The Big E

October Snow Disaster

2011-11-04T10:30:00.001-04:00

It’s Friday, Nov. 4 – day 6 or 7, depending on how you’re counting – of the power outage caused by an October 29 snowstorm. We are lucky to have power, phones, internet and email here at work. However, looking out my window, I watch power trucks from as far away as Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida and yes, Wichita, Kansas, drive by.

It’s a sure sign that hundreds, or even thousands of linesmen and tree workers are here in our area restoring power to homes and businesses in the region. I’m hoping that includes my home soon.

I personally witnessed more than 500 people dining in our Better Living Center last night. They were exhausted, and hungry. They ate, relaxed, visited – and then went right back out into the darkness to continue their much-appreciated work.

When the day is done, which can be at any hour, they return here to our Moses Building to get some sleep before starting over the next day. There are so many workers to house, we set up a temporary shelter in part of the 3-acre Better Living Center.

The logistics of such an undertaking are mind-boggling. Storrowton Tavern is providing breakfast, lunch and dinner to WMECO headquarters for their staff and box lunches are farmed out to workers in the field who can’t leave their posts (no pun intended) to stop to eat. Kudos to the Tavern staff.

Base Logistics, of Harvey, Louisiana, is overseeing all emergency response logistics – coordinating meal services with hot breakfasts and dinners to more than 700 at a sitting.

Our Operations department is on hand to help with any needs imaginable. Beds need to be transferred from the Moses building to the Better Living Center. Restrooms need to be cleaned. Security needs to be provided. Trash need to be disposed of. Parking needs to be orchestrated – these trucks are HUGE! The list is endless.

At the end of the day, it just starts all over again. According to WMECO, power is expected to be fully restored within the next few days. While it’s not soon enough for those waiting in the cold, it will be welcome and warm when it does happen. And the experience won’t be forgotten soon.

2011 Big E Wrap-up!

2011-10-05T10:19:00.001-04:00

Sorry I didn’t get around to updating the blog as much as I would have liked. So much to do, so little time! But let me say, the 2011 Big E made nothing short of a lasting impression on everyone.

The Fair has officially closed its doors, with a grand total of 1,201,428 guests who came and experienced the sights, sounds and tastes that the 2011 Big E had to offer. Throughout the course of the 17 days, three daily attendance records were broken, Opening day, 60,744, the third Friday with 90,549 and the last Sunday with an impressive 136,412.

The weather throughout the course of the Fair was like a trip down the Yellow Slide: up and down… Some days were hot and humid, some rainy and with cooler temperatures. Regardless, Big E fans from all over New England ventured out to enjoy themselves. Rain or shine.

I was lucky enough to experience the set-up of the Fair, which was of course very exciting. I just couldn’t wait for the first day! Unfortunately all that is left now are the memories made this Fair season and the sound of vendor trucks and cleaning crews making their way past the Brooks building. The 17 days went by in the blink of an eye. I can’t believe it is already over :(.

I will share some of my memories with you, from highlights that made the Fair so memorable to exhibits, food and entertainment that I got to experience firsthand.

Let’s start with food – although not because I’m hungry…

With popular fair food favorites such as the Big E Craz-E Burger and of course, the Cream Puffs and Eclairs, fairgoers tried their taste buds on many other taste sensations that made their debut. We all know that one of the reasons we all venture out to the Fair is of course, the thousands of choices of food… Should I have the cream puff or the éclair…I’ll take both!

I personally sunk my teeth into a Corn Cake Pulled Pork Muffin from Scirrotto’s Cinnamon City. The creamy barbeque sauce with mouth-watering pulled pork and generously topped with coleslaw, instantly sent my taste buds on a roller coaster ride. This concoction was just one entry in The Big E Corn Challenge. If you missed it this year, not to worry, I spoke with the creator and it will be back in 2012.

Other entries that participated were Corn Poppers from Osborne Mushroom Farm, Red’s Tutti Frutti Popcorn from Red’s Red Apples and Deep Fried Shepard’s Pie from EB’s.

CBS3 Springfield hosted a poll on their website where fairgoers who tried these new foods could vote for their favorite. The winner was EB’s Ed Borgatti, with Deep Fried Shepard’s Pie, which received 65% of the overall votes. Didn’t get to try it? Ed says to look out for it on the menu at his restaurant, in Agawam, Mass., as soon as late October.

But wait that’s not all! Red Velvet Funnel Cake, Deep Fried Whoopie Pies, Fried Kool Aid, Deep Fried Twinkies and Fried Brownie Bits also shared the menu with the many foods fairgoers have come to love. At The Big E, you’ll never leave hungry!

The Comcast Arena Stage brought spectacular entertainment! A SOLD OUT Blake Shelton Concert, Country Superstar Reba, and Darius Rucker. I was lucky enough to attend the Reba concert on the final Sunday and boy does she know how to put on a great show! Even though the sky let a little rain out before the show began, you couldn’t have asked for more perfect concert weather.

That was not the only stage that brought top-notch entertainment to the Fair this year. The Court of Honor stage hosted the talents of Extreme Vegas, Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers, The Buckinghams and Yvonne Elliman. Galaxy Girl also swayed atop a 120’ pole and impressed audiences with her impressive handstands, with absolutely no safety devices.

I also had the opportunity to view a showing of Bixby’s Rainforest Rescue. The show was both educational and interactive. Children were in awe as Bixby showed many different animals, including Allie the 18 foot-long albino Burmese python. Bixby made learning about the environment and his other animal friends who live in it, that much more exciting with his upbeat personality. Definitely was a show that would keep the kids entertained and have them smiling from ear to ear.

The Circus Around The Clock exhibit, sponsored by Uncommon USA was truly something special. It depicted a day-in-the-life story of the largest circus of all time, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey. The exhibit was filled with historic photographs, memorabilia and film footage as well as the Mother Goose Float, a brilliantly carved circus parade wagon that was built in the mid 1800s for Barnum & Bailey’s glorious horse-drawn street parade. This exhibit was truly an eye-opening experience for those fairgoers who experienced it for themselves.

"America’s Best Clown,” Bello Nock, not only put on a spectacular show under the Big Top with a team of acts including Olate Dogs, Juggler Picasso, Jr., Alexandra’s Net Trapeze and The Big E Super Circus Elephants, but he surprised fairgoers with a walk over the high-wire September 27. The stunt was 70 feet in the air and the wire was 50 feet long. I got to witness it for myself as Bello completed the stunt with ease. There was also a familiar face atop the Circus Tent as well, ESE President Wayne McCary.

There sure was a lot going on this year. I could write on and on about everything that happened over the course of the 17 days. As I sit here writing this blog, I can hear the sweeper crews and trucks pass by the window. It seems as though the Fair just started, and it’s already over. Where will I get my cream puff now? I guess I’ll have to wait until next year…

Be sure to visit TheBigE.com for details as plans begin to take shape for next year’s Fair, which will be taking place September 14– 30, 2012. Also, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and join our mailing list - all from our home page.

3 days! 3 days! 3 days!

2011-09-12T09:44:00.000-04:00

The excitement is building!

The grounds are transforming right before my very eyes. There are orange and blue umbrellas (reminiscent of a circus, and boy are they HUGE!) set up right outside the Brooks building next to the home of the Court of Honor Stage, along with rows upon rows of vendors and exhibitors who are beginning to set-up for the Fair’s 17 day run.

I must say, it’s an amazing feeling to be behind the scenes and get to experience what it takes to put together such a spectacular and memorable for the over 1 million fairgoers who venture through the gates expecting a fantastic Fair experience.

Last week was the Employee Training event, where over 500 employees and staff who work the Fair gathered together to learn about what is in store for this year. Everything from the entertainment venue and special exhibits and attractions on the grounds were covered. Oh, and not to forget the raffles and the hot dogs provided to us at the end of the presentation.

I was given the job of handing out the Employee Handbooks to everyone who showed up to the event. You could see the excitement in the eyes of each individual who passed through the entry gate into the Coliseum. It is rewarding to see the overwhelming amount of dedication these individuals put forth, helping make the Fair successful year after year.

Growums at the 2011 Big E!

We all know that The Big E has gastronomic delights, such as the Big E Craz-E Burger, located at The Big EZ Café, and the newly named Hot Diggid-E Dog, at Captain Nemo’s Galley.

On Specialty Foods Day, Friday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to noon, and again 4 p.m. through 8 p.m., children are in for a special treat! Between these times, those who pass through the gates will receive a coupon voucher for one free “Growums”, redeemable at Farm-A-Rama.

Now, you may be wondering what exactly is Growums? Growums not only teaches children that they can grow their own food and help the environment, as well as emphasize the importance of healthy eating, but it also gives them gardening knowledge and shows them the skills it takes to become a successful gardener – no matter what their age.

Each kit comes with everything you need to start growing your own delicious vegetables or herbs, and come in six varieties including Herb Garden, Pizza Garden, Salad Garden, Stir-Fry Garden, Taco Garden and Ratatouille Garden. We will be distributing the Herb Garden kit.

Your Growums experience doesn’t end there. Before you start growing your seeds, you can register your garden at Growums.com to take part in an interactive gardening adventure. You can also find out more information by visiting the website.

Tickets still available for entertainment on the Comcast Arena Stage!

There are still tickets available for Darius Rucker, Friday, September 23 at 7:30 p.m., priced at $39/$29; Reba, Sunday, October 2 at 7:30 p.m., priced at $69/$59/$49 and single-seat tickets only for Blake Shelton, Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 p.m. They are going quick, so be sure to make your purchase before they are gone!

This just in!

The Equine Arena project is nearing completion! I have received word that the project will be completed in its’ entirely by the start of the ESE Horse Show on Wednesday. The footing for C-Barn was installed September 8. Overall, the arena looks spectacular!

In case you were wondering, The ESE Horse Show, sponsored by Williams Distributing, schedule is as follows:

Hunters & Jumpers, Hunt Seat Equitation, and the USHJA Zone 1 Championship, Sept 14-18
Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, Friesians and Arabians, Sept. 22-25
The Big E Draft Horse Show, with The Big E $30,000 Six-Horse Hitch Showdown, Sept. 29 – Oct 2
4-H Horse Show, Sept. 22-24.

Other exciting events include: Horse Pulling, Sept. 19; Ox Pulling, Sept. 20; and Sheepdog Trials, Sept. 26 and 27 at 10 a.m.

Program & Coupon Books will be delivered soon!

After months of preparing the 2011 Big E Program & Coupon Book, they should be arriving in the Marketing department office sometime this week! Everything you will need to know about the 2011 Big E will be presented to you in a beautiful format, with plenty of information and pictures to accompany. What we call the “guidebook”, will be sold by the Elks on the fairgrounds. Whether you’re searching for that perfect sweater and cannot remember the vendor, or you want to know what’s happening in the Mallary Complex or Coliseum, be sure to pick up your copy when you visit the Fair this year!

Wow. There is a lot going on! And it is only going to get crazier from here. I am totally ready to jump in and experience the Fair in its entirety! I will see you on the grounds of The Big E!

13 Days & Counting until The Big E!

2011-09-02T12:50:00.001-04:00

Just 13 days until the gates open! Excited? I sure am! But hey, who’s counting? Looking out the Brooks Building from the Marketing department, I can see the yellow benches where the Court of Honor stage will be set-up.

The Court of Honor Stage, sponsored by Comcast, will be hosting free entertainment including: Extreme Vegas, daily at 11, 3 & 8 p.m.; Frankie Lymon’s Legendary Teenagers, Sept. 16 – 22 at 1 & 6:30 p.m., The Buckinghams, Sept 23 – 27 at 1 & 6:30 p.m. and Yvonne Elliman, Sept. 28 – Oct 2 at 1 & 6:30 p.m.

Just to the left of my view is Hampden Avenue, which just received its make-over! It is complete, and looks fabulous! Fairgoers this year will have nothing but smooth sailing for their visit at the Fair.

Hot Diggid-E Dog

This year, the Fair will have two delicious hot dog creations available to fairgoers. The first, the New England Dog, a hot dog wrapped in bacon with baked beans and cheddar cheese is sure to have your taste buds in an uproar. Also, Captain Nemo’s Galley’s newest creation, the Hot Diggid-E Dog, is a hot dog wrapped in bacon with spicy coleslaw and fresh jalapeno, all in a gourmet hot dog roll from Bernardino’s Bakery. It got its name from a “Name That Dog” Facebook contest and the winning entry was selected August 22. Congratulations to Heather Liebensohn, of Shelton, Conn., who won four tickets to The Big E and four Hot Diggid-E Dogs!

Be sure to try one, if not both of these creations!

Other new foods available at the Fair this year include:

Fried Kool Aid at the Fried Dough Concession inside Gate 9A

Deep Fried Whoopie Pies at Sugar Shakers on New England Avenue

Red Velvet Funnel Cake at the Apple Fritter Concession on West Road

Deep Fried Twinkies at the Fried Cheesecake Concession on Commonwealth Avenue

Fried Brownie Bits at The Coffee Break in the Food Court

The Big E Corn Challenge!
Delicious new concoctions from our concessionaries! One stipulation, they must be made from corn! Vote for your favorite. Details to come!

You’ll find… Red’s Tutti Frutti Popcorn at Red’s Red Apples, Corn Poppers at Osborne Mushroom Farm, Country Fried Shepherd’s Pie at EB’s in the Food Court and Corn Cake Pulled Pork Muffin at Scirrotto’s Cinnamon City behind the Stroh Building.

Have You Purchased Your Tickets Yet?
Advanced Discount Tickets are available! You can purchase them NOW through Sept. 14 at Big Y® World Class Markets®, online at TheBigE.com or The Big E Box Office. Adults are $12 and Children (6-12) are $8.

You may also purchase an Advance Pay-One-Price Midway Magic Pass, which includes unlimited rides any one day of the Fair, Mon – Fri, for just $20. You also have the option to exchange for 24 ride coupons for Sat & Sun.

Value passes are also available at Big Y® World Class Markets®, online and at The Big E Box Office & Big E Gates NOW through Oct. 2. The passes are good all 17 days of the Fair, Adults, $40 and Children (6-12), $20.

That’s it for now! The clock is ticking and the gates will open before you know it! Are you ready…?

24 Days Until Big E 2011!

2011-08-22T16:20:00.000-04:00

The Big E is just 24 short days away! As I look out the window from the Marketing department, there are no tents up yet nor food vendors in their usual spots for the course of the 17-day Fair, but this will quickly change as the next few weeks’ progress, I assure you.

However, I see the many construction projects that are in full swing. Construction workers and pavers are hard at work to make this year’s Fair experience that much more enjoyable! Fairgoers this year are sure to be amazed at what they will witness when they step through the gates!

Here’s the 411:

The construction on the Equine Arena is nearing completion! Construction workers have been hard at work for weeks on end, getting the new arena built in preparation for the Fair this year. I am sure the horses will be very pleased with their new home! Speaking of horses, woven into the little experiences that make The Big E memorable are traditions that have been a part of the Fair for many years. The Eastern States Exposition Horse Show, sponsored by Williams Distributing will feature Hunters & Jumpers, Hunt Seat Equitation, and the USHJA Zone 1 Championship Sept 14-18; Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Morgans, Friesians and Arabians, Sept. 22-25; The Big E Draft Horse Show, with The Big E $30,000 Six-Horse Hitch Showdown, Sept. 29 – Oct 2; and the 4-H Horse Show, taking place Sept. 22-24.

Fairgoers will also be able to enjoy exhibits of animal power with competitions in Horse Pulling, Sept. 19, and Ox Pulling, Sept. 20, as well as the Sheepdog Trials, which run Sept. 26 and 27 at 10 a.m.

Smooth Sailing!

Hampden Avenue is receiving a make-over, and by make-over I mean getting repaved. Fairgoers will have smooth sailing as they navigate their way through the 2011 Big E.

Oh, and we cannot forget about the beautiful new flowers that have been planted throughout the grounds!

Big E Brochures are everywhere!

And boy do they look great, too! What a team effort to get beautifully articulated brochures printed and into the hands of excited fairgoers! The brochures will provide you with everything you need to know about this year’s Big E. Whether it is entertainment on our Comcast Arena Stage, this year’s ticket prices, or basic information, the Big E Brochure will give you the perfect inside scoop on what will be happening at this year’s Fair.

Circus Around The Clock, sponsored by Uncommon USA!

A new and exciting exhibit at the 2011 Big E is Circus Around the Clock, a day-in-the-life story of “The Greatest Show On Earth,” in a 24-hour visual depiction of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus under the big top. Rare film footage, black & white photography and the restored Mother Goose circus wagon are highlights. Interactive performances will be presented by T.J. Howell’s “You Can Juggle” Kids’ Show. Plus, the greatest animal features in circus history – Jumbo, Ringling’s “last giraffe,” Gargantua the Great and the sacred White Elephant.

Be sure to make your way over to the Young Building and check it out. I guarantee it to be an impressive exhibit as well as an unforgettable experience!

Wow! There are so many exciting events occurring at this year’s Fair. Be sure to look out for more updates that will be posted here frequently!

We will see you at the 2011 Big E!

Big E-xcitement!

2010-09-14T11:49:00.001-04:00

Looking out the window of the Marketing Department is a different experience every hour! We’re in the final stages of putting the 2010 Big E together, and the grounds are rapidly transforming. Many of our vendor booths are already here like Millie’s, Netterfields and Osborn Mushroom Farm and the Cream Puff Bakery signs on the New England Center are already making my mouth water! On my way in from lunch I even noticed the Giant Wheel is up in the Midway, which is one of my favorite rides!

Last Friday, they assembled the tent for The Big E Super Circus, it’s brand new this year and looks great. I’m really looking forward to the circus– there are so many new and exciting acts, including Miss Vicenta’s White Tigers, quick change artists David & Dania, Juggler Kris Kremo, Yelana Larkina’s Hula Hoop, Tempo Trapeze, Alexandra’s Net Trapeze and Raul Castano’s Dogs & Clown.The Super Circus is free, and happens three times a day at 1, 4 and 7 p.m. – a Big E experience that’s not to be missed.

The Official Program & Coupon Books were also delivered to us at the end of last week – almost anything you’d want to know about the 2010 Big E is in this beautiful 56- page, full color booklet. The “guidebook” as we often call it in the office was truly a team-effort this year and the end result is great! So whether you’re looking for a daily schedule of all our events, what food is offered from which vendor or what’s happening in the Mallary Complex, be sure to pick up your copy of the Official Program & Coupon Book on the grounds from the Elks.

I really can’t believe how fast these last few weeks have gone by! It’s almost “go-time!” Be sure to get your advanced tickets, which are still on sale until Wednesday, 9/15 at TheBigE.com, The Big E Box Office and at your local Big Y World Class Market. Advanced tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children, ages 6 – 12.

We’re also continuing our recycling efforts this year! When you’re at the Fair, be on the lookout for the can and bottle receptacles throughout the grounds and try not to throw them in with the trash. The Big E attracts over 1 million visitors each year and it’s amazing how much we can help the environment if together, we all recycle!

The 2010 Big E – “The Last Blast of Summer” – will be here in just four days!
What are you looking forward to most?

We're 22 days away!

2010-08-26T14:13:00.000-04:00

It’s hard to believe but The Big E will be here in just three weeks from tomorrow, 8/27! You can really start to tell, too. Yesterday, I saw a crane carry a ticket booth past my window in the Brooks Building! It’s finally starting to feel like the Fair is in close range.

Even with 22 days left, there are a lot of things the grounds department are doing to prepare – so today, I took the golf cart and went to explore.

I put together this little video to show everyone what is happening :

Ticket booths are being placed at the gate entrances and tents are being set up around the grounds. They recently put the Farm-A-Rama sign on the sides of the Stroh building, which is one of my personal favorite buildings. I can’t wait to see the hatching chicks, tiny pigs and all the entertainment on the Farm-A-Rama stage!

I took a few shots of the Food Court, home of The Coffee Break which is now offering a whole new line of gastronomic delights including Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich, Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich, Fried Snickers, Fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bits and Frozen Hot Chocolate! Yummy! I can’t wait for all the food to get here!

Speaking of delicious new treats, everyone has to try the new Fried Jelly Beans this year on New England Avenue, near Gate 9A – sweet jelly beans rolled in funnel cake batter, fried until perfectly browned, and dusted with powdered sugar for the perfect soft, gooey treat. And maybe even Fried Butter, in plain or garlic, no less.

The Giant Slide stays up all year long, but doesn’t it look flashy? It was painted a fresh and bright new shade of yellow last month. And when you’re at The Big E this year, don’t miss the opportunity to check out the gorgeous new pond. It’s located right outside the Mallary Complex, and features benches, which are perfect for taking a short break from walking. The landscaping is so colorful and the gurgling water is so relaxing – and especially with the sun shining, I didn’t want to leave there today!

And of course, the bright blue Big E Gate banners are once again lining Memorial Ave!

There are still so many things left to do, and in just three weeks, this 175-acre fairground will transform into a magical place, filled with everything from smiling faces and competitive animals to tantalizing aromas and flashing lights. And I will be here to document it all… check back soon for another video documenting The Big E as it comes to life!

New! At the 2010 Big E

2010-08-17T12:25:00.000-04:00

Opening day of The Big E will be here ONE MONTH from TODAY, and as you walk around the fairgrounds, you can feel it in the air! Everyone here at the Exposition is in full swing.

If you’ve looked at our website or been following our Facebook posts, we have five free, amazing concerts at the 2010 Big E! Country singer, Jason Michael Carroll, with special guest Jessie James will be here Friday, Sept. 24. On Saturday, Sept. 25, The Boys in Concert will be performing, a show which is reuniting the original stars of Broadway’s “Jersey Boys,” and rounding out that middle weekend on Sunday, Sept. 26 is American Idol contestant Danny Gokey. On the last weekend of the Fair, we have Boys Like Girls on Saturday, Oct. 2 and country singer Laura Bell Bundy on Sunday, Oct. 3.

All the performances will take place in the outdoor 6,000-seat Comcast Arena, and since it’s a free concert, it’s general admission seating. Pretty sweet to see a free show – but, if waiting in line isn’t your thing, you’re in luck. For the first time ever, The Big E is offering the chance to reserve a seat to any one of our free concerts for just $10! This way you will be guaranteed to have a close seat and you won’t miss that chance to ride the Giant Slide just one more time because you have to get in line ¬- what an awesome idea! If you’re interested, just head to TheBigE.com or The Big E Box Office and get your reserved ticket today.

There are also three ticketed concerts – pop sensation Owl City (Sat. Sept. 18), ventriloquist and winner of America’s Got Talent, Terry Fator (Sun. Sept 19) and country star Miranda Lambert, with guest stars Eric Church and Josh Kelley (Fri. Oct 1). Tickets to all three are still available at TheBigE.com and The Big E Box Office – the ticket price even includes your admission to The Big E so you can come in the afternoon, eat tons of delicious goodies, visit Farm-A-Rama, take a ride on the Giant Wheel, watch the Daily Parade at 5 p.m. and then see a top-notch performer that evening!

If you’ve been to The Big E in the past, you’ve probably seen the Mardi Gras parade, with the giant, authentic floats, flashing lights and costumed revelers who toss beads out to the fairgoers. Well this year, The Big E is offering a surprise: YOU can be in the center of the Big Easy excitement by purchasing a $10 ticket to ride the float! We will dress you up and give you a load of beads to toss to the fairgoers as you ride a float throughout the parade route. A limited number of tickets are available online at TheBigE.com and at The Big E Box office, so get your friends and family together for this once in a lifetime opportunity!

I’m getting more and more excited about The Big E as the days go on. My mouth waters every time I type the word Big E Cream Puff – I can’t wait until it’s finally Fairtime! How about you, what are you most excited for?

The Musicians Hall of Fame comes to the 2010 Big E

2010-08-03T10:59:00.000-04:00

Big E Special Events Director, John Juliano, recently got confirmation that a very special exhibit will be coming to the 2010 fair – The Musicians Hall of Fame! Located in the Young Building, there will be displays, artifacts and instruments, videos, music and histories of many of American’s greatest artists, including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash.

The museum, which was originally housed in Nashville, closed earlier this year and was demolished to make way for the city’s new Music City Convention Center. Joe Chambers, MHOF Founder, is looking for a place to relocate, but is currently unsure of where or when.

In this rare opportunity, we will see many of the Musicians Hall of Fame’s original exhibits including drum sets, gold records, bass guitars, six string electric guitars and clothing. Also included will be the recording machine that Elvis used to make his first record, a gift for his mother, which led to Sam Phillips signing him to the label and releasing "That's Alright Mama," and Hal Blaine's blue sparkle Ludwig Drum Kit - the actual kit used on most of the Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, Byrds, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, and the Carpenters’ albums.

There’s always so much more that goes into the production of a song than just what you hear on the final album. So whether you are a jazz music buff or an occasional lover of rock and roll, it’s going to be pretty cool! Discover the magic inside the Musicians Hall of Fame exhibit at the 2010 Big E.

Everyone is getting into full swing, as the fair is only 49 days away! I can’t believe how fast time has gone by – Do you think summer is going by fast, too? A lot of ESE people were on vacation the past two weeks, now it’s full speed for the busy (and exciting) times ahead in the months of August and September.

The Marketing department is working with the graphic designer on the Program and Coupon book, and so far the completed pages look awesome. It’s the official guidebook of The Big E and the best way to ensure you don’t miss anything here on your visit. There are descriptions of all the events and exhibits, a daily schedule, the lists of vendors and sponsors, and of course, who doesn’t love coupons?! Some people love having everything planned out before the Fair and already know where all their favorite spots are, while others just like to wander around and stumble upon hidden Big E gems. Either way, the 2010 Fair is filled with many new exhibits and old favorites. How do you usually navigate around The Big E?

We’ve also been working closely with our ad agency, Mascola, as we prepare to launch the 2010 print, radio and TV ads and promotions. Our theme this year is “The Last Blast of Summer” so be sure to be on the look out!

The Making of Maria Margerita: An interview with artist Pat Ormsby

2010-07-29T15:55:00.000-04:00

If you’ve driven down Memorial Avenue lately, you may have noticed Eastern States Exposition’s newest guest outside of Gate 2 – Maria Margerita, The Mardi Gras Dog. The West Highland Park Terrier is one of 46 colorfully decorated dogs, or “Terriers Around Town,” gracing businesses and various areas throughout the town. Each is sponsored, with the proceeds benefiting West Springfield school arts programs.

The project was spearheaded by Jane Barrientos and Christine Costanzi, who are hoping to raise $70,000 to fund art projects for school-aged children in the community. Although West Springfield is not typically known as an arts town, the women said that businesses have responded very well to sponsoring the project.

Our Mardi Gras puppy was designed, painted and adorned by West Springfield resident and artist, Pat Ormsby. I got the special chance to speak with Ormsby via phone last month to see just how one goes about designing a four-foot tall fiberglass dog.

Ormsby, a known oil painter around town, was approached by the Terriers Around Town committee to sketch an idea for the new project. Having seen projects similar to this in other towns, Ormsby believed the flashier the design, the more fun the dog would be. She initially created a “Fancy Lady” sketch, similar to a 1920’s flapper, which included the individual jewels and mirrored tiles, as well as a flapper headband.

Exposition officials asked for a “Mardi Gras” dog and fell in love with Ormsby’s flashy puppy design. Their only request was her headband be changed to a Mardi Gras mask since the Mardi Gras Parade has been an annual tradition at The Big E since 2000. The Westie was given the name “Maria Margerita, The Mardi Gras Dog” by Ormsby’s granddaughter.

The artist used shiny, colorful jewels and mirrored tiles to create the fancy outfit for Maria Margerita. Using bondo, the same tool used in car repair, Ormsby stuck each jewel on individually and the putty would dry within five minutes.

A lot of research went into choosing the materials and creating a design plan. There were also a lot of requirements for what kinds of supplies were used, since the dog would be outside in the sun, rain, and dirt.

“The biggest challenge I faced was the fact that I had never done anything like this before,” said Ormsby. “If I make a painting that I don’t like, I can just throw it away. I couldn’t just throw this away.”

However, once she got going, her creation came to life fast. “It took much longer to plan the design than to execute it,” said Ormsby.

While working on the exquisite jeweled blouse, Ormsby spray-painted the bottom half of the dog blue. She initially made several attempts to create a skirt for Maria, however, according to Ormsby, nothing looked quite right. She explained her dilemma to one of the neighborhood boys who was there on a visit when he said, “Oh, I thought she was wearing jeans.” And there, the idea for blue jeans on Maria Margerita was born. Ormsby also gave the puppy hot pink nail polish and lipstick, a Rolex watch and gold bracelet to add to the “flashy effect.”

The last remaining challenge for Ormsby was designing the Mardi Gras Mask. For the first time in her life as an artist, she used sculpting clay. After several failed attempts that included the clay sticking to her kitchen table and on wax paper, Ormsby knew she just had to give it her best shot and affix the quickly-drying mask as soon as it was molded. “If I had to do it again, it’d be no problem. I just wasn’t used to the consistency of the clay the first time,” she said.

Be on the lookout for all 46 Terriers who will make an appearance in the Big E Parade at 5 p.m. on West Springfield Day, Monday, September 20!

To get the latest information, become a Fan of Terriers Around Town on Facebook!

We're just two months away...

2010-07-15T16:08:00.000-04:00

It’s been a busy – and exciting – week here at The Big E! With only 62 days left until the Northeast’s largest fair open its gates for another round of fun, it seems like everyone is in full swing.

If you’ve been to TheBigE.com this week, you’ve noticed that we have a BRAND NEW website! (If you haven’t seen it yet, you have to check it out!) Months and months of preparation went into designing the site, transferring files from the old site and populating new content – and to be honest, it looks great! The new site is bursting with beautiful colors, unique photographs from last year’s fair and flash animation. And it’s very easy to navigate –anything you’d ever want to know, from which vendors will be here this year to how to enter the Karo Syrup Perfect Pie contest, is on the site and organized in convenient drop-down menus.

What’s even cooler is that the move was a big one, changing over from one very basic site to four new sites – Eastern States Exposition, The Big E, Storrowton Village and the ESE Foundation. So it’s now easier than ever to stay up to date with the year-round events we have on the grounds. If you’re looking for information on ESE scholarships or thinking about getting married at the picturesque Village, you’ll be able to find information on those things too.

The website was designed by Ntelligent Systems in California and meetings began in early February with their principal Michael Geisen. So much time and hard work has gone into this new site by many of our staff members and it’s great to see it up and running! We hope you enjoy it.

The other big news is that Country music star MIRANDA LAMBERT is coming to The Big E on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 8pm as part of the CMT Revolution Tour, with Guest Star Eric Church and Introducing Josh Kelley!

Miranda’s career is on fire – this year she won three ACM awards, Top Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Video of the Year, and CMT Female Video of the Year. On the rise and with no sign of slowing down, Miranda is poised to make a lasting impression on the Country music world. She’s going to totally light up the stage! Tickets are $29/ $39 for seats, and $49 for the “dance party area,” where the Big E crew is going to remove a bunch of rows of seats so people can dance and be really close to the stage… awesome!
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (7/16) at http://www.thebige.com/ and at The Big E Box Office.

Watch the ACM Video of the Year : White Liar by Miranda Lambert

The grounds department is busy planting flowers and getting the grounds ready for the Fair. Last week I got a great flip video of the dome from the Mallary Rotunda being taken down for refurbishing. (It was really windy out that day!) It was unbolted and removed by a crane in preparation for a new fabric cover. The ESE painters are currently sanding and refinishing the dome and it will be reinstalled soon.

Like I said, there’s always something to be done around here! For the latest updates, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and join The Big E mailing list at http://www.thebige.com/!

How Does It All Come Together?

2010-06-15T15:07:00.000-04:00

As a child, I remember looking forward to the magic that was The Big E. It was one of the staples in my family's fall schedule; the other being "The First Day of School" and clearly the latter wasn't the highlight of my September.

We'd show up, and the lights would be dazzling, the vendors would be serving fried dough and corn dogs, and children would already be screaming as they swished down the Big Yellow Slide. I'd stand in line as my parents anxiously waited for a Maine Baked Potato, and then we'd sit on the Avenue of States, eating an array of local fare and watching the spectacular Mardi Grad parade. A thousand thoughts would cross my mind on that special night each year, like "How do you run away with the circus?" and "How many people have gotten sick from that crazy twisting rollercoaster?" but never once did it occur to me "How did this all happen?"

Even as a teenager, when I would come to the Fair with my friends and we would spend all of our quarters at the games on the Midway, in an attempt to win a stuffed animal, it still never occurred to me that there must be months and months of organization that goes into systematizing a 17-day fair.

The performers didn't just show up at the Comcast Arena Stage, local radio stations didn't just start promoting Big E shows on their own, and the Cream Puff Bakery didn't just magically start producing those little delicious pieces of heaven. There are actually dozens of people behind Eastern States Exposition that get "the ship to sail" for three weeks every fall by organizing hundreds of vendors, carnies and employees to carry it all out.

It wasn't until this May when I really realized how much effort went into organizing the Northeast's largest fair, and it won't be until the Fair comes alive on Sept. 17 that I'll really see the end product. As the new summer writer for the Marketing department, I am so excited to see the Fair from a completely different perspective- behind the scenes. I get to see, and even more importantly, be a part of all the intricate workings that make The Big E... THE BIG E!!!

My guess is that most of the common fairgoers don't really know how a production this big comes together either. Who writes the guidebook? Who decides what the special theme of the Creative Arts contests will be? How many sheep are in Farm-A-Rama? Who books the entertainment? My hope is to use this space to answer some of these questions, and give you an in-depth insight to what is new and exciting this year at The Big E, and all in the perspective of a Big E "newbie."

2009-10-02T14:17:00.000-04:00

Storrowton Village at The Big E
A bit of Early Americana

One of my favorite parts of The Big E is Storrowton Village. It is just east of the Avenue of States and is an authentic 19th century community set around an old fashioned village green. About 80 years ago Helen Storrow (of Storrow Drive fame) was the chairperson of the Exposition’s Home department and she purchased various Early American properties around New England that were abandoned or going to be demolished. She had them moved, stone by stone, and reconstructed. There is a country store, a blacksmith shop, a one room schoolhouse, a meetinghouse, law office and three houses, all around the green with a gazebo. During the Fair the Village becomes a living museum, with people dressed in 19th century attire who talk about and demonstrate daily life in the old days. You can watch a blacksmith at work, learn how to churn butter, or find out what school was like when all the kids went to one classroom to learn. Every day at noon at the Fair, they hold old fashioned games for fair-kids, like hoop rolling and 3-legged races.

Storrowton Village has many activities throughout the year, too. For children, there are school programs from October to June and Early American Summer Days in August. For all ages, Tales from Haunted New England is presented near Halloween, and Yuletide at Storrowton, Yuletide Open House Tours and Yuletide by Lantern Light and take place before the holidays.

Year-round, Storrowton’s Gift Shop has gifts and collectibles, and the Storrowton Tavern is a favorite destination for traditional American fare.

2009-10-01T15:11:00.000-04:00

Last day for $5 after 5 p.m. admissions

If you want to save more than half the normal cost of admission, come after 5 p.m. to The Big E today. It's the last day of this special admission fare. You'll get to see the sparkling lights of The Big E and Midway, and a bit of the Big Easy with the Grande Mardi Gras Float Parade, sponsored by Foxwoods Resort Casino, at 7:30 p.m. And, of course, all the attractions and sights of the fair go nonstop until 10 p.m.

2009-10-01T11:56:00.000-04:00

The Start of October at The Big E

It's October and no one can believe it, but the weather proves it's so. Outside on the Fairgrounds I see a lot of sweaters, hoodies and even some hats, but of course there is always someone in a sleeveless tee shirt, because for some, covering up their intricate tattoos is unthinkable!

There is such a mix of people here at the Fair, it shows there is no such thing as a typical Fairgoer. That's why there's so many different kinds of attractions and exhibits here at The Big E. But as different as people are, they pretty much want some of the same things -- to forget the everyday humdrum for a while, to be amused and excited, to see or learn something new, to eat good food, to get a good value. We do it all, and more.

The Eastern States Exposition Horse Show is going on in the Coliseum right now, with the Hunters and Jumpers, and Hunt Seat Equitation classes competing until the end of the Fair. It's really something to see those riders and horses taking their turns in the ring. The Coliseum is a building that is historic on the Fairgrounds. It used to be where the Springfield Indians professional hockey team played back in the 1950s and '60s. Now the building is where (during the Fair) there are all sorts of demonstrations and competitions, from oxen pulling contests to sheep herding. The building has the flavor of an old-time arena -- nothing like a modern concrete stadium.

Thelma Houston's free shows start today at the Fair. She has two shows a day on the Court of Honor Stage, at 3 and 8 p.m. Everyone always asks her if she is related to Cissy or Whitney Houston, but she is not. She is a disco star, who had the number one song, "Don't Leave Me This Way," and other hits. I love it when people dance while the performers do their thing. Especially the kids.

Of course, tomorrow night is the big Sugarland concert, which has been sold out for months. Everyone is getting very excited about this. Me, too.

My name is Deena. I worked at The Big E in the Marketing Department for all of the 1990s, and am back for the first time in eight years. Of course, I never missed a year as a Fairgoer, just as an employee. Lots of things are the same, thank you, but there's lots new, too.

Like the Circus. The Big E Circus is in the same spot on the grounds, and is still a traditional European-type circus, but the acts are always new. Sometimes there is a performer who returns, like this year's Flying Pages high trapeze artists, but they have new exciting stunts to astound and thrill the crowds. Neecha's Dobermans do the most amazing tricks -- they are such smart dogs! There's Coco, a very comic clown, and The Electrifying Elayne, who performs archery and contortions at the same time. And an acrobatic team called Duo Voltart. The circus is one of the favorite attractions and it's because the president of The Big E, Wayne McCary, spends the winter assembling these acts from all over Europe and brings them here for The Big E.

Well, got to sign off. More, later . . .

2009-10-01T11:22:00.000-04:00

Big E Marketing Intern, Jon, has left for his Junior year abroad. This is his final Big E Blog.

Looking Back
It seems so distant, almost ethereal the first Monday that I came in here. I was so nervous. This was my first internship ever. My first experience with an office environment. My only expectations were based on the show "The Office," which, for better or worse, we at Eastern States Exposition do not feature a Michael Scott, nor do we have a Dwight. Nobody has ever set the office on fire in an attempt to teach us office safety, there is no diversity training, no party planning committee.
But I think what I found here was more concrete, definitely more realistic, and better for me. I found a group of people sincerely dedicated to not only their own individual careers and occupations, but to the corporation as a whole. This isn’t like a huge corporation where we are “cogs in a machine,” but rather pieces of a puzzle. Things don’t look quite right unless we all fit together, unless we all coalesce into a team. Without us, The Big E would not happen. Here, we are important in a way that would not be the case in some other larger company. Here, we are not insignificant, but know the president of the corporation on a first name basis.
The Eastern States Exposition brings me to a time when good old traditions were honored. There is an aura of comfortableness, of harmony. Whether it was walking through an empty Storrowton Village Green during mid July during my lunch break or down Commonwealth Ave. full of fairgoers, trying to dodge the crowd, there was some sort of belonging, or rather of acknowledgement of where we, as people, America and New England, have come.
The times like the ones that I had here, at Eastern States Exposition, are ones that can take me wherever I want to go. They represent a solid foundation on which to build my dreams. The lessons and friendships that I have here will accompany me wherever I shall go.
I am forever indebted to Eastern States Exposition for the kind of opportunities it gave me. Thank you.

Opening Day as Seen By Jon, the Marketing Intern

2009-09-20T16:08:00.000-04:00

Opening Day as Seen By Jon, the Marketing Intern

I am sitting at my desk after quite a hectic morning of interviews and tasks. That’s to be expected, as our entire year revolves around these seventeen days. Almost the entire summer I am used to looking out and seeing an empty parking lot filled with a few dozen cars. Now I look out and see hundreds of people passing my window almost every few seconds. They’re fairgoers. Everyone who was willing to take some time off from school, work, or not in either one of those and had some free time, seems to be here. I see wheelchairs, baby carriages and backpackers. It’s a quite a stark contrast to the emptiness I have grown accustomed to. Right now there is a huge chipmunk, our mascot BiggiE, waving to a couple of people.

The entire structure of my job has changed. Things have gotten a whole lot busier with new and more exciting tasks. Right now I can hear an R & B Band playing on the Court of Honor Stage. Everyone who is here at the Fair, is here because they want to be, especially the fairgoers, employees, and who knows maybe even the sea lions and elephants. Running around and doing errands is something that I am really starting to enjoy about this new atmosphere, it gives me a chance to explore the fairgrounds and the people who make this Fair a reality; it gives me a very personal view of the Fair. It’s more than just a business, a job, or even a career. It’s about the people behind each of these things. This Fair is the people. those who, like me, this Fair is the first one I have ever worked at. Or maybe others who have been here for thirty or even fifty years. It’s about us, it is us. We are the Fair. We make it breathe, make it into more than just an idea on a wall and into a tangible event that draw over a million people.

We give it life in a way that an average amusement park, or even Disney World lack altogether. This isn’t just “a job” to us. We consider The Big E ours, a part of us and that each and every one of us who contributes to the Fair has a stake in, a part ownership in. We do our jobs with a sort of passion that is lacking on the bland expressions you find at one of the other “attractions.” It’s because we’re local and special. It’s because this day is just as special to us as it is to the fairgoer, we only get seventeen of these days rather than a whole season or year. This Fair, The Big E means something to us. We are about it.

We’re more than just co-workers here, we’re a fair family. We know everything about each other in a way that only years of companionship can procure from people. At the employee orientation about a week ago, it was more like a family reunion than an orientation. There were no bland expressions or bored dispositions. Everyone was in a very jovial mood, like they were seeing old friends, because in fact they were seeing old friends. It was a party, not with friends, but with family.

I guess this Fair is more than just a fair, it has become something more to each and every one of us, it’s become a part of ourselves.

Craz-E Burger is Crazy Delicious

2009-09-15T11:48:00.000-04:00

This is the sandwich you have been dreaming of, a glorious and delicious combination of crispy bacon and tender burger with generous portion of melty gooey cheese sandwiched in between… a grilled glazed donut! What’s not to love and adore about this taste monstrosity? This motley crew of flavors and textures come into a perfect union in the form of the Craz-E Burger.

This special and one of a kind treat can be found at The Big E at the Big EZ Café which is located outside Door 7 of the Better Living Center.

The naming rights were won by Marty Brownsey of West Seneca, New York whose “Craz-E Burger” was chosen from a very competitive field of over four hundred individual Facebook entries. There were entries such as “Heart Attack on a Bun” and “The E-Normous.”

Although this burger can seem intimidating, if you are able to conquer it, your taste buds will thank you. Those who have tried it have not regretted it.

The taste combination is something quite unique and unexpectedly good considering the odd combination. The glaze is a perfect complement to the bacon and seems to harmonize the other ingredients. The flaky and golden donut is sweeter and more delicious from the hamburger roll you are used to and transforms the bland into the delicious. And what would a self-respecting burger be without bacon? You get two pieces of crispy, thin cut bacon on this burger.

Excitement and expectation are high as fairgoers will make their way from the entrance gates to the Big EZ Café in order to be the first to taste this most intriguing burger and decide for themselves whether it’s “over the top” or “just right.”

2009-09-01T16:48:00.000-04:00

Anticipation High for Big E Entertainment Lineup

With several artists sure to deliver the goods, The Big E’s entertainment lineup is promising to be one to remember. Artists are gearing up for the 2009 Fair, and drawing a great deal of anticipation and excitement from fans. With less than 3 weeks until Opening Day, artists are stirring up interest for what will be one of the major tour stops.

The only ticketed concert this year featuring the popular Country music band, Sugarland, sold out quickly. Since receiving the Breakthrough Favorite New Artist award at the American Music Awards in 2005, Sugarland has taken the Country music industry by storm. Radio and fans alike have embraced their singles, “Baby Girl,” “Something More,” “Settlin’,” “All I Want To Do” and “Stay.”

It’s an understatement to say that Sugarland has come a long way fast. They have been honored as the Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) 2009 Duo of the Year. They also won the Country Music Association’s 2008 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Country Song for "Stay."

Sugarland has been touring all over the country, and recently performed in front of a sold out crowd at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. With over 80,000 fans coming out to support Sugarland only a month before the band returns to Massachusetts, emotions will run high and excitement and enthusiasm will remain for one of the most popular Country bands in the nation.

Jamey Johnson is touring and will stop at The Big E on Sept. 27 in a free show. Johnson won the ACM song of the year with his hit single “In Color” and his new single, titled “My Way to You,” is climbing the charts. Rolling Stone described the song as “A guilt-scarred tune by Country’s top outlaw that begins like a honky-tonk hangover and ends like a hair-metal power ballad.”

Teen phenomenon Charice has also been generating excitement with a strong fan base located right here five thousand miles away from her native Manila in the Philippines. She is currently working on her first album under the direction of David Foster. Backed by the powerhouse of “The Hitman,” Charice is destined for major stardom.

2009-08-19T11:50:00.000-04:00

Big E Food Expanding in Spectrum and Taste!

Ready to engage in glorious gluttony? Do you ever wonder what kind of restaurant offers everything, literally everything from burgers to chicken tandoori? Have you been dieting all year long just to splurge on our world class Fair food offerings? Sample the smorgasbord of tantalizing treats offered this year.

Lordy’s Elephant Ears have joined The Big E’s menu of edible delights. The dough is yeast-raised which results in a texture more like a glazed donut, similar to sweet pastry, rather than bread. You can choose from a variety of toppings including butter and cinnamon, powdered sugar, spicy apple and cinnamon, chocolate, cherry with powdered sugar and Bavarian cream. Mix a little “south-of-the-border-“ flare with a bit of the Lone Star State style and you get Chimichangas. This authentic Tex-Mex treat is made with a combination or rice, beans and beef wrapped into a flour tortilla. This perfect marriage of taste and texture will fill up the most adventurous fairgoer.

Also new are fried green beans. This mix of fried and garden cuisine is truly a taste and experience to behold, or rather consume. They form a delicious melody of the two opposite ends of the food pyramid and reaffirm the old adage that opposites do indeed attract. Just added is a unique set of burgers that you definitely won’t find at your local fast food joint. These include Elk Burgers, Chipotle Buffalo Burgers and Salmon Burgers, as well as Venison Sausage. These hearty offerings will form the backbone of any delicious meal.

For something a little creamy and cooler, you simply can't afford to miss out on delicious homemade pudding. Choose from a traditional bowl, crazy cone, or a heaping pudding sundae, complete with whipped cream and a cherry, all served in a fresh made waffle bowl. Also offered is “worms in dirt” a silly dish of gummy worms, pudding and chocolate “dirt”, that the kids will go wild for.

Our very own unique offering is the hallmark of The Big E’s cuisine. The Cream Puff is our signature dessert and is accompanied by The Big Eclair and The Big E Chocolate Chip cookie made with real Ghirardelli chocolate. Watch all three of the taste-tempting treats made on location in the Cream Puff Bakery, located in the New England Center.

International food will be on hand to spice up the Fair. Cuban sandwiches, yellow rice, fried pork, arepas and plantains will provide fairgoers with a little Latin American flare. The Chinese menu will boast lo mein, egg rolls and stir fry. Indian dishes will consist of chicken tandoori, shrimp vandaloo, channa, masala and naan. Have a taste of the “Old Country” with strombolis, pastas, and thin crust pizzas. Greek food is sure to make your mouth water with gyros, salads, and baklava.
We’ve made sure you won’t leave hungry!

Triple Entente: Seether, Boyz II Men, and Lane Turner Complete Big E’s 09 Talent Lineup

2009-06-23T15:41:00.000-04:00

The Big E is pleased to present the final three acts set to perform this year. Boyz II Men will go out on stage on 9/20 8 p.m. Lane Turner will perform 9/25 at 8 p.m. Seether will be the grand finale of the entire Fair, having been given the final spot, performing 10/4 7p.m. All shows will take place on the Comcast Stage Arena and are free to the public.

Boyz II Men is the most successful R&B male vocal group of all time, based on sales. They are the only group other than the Beatles to have replaced themselves at the top billboard position. Their hit “I’ll Make Love to You” was replaced by their next number one hit “On Bended Knee.” The group has sold over 50 million albums propelling them into the company of Nat King Cole, Oasis, ‘N Sync, and Nirvana.

Seether hails from Johannesburg, South Africa. The band had modest origins, yet the circumstances were prime for artistic freedom and experimentation and they began playing in coffee shops at local universities.

As testament and confirmation of their worldwide popularity and prominence, the band has sold well over 5 million copies of various albums to date. The band has permeated out into popular culture and had their song “Sold Me” featured on The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)’s major event Bad Blood in 2004. The very next year, “Remedy” was the hallmark song featured at the WWE’s SummerSlam event.

In 2008, Lane Turner was featured as a contestant on The Next GAC (Great American Country) Star. His traditional heritage and blue-collar roots made him a fan favorite. He was announced as the runner-up on the finale, not to shabby for a TV event watched by millions with thousands of contestants. But that’s not stopping him. “My track coach in college told me that the great thing I had was enthusiasm. I was excited. I was always there early, and I was always staying late. Because I loved it.” He just on the cusp of making it big time. This passion for his music and devotion to himself is what will keep propelling Lane Turner to the top and keep him there for a long while.

Entertainment Update for 2009

2009-04-16T11:45:00.000-04:00

ACM News!

Congratulations to Big E ’09 headliners, Sugarland, Academy of Country Music “Duo of the Year” and to Jamey Johnson for his ACM Song of the Year award for “In Color.”

Sweet Addition to Comcast Arena Stage Line-Up

Sugarland, Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) 2009 Duo of the Year, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles, will thrill audiences with new hits and their award-winning style.
The twosome has taken home numerous Country Music Association and American Music awards. Matt Nathanson will open the Oct. 2 show at 8 p.m.

Stay tuned as ticket information and the On Sale date become available. Please join our mailing list to receive information on this and other aspects of The Big E. Visit http://www.thebige.com/ to sign up.

Soon to be 17-year-old Charice has amazed audiences around the world with her larger than life voice and vibrant personality. She began on Little Big Star, a show loosely patterned after American Idol, which premiered on Filipino television in 2005. Since then, she has astonished viewers of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Oprah and Good Morning America and has sung with renowned stars Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli. Charice belts out tunes from Pop to R&B to Soul, boasting an enormous, mature voice that knocks the socks off of anyone listening. See and hear for yourself! This free show takes place Friday, September 18 at 8 p.m.

British rock band, Foghat, shook up the blues-rock scene in the 70s with their dominating electric and electric slide guitar. Out of their five gold albums came hits “Fool For The City,” “I Just Wanna Make Love To You” and “Slow Ride,” which is featured on today’s ever popular Guitar Hero 3. While band mates have changed throughout the years, today, Charlie Huhn, Bryan Bassett, Craig MacGregor and Roger Earl rock crowds all over the nation with their Classic hits. Catch them free on Saturday, September 19 at 8 p.m.

Entertainment Update for Court of Honor Stage

Richard Street, former lead singer of the Temptations, Sept. 18 - 21, 3 & 8 p.m. – This former lead singer of Motown’s legendary Temptations brings original hits of the group along with other classic sensations from the Motown years.

Terry Sylvester of the Hollies, Sept. 22 - 26, 3 & 8 p.m. – Terry Sylvester performs hits from the Hollies, such as “Carrie Ann,” “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress” and “The Air That I Breathe.” In addition, Terry brings to the stage songs and stories from his early days when he collaborated with the Beatles and other popular groups of the 60s and 70s.

“Mack the Knife” The Music and Life of Bobby Darin, Sept. 27 - 30, 3 & 8 p.m. – Chaz Esposito stars as Bobby Darin, performing the classic hit songs of the talented performer and icon of the 50s and 60s. Besides the famous hit "Mack the Knife," other Bobby Darin classics include "Splish Splash," "Dream Lover," "Beyond the Sea," "Things," "You're The Reason I'm Living" and "If I Were A Carpenter."

Thelma Houston, Oct. 1 - 4, 3 & 8 p.m. – Thelma Houston brings her hits, including “Don’t Leave Me This Way,” to The Big E. Never skipping a beat, the multi-talented singer, songwriter, actress and international performer gets audiences grooving to the R&B rhythm of her show.

Planning for the 2009 Big E is in Full Swing

2009-02-12T15:58:00.000-05:00

Tickets are on sale online and at The Big E Box Office
and entertainment bookings are beginning to take shape.

Big E Tickets

Tired of the same old dozen roses and the same old boxes of chocolates? Spice up this Valentine’s Day with something new! Purchase tickets to The Big E and be sure to see your valentine smile. You’ll also be smiling when you save up to $5 for buying the tickets in advance. You can purchase adult and child tickets – for just one day or the entire seventeen days of the spectacular fair!

All with the click of a button, you can order your Big E tickets and print them right at home. September will be here before you know it and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

Click here to purchase your Valentine’s gift today!
V-day hugs and a fun-filled fair guaranteed.

Entertainment Taking Shape

The Stars of the Peking Acrobats will dazzle the Court of Honor stage, sponsored by Comcast, daily during the 2009 fair. Wire-walking, trick-cycling, tumbling, somersaulting, and gymnastics will, no doubt, stir the audience with excitement.

The Sea Lions are coming back to The Big E with a splash! The Sea Lion Splash show, sponsored by New Alliance Bank, is one wet and wild experience that you won’t want to miss. The only traveling sea lion show in the United States features the silliest sea lions trained by Surfer Joe that balance, catch and retrieve objects along with singing, dancing and doing handstands. Interact with the wacky sea creatures during their comedic act and also have your picture taken with the stars after the show!

Star of the Vh1 hit television series “Rock of Love,” Bret Michaels has rocked out as the lead singer/songwriter of the band Poison for 22 years, securing 15 Top 40 hits including the popular “Every Rose Has Its Thorn.” Branching out, Michaels has started his own film company, released 3 solo albums since 2003 and also won a 2008 BMI Award for his hit “Go That Far.” Catch him free on the Comcast Arena stage on October 3 at 8 PM.

Selling over a million copies of their first album The Road to Here, Little Big Town has seen chart topping days with the smash hits, “Boondocks,” “Bring It On Home,” “Good As Gone,” and “A Little More You.” Their newest compilation of songs comes in the form of A Place To Land, produced by Capitol Records Nashville. A product of a decade of deep friendship, Little Big Town has produced an intense countrified sound. Join the crooning foursome Saturday, September 26 at 8 PM as they perform free on the Comcast Arena Stage.

From writing songs for other stars to recording and performing on his own, Jamey Johnson has come a long way and is making his mark on the Country music world. Nominated for three 2009 Grammy Awards, Jamey was up against big names for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song for his “In Color” and Best Album for That Lonesome Song. This CD of original songs boasts a unique sound and crafty lyrics. You can find serious songs like “Angel” and “That Lonesome Song” to comedic tunes like “Mowin’ Down the Roses” and “Women.” Jamey tells the tales of his life through his music and invites you to the Comcast Arena Stage Saturday, September 27 at 7 PM to see him up close and personal!

October at The Big E

2008-10-08T10:10:00.000-04:00

Cool weather settles on the fairgrounds and while The Big E is over, Eastern States Exposition is still busy with a full calendar of year-round events.

In the Marketing office, end of The Big E traditions need to be wrapped up. In early October, the department hosts a “Thank-you” party where employees are invited to a relaxing evening of great food, beverages and dancing. Much planning went into the party and this year’s event was a great success; people stayed after the music ended and the lights were turned up.

Elsewhere on the grounds, Storrowton Village Museum welcomes school groups as they take a trip to our past. The Museum offers field trips where can experience, learn and enjoy the simplicity of life in by-gone days.

Currently, near the Coliseum, beautiful horses trot in the warm-up ring preparing for the New England Equitation Championships that will begin tomorrow. The show will take place in the Coliseum from 8:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 16-19. Throughout the rest of the month, three dog shows, the New England Snowmobile Expo and Power Sport Show and Storrowton’s Tales of Haunted New England will take place on the grounds. November will start a whole new set of events highlighted by the Ideas for Living Home Show and Equine Affaire® as the grounds are never simply empty.

A complete schedule of year-round events can be found here.

Check back often for information on Exposition happenings and events leading up to The Big E.

Seventeen days flew by, as the 2008 Big E comes to an end.

2008-10-01T11:26:00.001-04:00

Out my office window, an empty lot spotted by buildings sits desolate in the rain. It’s hard to imagine that three days ago this place was alive with the sights and sounds of The Big E. The stages have been taken down and the vendors have packed up and moved out. Left here are the memories of a great Fair and anticipation for next year.

Closing night, Fergie performed on the Comcast Arena Stage. In true “Glamorous” style, The Dutchess put on a spectacle of dancing and singing for fans of all ages.

During a pre-show meet and greet, Fergie posed for pictures with lucky fans.

ESE President Wayne McCary with Fergie
Fergie with Ambra from The Big E Super Circus

Throughout the seventeen days, Agriculture flourished at The Big E.

As is tradition:

Chicks hatched in Farm-A-Rama.

Butter became Art outside the Mallary Complex

And the Hallamore horses displayed their giant beauty.

Food never lacks at the Fair!

Pot Roast Sundaes melted in fairgoers mouth, bringing comfort food to the Fair.

The traditional fried food on a stick tickled taste buds of all ages.

And Big E Cream Puffs covered faces and clothes with heavenly goodness.

As the 2008 Big E season comes to an end, Fair memories keep us excited for next year!!
Plans are already in the works for the 2009 Big E, and hopefully Sugarland can reschedule their cancelled show here for next year.

New England’s Autumn Tradition will take place next year from September 18 to October 4, 2009.

The Big E extends thanks to its office blogger, college intern Beth

(pictured with Cream Puff above).

Last night of the 2008 Big E

2008-09-28T16:20:00.000-04:00

It’s the last day of the Fair, and the sun is shining over the grounds. Tonight, Fergie will grace the Comcast Arena Stage bringing this year’s fabulous entertainment to an end. Unfortunately, due to an illness, Sugarland was unable to perform last night, but all of the other shows went off without a hitch.

Here’s a recap of the past seventeen days of entertainment:
Natasha played opening night in the rain to faithful fans.

Former Bad Company Lead Singer Brian Howe followed Saturday night

Sunday, Danity Kane rocked the stage drawing masses of screaming fans.

Local sensation Ashley Gearing brought a country twang Friday the 19th.

American Idol Jordin Sparks captured attention Saturday evening.

Jason Aldean played Sunday the 21st following opener LoCash Cowboys

Friday the 26th, rain cleared up to allow LeAnn Rimes to perform.

Fergie will finish the entertainment line-up tonight as the Fair comes to an end.

Welcome One and All the The Big E Super Circus

2008-09-23T11:56:00.001-04:00

Monday, I had the privilege of witnessing the agility, strength and courage that is hidden underneath the Big Top.

Opening the show, the Flying Pages climbed flimsy ladders to the top of the tent, so high up that I had to tilt my head all the way back to see. The music started and the girls in flashy costumes began swinging across the room holding only a small bar. Flipping off of the trapeze, the girls jumped into the arms of the “catola” hanging upside down across the tent. Eighteen year-old Anthony Pays did a triple somersault and his ten year-old sister flew from the very top of the tent.

Check out some pictures from their act.

Next in line, dogs of all sizes came running out from behind a curtain. These dogs, who all have been rescued from animal shelters, can perform tricks that you have to see to believe. Leaping through hoops and performing handstands are only a few of these k-9’s talents. The show even included “high-diving daredevil doggie,” who leaped from a platform into the arms of his trainer below.

Check out some pictures of these performing pooches.

After the dogs left the stage, Duo Fusion entered with a display of great strength and balance.

Following Duo Fusion, Sylvia Zerbini entered the ring with her eight white beauties. Her act involved demonstrations of the horses' abilities and her own acrobatic feats.

More? Of course. Two girls can fit into a box no larger than a microwave. Check this out.

Following the girls in a box, the circus elephants finished the show. These African beauties only seem larger when you get that close to them. Even the five year old was enormous!!!

The Big E Super Circus is a sight to be seen!! Check out one of the three daily shows: 1, 3 and 7 P.M.

The Big E Cake Decorating Contest

2008-09-23T11:32:00.000-04:00

You can have your cake and eat it too!

Check out some of the entries to this year’s Big E cake decorating contest.
The 2008 Theme was THE BIG E: Fun at the Fair.

Winner of PM. contest

Winner of AM. Contest

Which cake is your favorite?

Jordin Sparks at The Big E

2008-09-22T08:56:00.000-04:00

This American Idol drew quite the crowd Saturday night as she performed at The Big E.
Jordin Sparks entertained a full house of screaming fans who didn’t mind waiting in line for a few hours to get into the show.
Her clear and booming voice filled the Comcast Arena Stage and fans of all ages danced and sang along with Sparks’ chart-topping hits.

A few lucky fans got to meet Sparks backstage after the show. Her model-like height made even tall fans seem short.
Have you seen Jordin Sparks in concert or at The Big E? Share your stories!!

The Big E is in full swing with a great stretch of sunny, fall-like weather ahead.

2008-09-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

Last night, Springfield native, Ashley Gearing performed on the Comcast Arena Stage. Her own songs were complimented by a cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” where she captivated the audience with her phenomenal voice. Only 17, Ashley “came home” to play an amazing show for a great crowd of fans.

Jordin Sparks will perform tonight, September 20, 2008, on the Comcast Arena Stage following in the footsteps of other American idols. “One Step at a Time,” Sparks has risen to the top of pop-music charts with hits like “Tattoo.” Showtime is at 8 P.M., free with admission to the Fair.

Tickets are still available for An Evening with Fergie. The Dutchess herself will perform Sunday, September 28 at 7P.M. on the Comcast Arena Stage. Tickets are available at TheBigE.com.

Two girls squeezed into a box not much larger than a microwave….Can’t imagine that! Check them out at this year’s Big E Super Circus.

What were your favorite parts of The Big E this year?

Showstoppers at The Big E

2008-09-18T11:48:00.001-04:00

Danity Kane performed at The Big E this past weekend drawing a crowd to the Comcast Arena Stage. They put on quite a show.

ESE President Wayne McCary behind the scenes with Danity Kane

The pop stars are one of the many groups and artists that will grace the stage during the Fair.

Still to perform this year are Sugarland, Fergie, Jordin Sparks,

LeAnn Rimes, Ashley Gearing, and Jason Aldean.

Who would you like to see come to The Big E?

Presents, Prizes and Cream Puffs!!!

2008-09-17T09:41:00.000-04:00

Everybody loves a free gift, especially when they keep on giving. This year, The Big E is giving out free gifts…..a free button that is.

Cute and creative, they boast sayings like, “The Fair with Flair,” “Pro-Cream Puffs” and “Love, Liberty and Llamas.”

Fair goers can find staff members and receive a free button, or take fate into their own hands and buy the button of their choice for only $0.50.

Why should anyone wear this button you might ask? Well I, along with the rest of the staff, get to go onto the fair grounds and hunt down button wearers to hand out prizes. It’s the best part of my job. Reactions vary, but most winners are so excited that they jump up and yell. One lady was so excited that she gave me, a complete stranger, a hug.
What can you win? We hand out cream puffs, Big E tickets, Rock Cats tickets, Dunkin Donuts gift cards, even Fergie tickets.....

Sea Lion Splash

2008-09-14T15:07:00.000-04:00

Balancing, dancing and interacting with the audience, sea lions have made a splash at this year’s Big E.

Trainers host each show, putting these fabulous aquatic creatures through their paces. The sea lions perform in and out of the water, catching and retrieving objects, executing handstands and “singing,” which are all part of their naturally mischievous, comedic behavior.

The show draws quite a crowd, as music plays and children dance in the aisles awaiting the entertainment. Squalus, Inc. brought four sea lions to The Big E, (Minnie, Alicia, Sparky and Zoë), but only two perform at a time.

At 10:30 a.m. trainer and host Jessica opened the Sunday morning show bringing Sparky and Zoë onto the stage. Balancing on a stand, the two clapped their fins and waved hello to the audience while smiling and shaking hands with Jessica. Throughout the performance, the animals executed hand stands, caught rings, balanced balls on their noses and even shot basket balls into a hoop.

The Squalus, Inc. show is the only traveling sea lion act in the United States, and is geared around educating the audience on the habits and nature of these mammals. It was created when the company began caring for beached sea lions that were injured and unable to be put back into the wild. Zoë is an example of such creatures, as she was orphaned in California as a pup. Her mother died from pollution in the Pacific Ocean.

Due to the death of Sea Lions such as Zoë’s mother, Squalus, Inc. has integrated an anti-pollution/recycling campaign into their show. Zoë, now five years old, showed the audience what could happen when her natural curiosity would lead her to ingest part of a plastic bottle in the wild: she played dead, rolling over while holding the bottle in her mouth. After “coming back to life,” Zoë walked over and placed the bottle in a recycling bin reinforcing what Jessica had told the audience

The tropical setting complete with rocks, palm trees, waterfalls, foliage and two pools allows the audience to also see the underwater antics of these fascinating creatures.

As each show wraps up, audience members are provided with the opportunity to have a close sea lion encounter as well as a photo taken with one of the animals, like this one that appeared on the front page of Saturday’s Republican.

(Here's a link to the article on MassLive)

The show provides continuous entertainment for fairgoers at the north end of the Avenue of States. Showtimes are Monday through Friday, noon, 3:30, and 7:30 p.m. with an additional 10:30 a.m. show Saturday and Sunday.

Fun Sea Lion Facts:
---A sea lion is a sea mammal from the pinipedia family meaning “fin foot”
---They are amphibious, meaning they can live in and out of the water
---A sea lion can swim up to 24mph
---They can stay underwater for 10 – 15 minutes without coming up for air
---They can dive as far as 1,300 ft into the water
---Sea lions have course outer hairs called guard hairs that keep the animal warm

Differences between a sea lion and a seal:
---Sea Lions have ears
---Sea Lions have much larger Flippers than seals
---Sea Lions can rotate their hips which allows them to walk on land

Behind the Scenes with JJ: Natasha Bedingfield at The Big E

2008-09-14T09:25:00.000-04:00

From LA to West Springfield, Natasha Bedingfield pulled up to The Big E Friday night only minutes before the concert was scheduled to start. Missing her connecting flight, Bedingfield arrived in Hartford at 7 p.m., still needing to make the drive from the airport to be at The Big E by 8 p.m.

While the frustration of missing a flight and all of the rushing may have been more stress than a lot of people could handle, Bedingfield, a true professional, managed to calmly arrive at The Big E and get on stage by 8:08 p.m. The rain did not put a damper on that diva’s “pocket full of sunshine,” and she performed for dedicated fans who did not let the weather keep them away. Armed with Big E ponchos, the crowd didn’t miss a beat throughout the show. They all could really “feel the rain on their skin” as the show wrapped up and Natasha hung out with The Big E crew for about an hour before jetting off. That’s what happened last night at The Big E, but as far as the rest, it “is still unwritten.”

Below are several pictures from the concert.

ESE President Wayne McCary gretting Natasha

Day One at the Fair: One down and sixteen fun filled days to go!

2008-09-12T13:41:00.000-04:00

Its opening day here at The Big E and everything has started off with a bang. Yesterday, the Fair hosted a pre-Fair press conference and media party. The Press Conference revealed about The Big E’s Economic Impact of $22 million brought into the West Springfield area, and stories were already posted on the web by the time the media party started at 6 p.m. At the party, The Big E welcome area media personnel. Between the catered food and The Big E’s own cream puffs, nobody went hungry.

Today, The Big E hosts Military Appreciation Day, honoring those who currently serve in the military and veterans. The opening ceremony took place at 10 a.m. at the gate 5 Flag Plaza where The Big E honored Spc. Kenneth J. Iwasinski, an Army infantryman who made West Springfield his home and was killed October 14, 2007 in Iraq.

Tonight, Natasha Bedingfield will grace the Comcast Arena Stage, performing all of her hits. The concert is at 8 p.m., and tomorrow I will post details from JJ about everything that took place behind the scenes and before the concert.

This morning has already proved to be a busy day. My task today is to hand out new Big E buttons for our on-grounds campaign. The buttons boast little phrases such as “The Fair with Flair,” “Pro-Cream Puffs” and “The Bull Stops Here.” Anyone who is spotted wearing a button during the fair will have the opportunity to win prizes. Prizes may be anything from tickets to come back, a free cream puff, or even concert tickets.

Right now, out my office window, Malo is setting up on the Court of Honor Stage. We can hear their instruments preparing for the show to take place in just a few minutes as people gather to watch. They play daily at 12p.m. and 6 p.m. It’s a nice break from work to hear music flowing through the office.

Picture Tour of the pre-fair grounds

2008-09-08T09:05:00.000-04:00

The operations staff works so fast around here. Last week the fairgrounds looked like an empty parking lot with a few scattered buildings. Today, that parking lot is filled with food vendors, craft exhibits, rides, benches, and ticket booths. The flavor of the Fair is on its way. Just outside my window is a mini-donut booth which is such a tease since no one is working there yet. It just sits there making me impatient in anticipation of those warm, fresh donuts.

I took some pictures so everyone could see a little bit of what is happening this week, four days from opening day.

This is the beginning stages of The Big E Super Circus. The poles now hold up the massive tent that was lying on the ground this morning.

The food vendors are moving in, setting up shop and making us hungry.

The Giant Slide: Possibly one of the simplest, yet greatest attractions at The Big E awaits the screams and cheers of all who ride.

The Comcast Arena Stage is still in a trailer, but it will be up and ready for Natasha Bedingfield next Friday.

These benches wait to surround the Court of Honor Stage. That empty space will be full by Friday.

This massive crane is moving rides into place in the midway.

Here’s where those rides will end up.

Last, but not least, in this picture tour is Commerford’s Petting Zoo where rumor has it there will be baby lemurs this year.

More from JJ - the man with the job everyone wants!

2008-09-05T13:40:00.000-04:00

Natashe Bedingfield is in Europe right now, but I just got off the phone with her people. They are flying back into the states on Monday to come to The Big E!
Everything is pulling together for a great show on Friday!!!

--JJ

Only 6 days until The Big E, and you can not believe the craziness.

2008-09-05T09:20:00.001-04:00

Take a walk outside the back door of our office and you might think you took a wrong turn and ended up at a golf course. Twenty golf carts are lined up just outside so that all of the staff can easily and quickly get from one end of the Fair grounds to another prior to the Fair opening. For our department we use our cart to bring the media to different locations for photos and interviews.

Today my job was to take one the carts out with a photographer from the Republican. We circled around the entire Fair Grounds getting pictures of Fair preparations. His pictures consisted of eggs in the incubators, the state building cleaning crews, Mardi Gras floats and so much more. The pictures are going to be in the newspaper next Wednesday!

While touring the Fairgrounds I saw the Giant Tent of the Big E Super Circus in the process of going up. The Food Vendors are moving in and all of the booths and craft exhibits are setting up. RVs and mobile homes are arriving as vendors use them as home-base before and during the Fair. The two entertainment stages are being put together; chairs are being delivered and the stages themselves are going up. With only 6 days to go and so much still to be done, everyone will have to work quickly.

The Job that Everyone Wants!!!!

2008-08-29T12:08:00.000-04:00

So much is going on around the Eastern States Exposition to get ready for The Big E which opens in 15 days. The Marketing department, where I am, has been busy promoting the Fair and the entertainment. But our department doesn’t deal directly with the entertainers, and we thought everyone might like to hear from the person who does.

The man who has the job everyone wants, John Juliano, books the talent that comes to The Big E, and that can be some BIG name performers that he gets to work with. His official title is Special Events Director which includes talent buyer. However, just because the talent is booked doesn’t mean his job goes on hold. Right now, just 15 days before the first show, JJ is promoting the concerts, monitoring ticket sales, and tracking down managers. The managers still need to give him information on what these stars need: the sound and lighting, transportation, accommodations such as food and hotel rooms. JJ deals with so many details that tend to be last minute and can be quite stressful, but he wouldn’t change a minute of it.

What kind of last minute details does he deal with you might ask? Well, just two years ago when Brad Paisley was coming to the Comcast Arena Stage, JJ ran into a small fiasco with the stage. At that time, Paisley was touring with a brand new $3 million video wall that was quite the display. About 2 weeks before the Fair, JJ found out that Paisley was bringing this new screen that, come to find out, was TOO heavy to hang from the roof of the Comcast Arena Stage, and Paisley would not perform without the screen. JJ and his team had to scramble to find a roof that would support the screen and could be installed within two weeks. They found a company in Georgia that built and installed a roof before the beginning of the Fair. The roof went up and Brad Paisley performed on the first Sunday of the 2006 Fair. One day and thousands of dollars later, the roof came down and the old one was put back up. All in a days work for Mr. Juliano.

But JJ’s job is not just damage control. He gets to meet some down to earth stars and their teams, where some great memories are born. A recent memory that he shared with me took place last year when Trace Atkins came to the fair. Before concert time, an incognito Trace Atkins, who wore a baseball cap and dark sunglasses, toured the fair taking time to see all of the little aspects of The Big E. JJ found it amazing that a big star like Atkins would take the time to see our Fair and that he was there all day but no one knew. (You never know, if you’re here on concert day, who you’ll run into.)

After September 28, when the fair is over, JJ will begin to look for next year’s talent. His job involves keeping up on every genre of music and looking for the next big hit. Last year The Big E hosted DAUGHTRY, Trace Adkins, and Montgomery Gentry to name a few. JJ said that his secret to continuing to provide great shows is to not book the same talent the following year. That’s why this year The Big E will host Fergie, Natasha Bedingfield, Sugarland, Jordin Sparks, LeAnn Rimes, and Jason Aldean, to name a few. After these shows, he will continue to watch MTV, CMT and VH1; he will search online and talk to people of all age groups to see what music people are into. Next year he will bring a whole new flavor to the Fair. He’s been doing it for 25 years and loves every changing minute of it.

Keep checking back here and leave questions for JJ as stars arrive and the Fair unfolds.

Glamorous Pop-Stars Coming Soon to The Big E

2008-08-29T12:07:00.000-04:00

As a Fergie and Natasha Bedingfield fan, I am very excited to be at The Big E this fall while they will both be here. At work I hear their music floating around the office as different pieces of media are being produced. Seeing it all come together increases my excitement for the concerts.

Concerts are so much fun to attend. Between the screaming fans and the rockin’ music, there’s not much that I enjoy more. With a show like Fergie, the music is so great that you can’t help but dance in front of your seat (I don’t think anyone really sits at a show like hers). But with Natasha you just want to belt out the lyrics!

The closer we get to the shows, the more ticket-selling details that have to be handled. It is pretty neat to see how the other end of ticket sales is handled. We open up the seating chart to see which seats are filled and which seats are still open. Right now we’re designating the radio contest tickets. We work with the radio stations in the greater Springfield and Connecticut area to put together contests to win free concert tickets.

An Evening with Fergie is on September 28 and Natasha Bedingfield performs on September 12, so time is tight with getting the contest details worked out. Deadlines make the job even more exciting.

Sugarland is Sold Out!!!!

2008-08-25T15:50:00.000-04:00

On September 27, 2008, country-hit-making duo, Sugarland, will perform to a sold out crowd at The Big E on the Comcast Arena Stage.
The dynamic Country duo, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, have taken the music industry by storm producing hit after hit. Their Mercury Nashville debut, Twice the Speed of Life, was certified Double Platinum and in 2005, they received the Breakthrough Favorite New Artist award at the American Music Awards.
All of their hard work and award-winning songs have created popularity among country music fans of all ages.

Tickets are still available for Natasha Bedingfield and Fergie who are also performing on the Comcast Arena Stage. Natasha Bedingfield will open the Fair on September 12, while Fergie will close the fair with a show on Sept 28. Tickets are available at TheBigE.com.

Countdown: 17 days to The Big E

2008-08-25T09:59:00.000-04:00

And all the little details are coming together.

As part of the Marketing team, I have been able to be a part of planning this year’s marketing campaign. I never realized how much planning went into advertising and promotion. So much forethought took place before everything was put together, but all the planning is worth it in the end. Approvals have been made, our billboards are up, our brochures are out and ads have been placed. It’s exciting watching it all unfold as days creep closer and closer to the fair.

Start thinking Mardi Gras in Massachusetts
One of my favorite things to do at the Fair is stand alongside the parade route and watch it float by. Between the music, costumes and extravagant floats it more like a show than a parade. It’s always astonishing to me to witness adults turning into children again as they dive for Mardi Gras beads.

Special Days
This year’s state and special days have been finalized.
Friday, Sept. 12 – Military Appreciation Day - Free admission for active duty military, Coast Guard and Reserve personnel and dependents, with military IDs. Free admission for veterans with ID (Copy of DD-214 or proof of membership to any veterans' organization)
Saturday, Sept. 13 – 4-H & FFA Day
Sunday, Sept. 14 – Salute to Storrowton Day/Cultura 2008 – Celebrating Hispanic Heritage at The Big E
Monday, Sept. 15 – West Springfield Day, sponsored by NewAlliance Bank
Tuesday, Sept. 16 – Rhode Island Day
Wednesday, Sept. 17 – Connecticut Day, sponsored by NewAlliance Bank
Thursday, Sept. 18 – Massachusetts Day
Friday, Sept. 19 – New Hampshire Day
Saturday, Sept. 20 – Vermont Day & Trustees’ Day
Sunday, Sept. 21 – Grange Day
Monday, Sept. 22 – Springfield Day
Tuesday, Sept. 23 – Chicopee Day, sponsored by Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation
Wednesday, Sept. 24 – Agawam Day – sponsored by Taylor Rental/Taylor Rental Party Plus of Agawam
Thursday, Sept. 25 – Westfield Day – sponsored by PeoplesBank
Friday, Sept. 26– New England Specialty Food Day
Saturday, Sept. 27– Maine Day
Sunday, Sept. 28 – Classic Car Day

A Rainy Day at the Big E office

2008-08-06T16:48:00.000-04:00

Today is a rainy day at The Big E office. The sound of rain steadily beats against the window and everyone here is glad to be inside. The office is pretty quiet since the fair is quickly approaching and everyone is getting work done. So many little details still need to be finished. Between concert details, finishing the guidebook and everything else, we will be busy right up until the Fair which is quickly approaching. Tickets for the fair are already on sale and the concert tickets are selling….Sugarland is almost sold out!

Besides concerts and guidebooks, our Harvest New England Kitchen Theater details are also being worked out. This year the kitchen theater is focusing on local talent. Rich Camerota, host of Cooking With Carando; Debi Llorens, a graduate of the Connecticut Culinary Institute; Kim Bensen, weight loss expert turned TV-show host; a chef from the Hofbrauhaus, as well as Carmelina's just to name of few of those who will appear in the kitchen. It ought to be a spectacular seventeen days of scrumptious food.

We are also finalizing the food that will be at the fair this year. Think deep fried…..Deep fried Oreos and pickles, as well as, cheesecake on a stick and a deep fried baloney sandwich. Your mother always told you to eat your vegetables, so, why not have them deep fried too: green beans, zucchini…. you can even have an awesome onion. Taste buds not tickled by deep fried? Try a bag of warm mini donuts, cheese on a stick, seafood, a Pot Roast Sundae, gorgonzola fries, or apple fritter nuggets. But save room because The Big E has brought Herbert’s Cajun Kitchen to New England Avenue. They will be cooking up some delicious delights. Try Shrimp Etouffee, Jambalaya, Gumbo, Sausage or Chicken Po-Boys, Bear’s Stuffed Sausage breads, Brick of Fries (plain, garlic buttered, or Cajun), Blackened Chicken or Shrimp on a stick, Pull Pork Po-boys, Sticky Chicken, Red beans and rice, Bread pudding, a Hurricane drink served in lighted L.E.D. glasses, Louisiana coffee, or Hot chocolate: all served with Mardi Gras beads. And finish off with dessert in the form of a Big E Cream Puff or Big Éclair or, back by popular demand, a Belgian Waffle Sundae.

Keep checking here for more updates on what’s going on up to the fair and during the fair!

--BiggiE

Reasons why I love the Big E

2008-07-16T14:19:00.000-04:00

There are always awesome shows
I can eat my way through it: donuts, potatoes, fried dough YUM!!!
The shopping
All of the animals
The rides

Why do you love the Big E?