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!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
New! At the 2010 Big E
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!
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?
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!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Musicians Hall of Fame comes to the 2010 Big E
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!
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.
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!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Making of Maria Margerita: An interview with artist Pat Ormsby
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!
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!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
We're just two months away...
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.
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/!
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.
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/!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
How Does It All Come Together?
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."
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."
Friday, October 2, 2009
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.
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.
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