The Eastern States Exposition

Last updated
The Big E
Big E fair.jpg
The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts in 2007
StatusActive
Genre Agricultural show
BeginsSecond Friday after Labor Day
EndsSeventeen days after it opens
FrequencyAnnual
VenueEastern States Exposition
Location(s)1305 Memorial Ave. West Springfield, MA 01089
Inaugurated1917 (1917)
FounderJoshua L. Brooks
Attendance1,427,234 (2023) [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.

Contents

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 fair promoted on a period post card, c. 1930-1945 Greetings from Eastern States Exposition -- Mass. state building, Maine state building, Vermont state building, New Hampshire state building.jpg
The fair promoted on a period post card, c. 1930–1945

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 moving 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]

Newspaper ad for the Eastern States Exposition, 1938 Eastern States Exposition advertisement for 1938.svg
Newspaper ad for the Eastern States Exposition, 1938

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 its 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 have interrupted the annual tradition. [4] [15]

Attractions

Avenue of States

Avenue of States Avenue of States, The Big E, West Springfield MA.jpg
Avenue of States

The Avenue of States contains life-size replicas of the six original New England statehouses, as well as the New England Grange House. In actuality, the state houses are not replicas but rather modeled after original state houses in most instances. The buildings for New Hampshire and Vermont bear no resemblance to their original state houses.

These buildings feature exhibits and vendors that exemplify the heritage, food, and traditions of each state as a way of promoting tourism. For example, the Maine House offers lobster, blueberry, and baked potatoes, while the Vermont House has Ben and Jerry's ice cream, maple syrup, and Cabot cheese. [16] Vendors also sell locally-made products and handicrafts. [16] The Maine baked potatoes have become an icon, with buyers regularly joining long lines during the fair's busier periods. The Connecticut building supplies Timex watches as well as Lego, which has its US headquarters in that state. The Rhode Island building features Del's Lemonade [16] and Blount Seafood Clamcakes and Chowder, as well as books from Rhode Island author C. M. Eddy, Jr., who has links back to H. P. Lovecraft and Houdini in Rhode Island.

Much like national embassies, the statehouses and the land on which they sit are owned by the respective jurisdiction. 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 of the six lotteries can be purchased among the houses.

Livestock and animals

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 livestock displays at The Big E. The Big E Coliseum features daily horse shows, while the Mallary Complex houses livestock and other farm animals, including goats, chickens, pigs, and sheep.

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 Cream Puffs, which it intended to be the signature dessert of the Fair. [17] The Big E features the cream puffs in some of its advertising; in addition, 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.

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 trinkets and regional memorabilia to household goods, 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 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.

Springfield cowgirls, c. 1930 Springfield cowgirls.jpg
Springfield cowgirls, c. 1930

Other attractions

Other uses

The fairgrounds are used for other events throughout the year, including

In January 2013, the Exposition joined with Hard Rock International in a proposal to build a casino and hotel on 40 acres of the fairground in a bid for the single casino license available in Western Massachusetts. [20] In a town referendum on September 10, the voters of West Springfield voted the project down.

Annual visitors

YearVisitors
20231,427,234 [1]
20221,603,354 [21]
20211,498,774 [1]
20200 [15]
20191,629,527 [1]
20181,543,470 [22]
20171,525,553 [22]
20161,418,042 [23]
20151,345,961 [24]
20141,498,605 [25]
20131,481,917 [25]
20121,365,896 [26]
20111,201,428 [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State fair</span> Annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. states population

A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota State Fair</span> Annual event in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, U.S.

The Minnesota State Fair is the state fair of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Also known by its slogan, "The Great Minnesota Get-Together", it is the largest state fair in the United States by average daily attendance and the second-largest state fair in the United States by total attendance, trailing only the State Fair of Texas, which generally runs twice as long as the Minnesota State Fair. The state fairgrounds, adjacent the Saint Paul campus of the University of Minnesota, are in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, midway between the state's capital city of Saint Paul and the adjacent city of Roseville, near the Como Park and Saint Anthony Park neighborhoods of Saint Paul. Residents of the state and region come to the fair to be entertained, exhibit their best livestock, show off their abilities in a variety of fields including art and cooking, learn about new products and services, and eat many different types of food—often on a stick. The Minnesota State Fair was named the best state fair in the United States in 2015 by readers of USA Today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Carolina State Fair</span> American state fair

The North Carolina State Fair is an American state fair and agricultural exposition held annually in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1853, the fair is organized by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It attracts around a million visitors over eleven days in mid-October.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Fair</span> Annual fair held in London, Ontario, Canada

The Western Fair is a fair held annually in London, Ontario, Canada in early September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Fair</span> 13-day showcase of agriculture and technology

The New York State Fair, also known as the Great New York State Fair, is a 13-day showcase of agriculture, entertainment, education, and technology. With midway rides, concessionaires, exhibits, and concerts, it has become New York's largest annual event and an end-of-summer tradition for hundreds of thousands of families from all corners of the state. The first fair took place in Syracuse in 1841, and took permanent residence there in 1890. It is the oldest and one of the largest state fairs in the United States, with over one million visitors annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lane County Fair</span>

Lane County Fair is a fair that is held in the middle of the summer every year, at Eugene, Oregon, and it features cuisine, entertainment, and music. Excellent family entertainment, cuisine, and artwork can be found at the Lane County Fair. A Lane County Agricultural Society was established in 1858, and on October 9, it hosted its inaugural show, which was still not regarded as fair. In 1860, a state agricultural association was established, and it was planned to host a state fair. From October 3 to October 4, 1860, a state fair was conducted close to Oregon City. On October 9 and 10, 1861, there was another fair. Finally, the inaugural "Lane County Fair" was held for three days on September 25, 1884. Excellent family entertainment is available at the Lane County Fair, including performances, rides, games, and fun. Examine the arts and crafts, agricultural, and animal exhibits in the exhibition hall. Enjoy the fair classics like cotton candy, elephant ears, BBQ, and ice cream from your favorite food vendors. There will be a big Ferris wheel at the fair that will allow you to see Eugene and the fairgrounds from above. horses, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, and poultry will be presented and evaluated for both adult and juvenile competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois State Fair</span> Annual agricultural festival in Springfield, Illinois, US

The Illinois State Fair is an annual festival, centering on the theme of agriculture, hosted by the U.S. state of Illinois in the state capital, Springfield. The state fair has been celebrated almost every year since 1853. Currently, the fair is held annually at the Illinois State Fairgrounds over an 11-day period in mid-August of each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon State Fair</span> United States historic place

The Oregon State Fair is the official state fair of the U.S. state of Oregon. It takes place every August–September at the 185-acre (0.75 km2) Oregon State Fairgrounds located in north Salem, the state capital, as it has almost every year since 1862. In 2006, responsibility for running the fair was delegated to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department, and the division is now known as the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center (OSFEC), which holds events on the fairgrounds year-round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Big Fresno Fair</span> Annual fair held in Fresno, California, USA

The Big Fresno Fair, founded in 1884, is an annual fair held at the Fresno County Fairgrounds. The Big Fresno Fair is managed by the 21st District Agricultural Association, an entity of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Division of Fairs & Expositions. It is the largest annual event in the San Joaquin Valley, attracting around 600,000 people each October during its twelve-day run featuring exhibits, a livestock show, live horse racing, musical entertainment, educational programs and more. The Fair provides a link between urban and rural California, serving as a tool to educate visitors on the region's rich agricultural industry. The mission of The Big Fresno Fair is to "Educate, Celebrate and Have Fun".

The Tulsa State Fair is an annual event held at Expo Square in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The fair takes place in late September and lasts 11 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia National Fair</span>

The Georgia National Fair is a state-sponsored fair that is held every October on the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Georgia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Idaho State Fair</span>

The Eastern Idaho State Fair is an American state fair held annually the first week of September in Blackfoot, Idaho. It is one of three annual state fairs in Idaho; the others being the Western Idaho Fair, which is held in Boise, the state capital, and the Northern Idaho State fair, held in Coeur d’Alene. The gates to the fairgrounds open on Labor Day weekend, the first week in September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Florida Fair</span> Annual city fair in West Palm Beach, Florida

The South Florida Fair is an annual fair held in West Palm Beach, Florida every January. The fairgrounds site occupies 100 acres and is located on the site of the former Palm Beach Speedway at the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Fairground Road, adjacent to the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre. In 2012, the fair celebrated its 100th anniversary since its founding in 1912. Nearly 500,000 people attend the South Florida Fair each year.

The Arizona State Fairgrounds is a permanent fairgrounds on McDowell Road, Encanto Village, within the city of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is currently used yearly to host the Arizona State Fair and the Maricopa County Fair, as well as for other events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California State Fair</span> Annual state fair in Sacramento, California

The California State Fair (CSF) is the annual state fair for the state of California. The fair is held at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California. The Fair is a 17-day event showcasing California's industries, agriculture, and diversity of people. The CSF features blue-ribbon animal displays, culinary delights and competitions, live music concerts, a carnival, fireworks, and other family fun. In 2018, officials reported daily attendance drew between 20,000 and 60,000 people per day and about $8.5 million of food and beverage expenditures. The fair is policed by the California Exposition and State Fair Police.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iowa State Fairgrounds</span> United States historic place

The Iowa State Fairgrounds is located on the east side of Des Moines, Iowa. It annually hosts the Iowa State Fair in late summer. The state fair was begun in Iowa in 1854 and the current fairgrounds were established in 1886. The fairgrounds were listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 as the Iowa State Fair and Exposition Grounds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaska State Fair</span> Annual state fair held in Palmer, Alaska

The Alaska State Fair is an annual state fair held in Palmer, Alaska, United States. The fairgrounds are located approximately one hour north of Anchorage and draw visitors from the entire Municipality of Anchorage and beyond for the popular 1½-week event beginning at the end of August. The fair is famous for its record setting giant vegetables and picturesque location at the foot of the Chugach Mountains in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. The event features amusement rides, food concessions, competitive exhibits, carnival games, live performances and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Utah State Fair</span> United States historic place

The Utah State Fair is held at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The fairgrounds are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The fair takes place each year starting on the first Thursday after Labor Day and lasts for 11 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Washington State Fair</span>

The Central Washington State Fair is a state fair in Yakima County, Washington, United States held annually in September. The fair is held in Yakima, Washington at the State Fair Park. The fair was first held in 1892.

The DuQuoin State Fair is an annual festival, centering on the themes of agriculture and country music, hosted by the U.S. state of Illinois on an approximately 1,600 acres (650 ha) fairground site adjacent to the southern Illinois town of Du Quoin. The state fair has been celebrated almost every year since 1923. Currently, the fair is held annually over an 11-day period concluding on Labor Day of each year. However, in 1927, the fair opened on Labor Day.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Big E Attendance Records". www.thebige.com.
  2. ↑ "2019 Top 50 Fairs" (PDF).
  3. 1 2 Hart, William R. (November 2, 1916). "A Triumph in a New Type of Education". The Journal of Education. 84 (16): 439. doi:10.1177/002205741608401611. JSTOR   42807826. S2CID   187119425.
  4. 1 2 "History of the Eastern States Exposition". Eastern States Exposition.
  5. ↑ "Eastern States Exposition". The Journal of Education. 90 (18): 490–491. November 1, 1919. JSTOR   42767475.
  6. ↑ Benson, O. H. (February 9, 1922). "The Baby Beef Club in New England". The Journal of Education. 95 (6): 149–150. doi:10.1177/002205742209500607. JSTOR   42806062. S2CID   165989485.
  7. ↑ "The Eastern States Exposition: Exhibit of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health". The Journal of Education. 98 (18): 494–495. November 15, 1923. doi:10.1177/002205742309801809. JSTOR   42767909. S2CID   220776987.
  8. ↑ Selden, Steven (June 2005). "Transforming Better Babies into Fitter Families: Archival Resources and the History of the American Eugenics Movement, 1908-1930". Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society. 149 (2): 199–225. JSTOR   4598925. PMID   16208870.
  9. ↑ Brave, Ralph; Sylva, Kathryn (Summer 2007). "Exhibiting Eugenics: Response and Resistance to a Hidden History". The Public Historian. 29 (3): 33–51. doi:10.1525/tph.2007.29.3.33. JSTOR   10.1525/tph.2007.29.3.33. PMID   18175450.
  10. ↑ Ellis, Clyde (Autumn 2008). "'More Real than the Indians Themselves': The Early Years of the Indian Lore Movement in the United States". Montana: The Magazine of Western History. 58 (3): 3–22. JSTOR   25485733.
  11. ↑ Baron, Michael (Fall 1969). "The Answer Is in the Media". RQ. 9 (1): 30–31. JSTOR   25823559.
  12. ↑ "Eastern Conference". Music Supervisors' Journal. 199999999 (2): 52–53. December 1931. doi:10.2307/3383364. JSTOR   3383364. S2CID   221047968.
  13. ↑ Buell, Theodore E. (September 16, 1940). "28 Nutmeg Entries At Springfield". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. Retrieved September 13, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Eastern States Exposition: It's Old but Getting Younger". North Adams, Massachusetts: North Adams Transcript. 2 September 1966. p. 11. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  15. 1 2 Kaufman, Jill (June 30, 2020). "Big E Canceled For 2020, Three Months Before A Planned Opening Day". New England Public Media.
  16. 1 2 3 Sanzo, Taylor (2022-09-23). "The Big E State Buildings: Here are 5 things to see from New England's 6 states". masslive. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  17. ↑ O'Malley, Nick (2022-09-18). "First time at The Big E? Here are the 10 best foods to try". masslive. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  18. ↑ "Springfield, Massachusetts - MassLive.com". www.masslive.com.
  19. ↑ Nanton, Steven (January 2023). "More than 150 vendors, companies, designers and planners filled the Better Living Center for the 2-day show". masslive. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  20. ↑ Mark Arsenault; Martin Finucane (January 11, 2013). "Hard Rock unveils plans for casino at Big E fairgrounds". The Boston Globe . Retrieved 2013-01-11.
  21. ↑ "Here's how many people attended The Big E this year". masslive. October 3, 2022.
  22. 1 2 "Big E Attendance Records". May 2, 2019. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019.
  23. ↑ "The Big E sets attendance records with 1.4 million attendees". October 3, 2016.
  24. ↑ DeForge, Jeanette (October 5, 2015). "Big E ends 2015 fair with 1.3 million attendance over 17 days". masslive.
  25. 1 2 "The 2014 Big E Breaks Attendance Record". September 29, 2014.
  26. ↑ Román, Elizabeth (September 29, 2013). "The Big E breaks its 2012 attendance record with 1,376,796 visitors". masslive.
  27. ↑ E, The Big (October 5, 2011). "The Big E: 2011 Big E Wrap-up!".

Further reading


42°5′29.1″N72°37′7.1″W / 42.091417°N 72.618639°W / 42.091417; -72.618639

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.