The Big E 2018

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Official Website:	The Big E 2018
Location:	1305 Memorial Avenue, W. Springfield, MA, 01089 map
Phone:	(413) 737-2443
Dates:	Friday, September 14, 2018 - Sunday, September 30, 2018
Hours:	Hours Vary see below
Ages:	Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Adults
In/Outdoor:	Indoor, Outdoor
Cost:	$$$ see below
Category:	Fairs & Festivals

The Big E, or Eastern States Exposition, is a New England autumn tradition and the ninth largest fair in North America.

Each September, participants, vendors, entertainers and guests come from all over the eastern seaboard as well as throughout the country to enjoy this festive event.

View this year's Entertainment Lineup.

There's no better place to enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors of the fall season in New England than at The Big E. It's quite an extravaganza with free top name entertainment, major exhibits, The Big E Super Circus, the Avenue of States, dazzling thrill shows, New England history and agriculture, animals, rides, shopping, crafts, a daily parade and a Mardi Gras parade and foods from around the world for 17 glorious days during New England's most colorful season.

At its core is the engaging Avenue of States, an educational thoroughfare featuring replicas of all six New England statehouses. This inventive feature allows guests to take a walking tour of New England without leaving the fairgrounds, indulging in sights, sounds and tastes ranging from tart New Hampshire cider to sharp Vermont cheddar.

Complementing this regional immersion course are satellite attractions like the Harvest New England Demonstration Kitchen, where celebrity chefs will preside over a full schedule of cooking demonstrations, food samplings and recipe contests.

For those whose loyalties lie further south, the expo offers daily Mardi Gras parades, transporting contemporary Puritans to the Big Easy through exposure to seven extravagant floats.

Hours

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Main Gates open daily at 8:00am
Most exhibits are open 10:00am - 10 :00pm
The Avenue of States hours are 10:00am - 9:00pm
Midway is open daily from 11:00am - 10:00pm, Sat. & Sun. 10:00am - 11:00pm.
The Storrowton Village Museum hours are 10:00am - 9:00pm.
Village craft area open until 10:00pm.

Cost

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Advance, daily and weekend prices vary.View Rates Parking: $10; Food Coupon Booklets & Midway Vouchers available

Tips

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The Big E is infamous for large crowds and traffic nightmares, esp. at the end of the day. Plan accordingly!
Fairgoers are not allowed to bring their pets through the gates during The Big E. Exception: Service animals.

Reviews

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Great Family Tradition

We went to the Big E in W. Springfield this week . We have't missed a year in 46 years. We live just north of Boston and it is a great trip . This time of year, when the leaves are turning, it so beautiful and the weather is and was perfect for strolling through the grounds of the fair. There is so much to see and eat. Each New England State has a replica of their statehouse which you go through and they feature different products which are associated with that state. This is only one small feature of the Big E. They have performers on stage. They have animals etc. for the little ones to enjoy. They have an entire area of amusements and games.There is really too many events etc. to mention. This is but a few..It is only there until the 30th of Sept. One has to see it for themselves to experience this great event.

Big E One-Ring Circus

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the circus at the Big E. The featured act was 'Quick Change' and they were unbelievable. Many folks may have seen them as finalists on the TV show 'America Has Talent'. The husband and wife team amaze you with how they can change what they are wearing in seconds, yet it is virtually impossible to understand how they do it. We also saw a trained elephant act, two clown acts, an adorable mock lion act that featured poodles dressed as the king of beasts, and a marvelous trapeze act that had me holding my breath. Although the show only lasts about 45 minutes, it brought me back to my childhood vists to the circus under the Big Top. It wasn't flashy like the big circuses being showcased in colliseums around the country today. It was simple and well worth waiting in a short line to get in to see it. Best of all, there was no extra charge to get in. The price of the general admission allowed you a seat at the circus as well. Just get there at least a half hour before showtime because seats are limited.