfield, MA 01089
Inaugurated	1917 (1917)
Founder	Joshua L. Brooks
Attendance	1,603,354 (2022)[1]
Area	New England
Website	thebige.com

The Big E, formally known as The Eastern States Exposition, is an annual fair in West Springfield, Massachusetts, which opens on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for seventeen days.

It is billed as "New England's Great State fair," the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the fifth-largest fair in the nation.^[2] The Big E is inclusive of all six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

History

The first Eastern States Exposition occurred in October 1916 in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and was called the Eastern States Agricultural and Industrial Exposition. All six New England states, plus Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, participated.^[3] Joshua L. Brooks conceived it to help promote agriculture and educate young people with the skills and knowledge needed in agricultural vocations. The Exposition featured displays of innovations in the industry and held contests designed to encourage farmers to better themselves through competition.^[4]

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America partnered with the Exposition to organize youth competitions, in which prizes were awarded for best produce, jams, breads, raised hens, planting techniques, and other categories. The youth component drew competitors from all ten participating states and was deemed "a triumph in a new type of education."^[3] An eight-day camp program was established at Springfield's Camp Vail for all youths who placed first or second in judged competitions.^[5]

The ten-state format continued into the 1920s, with the month of the Exposition moved to September. According to officials, the "Eastern States movement" aimed to make the ten states "more nearly self-supporting food-wise and possess a large, prosperous and contented farming population." Emphasis on the development of young farmers continued, with the establishment of "Baby Beef Clubs" in 1920 to help youths buy, raise, exhibit, and sell livestock at the event.^[6]

The exposition grew beyond agriculture and industry within its first few years. In 1923, the Massachusetts Department of Health built a model schoolhouse on the fairgrounds, offering free medical and dental examinations.^[7] The rise of the eugenics movement in the 1920s led to the inclusion of "Fitter Family" contests, in which prizes were awarded to individuals and families based on appearance and ethnic background.^[8][9]Exhibits on Native American culture were added, including a tipi exhibit hosted by Reginald and Gladys Laubin in 1926.^[10] Entertainment elements were added by the 1930s, including demonstrations of "automobile polo" (featuring acrobats playing polo while driving Ford cars) and competitive performances by high school bands.^[11][12]

By 1940, the exposition had focused more on the six New England states. At that year's horse show in West Springfield, competitors from Delaware, New Jersey, and New York were placed in the open classes instead of the New England division.^[13]

In 1966, for the fiftieth anniversary, the fair began marketing itself as "The Big E." The "E" stands for what organizers said was an emphasis on "entertainment, education and excitement."^[14]

Since the first fair, only World War I and World War II, during which the military requisitioned the grounds as storage depots, and the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted the annual tradition.^[4][15]

Attractions

Avenue of States

The Avenue of States contains life-size replicas of the six original New England

These buildings feature exhibits and vendors that exemplify the heritage, food, and traditions of each state as a way of promoting

Much like national

The Big E 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.^{[citation needed]}

In keeping with the fair's agricultural roots, there are many

Other animals, such as those found at petting zoos or in the Big E Circus Spectacular, are also featured at The Big E. 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 dough, corn dogs, and lemonade. Aside from the state houses, food sellers can be found throughout the main vendor areas and around the perimeter of the fairgrounds.

Since 2000, The Big E has endeavored to introduce its own signature foods. This began in 2002 when The Big E introduced Big E

The Better Living Center is the largest vendor area, featuring household wares, home improvement services, cookware, and health supplements. The International Building is home to vendors selling items from other cultures, in particular those with a common connection with many New Englanders, in particular Irish and Italian imported goods.

Concerts

The Xfinity Arena 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 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) as well as a number of free shows that 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.

Other attractions

• Storrowton Village, where fairgoers can experience New England life from the 19th century
• The
  rides 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.^[18]
• A daily Mardi Gras-style parade
• The
  Eastern States Coliseum, more colloquially known as the "Big E Coliseum," an arena on the grounds where numerous equestrian contests and other special events are held. The building was formerly a professional ice hockey
  venue.
• Animatronic shows, namely Melody Farm Follies in the "Farm-A-Rama" section and the Billy Bob's Bear-A-Dise traveling
  Rock-afire Explosion
  show.

• Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show
• Equine Affaire
• Northeastern Poultry Congress
• Society of Manufacturing Engineers
  EASTEC exposition
• Springfield RV Camping & Outdoor Show
• Springfield Sportsmen's Show
• Wedding & Bridal Expo^[19]

In January 2013, the Exposition joined with

Further reading

• Gagnon, Frances M. (1997). Eastern States Exposition, 1916-1996: an illustrated history at 75 years. West Springfield, Mass.: Eastern States Exposition.
  ISBN 0-9660487-0-9
  .
• Phaneuf, Wayne E. (2016). Eastern States Exposition Centennial: a century of fun at the Big E. Springfield, Mass.: The Republican.
  ISBN 978-1-59725-639-1
  .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Big E.

• The Big E
• Eastern States Exposition, the owner and operator of the fair grounds

42°5′29.1″N 72°37′7.1″W / 42.091417°N 72.618639°W / 42.091417; -72.618639