The Eastern States Exposition facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 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)
Area	New England

The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is a huge yearly fair. It takes place in West Springfield, Massachusetts. The fair starts on the second Friday after Labor Day and lasts for seventeen days.

It is called "New England's Great State Fair". It is the biggest farming event on the eastern side of the U.S.. It is also the fifth-largest fair in the whole country! The Big E celebrates all six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Discover The Big E's History

A postcard promoting the fair around 1930–1945

The first Eastern States Exposition happened in October 1916. It was called the Eastern States Agricultural and Industrial Exposition. All six New England states joined in. Also, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania took part.

Joshua L. Brooks created the fair. He wanted to help farming and teach young people. He aimed to give them skills for jobs in agriculture. The fair showed new ideas in farming. It also held contests to help farmers improve.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of America worked with the fair. They set up contests for young people. Prizes were given for the best produce, jams, and more. Young people from all ten states competed. This part of the fair was seen as a "triumph in a new type of education." A special camp was even set up for top winners.

The fair continued with ten states into the 1920s. It moved to September each year. The goal was to help these ten states grow more of their own food. They also wanted to have many happy farmers. The fair kept helping young farmers. They started "Baby Beef Clubs" in 1920. These clubs helped kids raise and sell animals at the event.

The fair quickly grew beyond just farming. In 1923, the Massachusetts Department of Health built a model schoolhouse. It offered free health checks. Later, exhibits about Native American culture were added. These included a tipi exhibit in 1926. By the 1930s, fun entertainment was added. This included car stunts and high school band shows.

By 1940, the fair focused more on the six New England states. Competitors from other states joined open contests. But they were not part of the New England division.

In 1966, for its 50th birthday, the fair started calling itself "The Big E." The "E" stands for "entertainment, education, and excitement."

The fair has happened every year since it began. Only World War I, World War II, and the COVID-19 pandemic stopped it. During the wars, the military used the fairgrounds for storage.

Exciting Attractions at The Big E

Avenue of States: A Tour of New England

Avenue of States

The Avenue of States is a special part of the fair. It has buildings that look like the six New England statehouses. There is also a New England Grange House. These buildings are not exact copies. But they are inspired by the original statehouses.

Each building shows off the culture, food, and traditions of its state. This helps promote tourism. For example, the Maine House sells lobster and blueberry treats. The Vermont House has Ben and Jerry's ice cream and maple syrup. Vendors also sell local crafts. The Maine baked potatoes are very popular. People often wait in long lines to buy them. The Connecticut building sells Timex watches and Lego toys. The Rhode Island building offers Del's Lemonade and clamcakes.

These state buildings are like small embassies. Each state owns its building and the land it sits on. Police from each state help manage their building during the fair. You can even buy lottery tickets for each state's lottery there.

Farm Animals and Livestock Shows

The Big E still celebrates its farming roots. More than 7,100 young people from 4-H and FFA take part. There are also 1,100 other exhibitors. You can see many educational displays.

The fair has many livestock displays. The The Big E Coliseum hosts daily horse shows. The Mallary Complex has farm animals. You can see goats, chickens, pigs, and sheep.

Other animals are also at The Big E. You might find them in petting zoos or the Big E Circus Spectacular. Young people also show their animals in 4-H contests. There is even a sale of 4-H steers.

Delicious Fair Food

You can find many New England foods at The Big E. There are also classic fair treats. These include fried dough, corn dogs, and lemonade. Food sellers are all over the fairgrounds.

Since 2000, The Big E has created its own special foods. In 2002, they introduced Big E Cream Puffs. These became the fair's signature dessert. The cream puffs are even in some of the fair's ads. They have been shown on TV shows too. In 2004, "The Big (Chocolate) Eclairs" were added. In 2006, Big E Chocolate Chip Cookies came out. They are made with Ghirardelli chocolate. In 2009, they created the "Craz-E Burger." This is a bacon cheeseburger served on a glazed donut instead of a bun!

Shopping and Vendors

Shopping is a big part of The Big E. Vendors are located across most of the fairgrounds. They sell many different items. You can find state-specific trinkets and regional memorabilia. They also sell home goods, clothes, and accessories. Many vendors have several shops to reach more customers.

The Better Living Center is the largest shopping area. It has household items, home improvement services, and health products. The International Building sells goods from other cultures. You can find items from Irish and Italian traditions there.

Live Music and Concerts

The Xfinity Arena is an outdoor stage. It has seats for over 6,000 people. Big bands and musicians perform here every weekend. Some shows require tickets. These tickets include fair admission if bought early. Many other shows are free. Seating for free shows is first-come, first-served.

The Court of Honor Stage also offers free concerts. It is right in the middle of the fairgrounds.

Springfield cowgirls, around 1930

Other Fun Attractions

• Storrowton Village: Here, you can see what New England life was like in the 1800s.
• The Midway: This area has carnival rides and games. It is run by North American Midway Entertainment. The Giant Slide is 46 feet tall and 135 feet long. It was first built in 1969.
• Daily Parade: Enjoy a fun Mardi Gras-style parade every day.
• The Eastern States Coliseum: This arena hosts many horse contests and special events. It used to be a place for professional ice hockey.
• Animatronic Shows: See Melody Farm Follies in the "Farm-A-Rama" section. Also, check out Billy Bob's Bear-A-Dise show.

Other Uses of the Fairgrounds

The fairgrounds are used for other events all year long. These include:

• 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

Annual Visitors to The Big E