Most Memorable Fair Moments!

One for the Record Books!

The 2012 Big E was one for the record books! New ESE President, Eugene Cassidy, record breaking attendance,  unique landscapes, top-of-the-line entertainment and a double rainbow to boot!

With 1,365,896 fairgoers this year, it was certainly a year to be remembered. Let's take a picture tour of some of our most memorable moments of the 2012 Big E!

This year, we introduced our Ad Van which could be found touring the Northeast beginning in upstate New York and finishing in West Springfield, Mass.

ESE Landscaper, Scott Paton, introduced our fairgoers to the latest trend in natural scenery - ornamental peppers.  These little gems created quite the stir among our patrons. While not spicy like the edible look-a-likes, these peppers really have no flavor and were developed just for aesthetic appeal. However, many a fairgoer was caught red-handed, testing the taste for themselves.

Getting Political....

Many elected officials stop by The Big E, touring the fairgrounds. This year, our local officials made a stop by the Fair, and toured the grounds and the Massachusetts Building.  Seen right, Massachusetts U.S. Senator Scott Brown talks with ESE Mascot BiggiE. Below, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and ESE President Gene Cassidy share ideas.  

Top-of-the-Line Entertainment

In 2012, The Big E Comcast Arena Stage featured big names in Country music, a world famous ventriloquist, a pop-sensation, and Doo Wop!

Hot Chelle Rae kicked off the performances at The Big E, rocking the house!

The second Saturday of the fair featured The Big E Doo Wop show.

Rodney Atkins played to a full house the second Sunday of the Fair.

Billy Currington rocked the house despite the sub-par weather. And Jeff Dunham made a sold out crowd roll on the floor laughing with new material from his Minding the Monsters special!

Alan Jackson rounded out the Fair with a sold out performance! Perfect way to end the Fair!

Around the Fair! 

 There was much to see and do this year at the Fair. Catherine Hickland highlighted Storrowton Village with her hypnotizing performance. Randy Burns, The Mechanical Man, walked around the grounds while fairgoers tried to guess, is he man or machine? UMASS Basketball joined us on the Avenue of States giving lessons to local youth.

Around the grounds there were many delights to discover. From decorated pumpkins to Walking in a Winter Wonderland, the 2012 displays were unique and creative. 

Shop 'til you drop!

The Big E is home to some of the most unique items on the market, like these Infinity Lamps!

Agriculture at its Best!

The Circus - impressive talent as always! To the left, Duo A&A show off their incredible strength and balancing abilities.

A ZUMBA Flash mob at the Court of Honor!

Even the Staff has to have fun!

A crew of staff members including ESE President, Gene Cassidy, took a run down the McDonald's Giant Slide.

And to cap it off, a double rainbow on the last day!

See you next year for another fabulous Fair.

The Big E: Sept. 13-29, 2013

Another fair season fades away...

It seems I blinked, and it went from Labor Day to September 30. With all the work that goes into the preparation of The Big E, the year of planning, the build up to opening day, it’s hard to believe that that 17-days are gone like that! 

It’s a bittersweet feeling as the fair comes to a close. The Big E ending means normal sleeping hours and regular meals, but at the same time it’s the end of the experience for me. Next year, there will be a different person sitting at my desk, writing blog posts, maintaining Facebook and Twitter, and interviewing the Hosts of the Day.
It’s been such a privilege to be back at The Big E and working with such wonderful people. I’ve had an amazing time in the midst of the chaos.

From racing ESE President Eugene Cassidy down the yellow slide to taking silly pictures on the green screen in Walking in a Winter Wonderland, it’s really been a blast.

 

Our attendance was record breaking this year! We broke seven records before Sunday: six of them for daily attendance and one for overall fair attendance. Before Saturday was even over, The Big E had broken it s all time attendance record. It’s definitely fun to be a part of a historic year.

And to top it all off, the Fair ended with a gorgeous double rainbow.

Until next year!

One Week to Big E 2012!

One week! That’s all that stands between us and the 2012 Big E. Looking out my office window onto the grounds, I can see vendors taking their places, banners flying, tables and chairs where there once was open space, and cars bustling around as if the grounds were its own small town. One week! It’s hard to believe that in just seven days, the cars will be replaced with the bustling of fairgoers who are eager to try the latest fare, try the newest rides, and take in the sights of The Big E. One week!

I admit I am excited for autumn’s clothes: boots, scarves and hoodies, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet that it’s actually fall. Maybe it’s the fact that I’m not returning to school this year for the first time in 20 years, or maybe it’s because this warm, humid weather has over stayed its welcome, but I can’t believe that the staple event of fall in Western Massachusetts will be here in one week.


I know I can’t be alone. For me, the arrival of fall always brings mixed feelings, but as the fairgrounds fill up, I am less melancholy and more elated about what is coming in one week!

What’s coming to The Big E, you ask? Well I will tell you what I am most excited about.

Working in the marketing office, I had the distinct pleasure of sampling the deep fried lasagna, and holy moly! Let me tell you, if you don’t try it, you are missing out. I know what you’re thinking, lasagna is amazing by itself, why fry it? Well, if you like fried cheese of any sort, you’ll understand. This lasagna noodle is stuffed with cheese, double breaded, fried and then topped with sauce. Don’t even act like you’re mouth isn’t watering as you read this.

I also was able to get a sneak peak and taste of the fried Samoas which are equally AMAZING! Yes, they’re similar to the concept of a fried Oreo, but the flavor and texture when you bite into the batter is unique and otherworldly. It’s a chewy, nutty, chocolate combination that’s worth the calories.


Being on the inside of the set up operation this year, I have also been able to watch while the Fair comes together. I’ve paid particular attention to the conception and assembly of the Walking in a Winter Wonderland exhibit. The display is like a greeting card come to life. Enjoy walking through a maze of Christmas trees, traversing a Big E blizzard (yes there will be real snow!), and taking in holiday scenes around every bend. Yes, I’m aware that it’s not even Thanksgiving yet! We’re not trying to rush time, we want to enjoy every minute of fall, but this display is so breathtaking, it will almost make you wish that the winter holidays were here.

There’s so much to look forward to next week! Shows, exhibits and food! What are you looking forward to most about fall and this year’s Fair?

24 days out…

I left my house for my morning run. It was six a.m., and while the sun was up, it was chilly. Not so cold that I didn’t want to go out, but cold enough that I needed a long-sleeved shirt. As I was moving steadily and the crisp air was filling my lungs, I realized it has happened again, summer is rapidly wrapping up. It seems that the sunny season is transient, ending as quickly as it begins, and every year summer seems to go by more and more quickly. For those of us who think life begins at the beach, love that the sun doesn’t set until nearly 8:30 p.m. and think that flip flops should be work appropriate, the beginning of fall brings a bittersweet feeling. Yet, as the cool breeze moved through my hair, I started to think about what the change of the season brings with it.

First, there is that crisp feeling that morning and evenings begin to have. That feeling reminds me that soon the leaves will change to ethereal colors of burgundy, rich orange and bright yellow. It also reminds me that I will be able to wear my fall clothes again. Nothing beats that feeling of wrapping up in a warm sweater on a cool day to go apple picking or a cozy sweatshirt over my jeans to take a hike and enjoy the colors of fall. It also reminds me that The Big E is coming, and that makes me not quite as sad to say farewell to the ocean for another season.

The Big E is coming, and it’s coming as quickly as summer is fading…24 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes to be exact. I’m looking forward to Opening Day of the Fair and the smells and sights that come along with it. Just the as the crisp feeling of cool air this morning elicited many emotions, so do the smells that come along with The Big E. Immediately, it takes me back to my childhood when the Fair was a magical experience. As I breathe in the smell of fried dough and hear the sounds of laughter coming from the Midway, I feel like a kid again when life was less complicated.

As I think about The Big E this year, I am looking forward to trying new foods. I read the description of the fried lasagna, and my mouth starts to water. I’ve already had the distinct pleasure of taste testing the Deep Friend Samoas, and let me tell you…YUM! The only stress for me at The Fair is having to choose between fried cheese curd and mini donuts. Sometimes you just have to indulge in both.

I’m also looking forward to the entertainment. Part of the Fair experience for me is getting to enjoy shows locally. As a Western Mass native, I’ve become used to traveling to Hartford or Boston to enjoy a concert or comedian, but when The Big E is here, I get to enjoy a show in my own backyard. I am ready and waiting to see Peanut, Walter and Achmed…oh and Jeff Dunham!

I guess I really am excited for fall to arrive. Each season has its treasures, and I’m looking forward to the joys of autumn.

--
The Big E blog is written by Beth, our Marketing Assistant.

Storrowton Village Herb Garden

Today, Storrowton Village Museum hosted a tour of Aunt Helen’s Herb Garden. The garden was packed with visitors taking advantage of the gorgeous weather and fragrant garden. Located in the backyard of the museum’s Gilbert Farmstead, the garden is more than 75 years old.

As a “teaching garden,” the plot houses more than the average cooking herbs, too. It is divided into sections by use including medicinal, household, and textile uses, though some herbs have multiple uses.

 The tour will provided guests with hands-on demonstrations of some of the herbs’ different uses.

The garden is set in the middle of Storrowton Village, and all the garden plots in the Village are in full bloom. Beautiful Black Eye Susan spread through a bed outside the Carriage House.

 

 Here’s a close up. They almost look fake!

 

On the light poles surrounding the Village green, are these beautiful hanging baskets filled with impatiens.

It’s such a simple basket, but really brightens up Storrowton Village.

October Snow Disaster

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!

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.