Get Ready for the 2013 Big E Entertainment

Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy - Daily, 11am, 1 & 6:30pm - Hilby has thrilled audiences on Storrowton Village Museum’s Gazebo Stage and now he brings his antics front and center on the Court of Honor. If you haven’t seen him, you’re in for a treat. Watch out for the bowling ball!

DJ Pauly D, Sept. 13, 8pm, Dance Party!

Named 7th on the list of “World’s Highest Paid DJs” by Forbes Magazine, Pauly D ranks among the globe’s most respected and distinguished disc jockeys. Paul “DJ Pauly D” DelVecchio brings his eclectic track selection, incomparable style, and infectious personality to The Big E. Put on your dancing shoes and join the fun!

Don Felder - A Night at the Hotel California - Saturday, Sept. 14

After his rise to stardom as lead guitarist of The Eagles, Don Felder is flying solo. The former Eagle continues to live up to his legendary talent and performances that he has always been known for. Felder’s latest album, “Road to Forever,” includes an array of impressive musicians including David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steven Stills, and Randy Jackson.

Tommy James & the Shondells - Sunday, Sept. 15 -Tommy James and The Shondells were among the first to experiment with music videos. Their first major hit, “Hanky Panky,” was followed by “Crimson and Clover.” After that came seven more back-to-back smash hits including: “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion” and “Mony Mony.”

Darlene Love - Sept. 14-16, 3 & 8pm - Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, Darlene Love, started her career in the 60s singing lead vocals on a string of hits including “He’s a Rebel,” “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry” and “(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home.” Take a stroll with Darlene down music’s memory lane.

Mike Pender of The Searchers - Sept. 17-20, 3 & 8pm - Known for his affiliation with the 1960s Rock group, The Searchers, Mike Pender’s musical success follows him to The Big E. The Searchers scored 3 #1 hits including “Needles and Pins” and “Love Potion Number 9.” They were, at one time, considered the second most successful group behind the Beatles.

Hunter Hayes - Friday, Sept. 20 - $39/$29 - At just 21 years-old, singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes’ heartfelt Pop-Country voice has earned him a Grammy nomination and the opportunity to perform with three of country’s most celebrated artists: Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood. Hayes has charmed his audience with songs such as “Storm Warning,” “Wanted,” and “Somebody’s Hero.” He has topped the Country charts in the U.S. and Canada since his debut album was released in October 2011.

The Diamond Collection - Sept. 21, 3 & 8pm - Local talent, Kenny LaBelle, brings The Diamond Collection, his show honoring superstar Neil Diamond’s music, to The Big E. 

Symphonic Sounds of Elvis featuring Maestro Joe Guercio - Saturday, Sept. 21 - Known for his involvement in Elvis’s orchestra from 1970-1977, Maestro Joe Guercio brings the King of Rock and Roll’s legacy to this year’s Big E. Special guests include Elvis’s Imperials and vocalist Andy Childs. Don’t miss out on this rockin’ opportunity to honor the King of Rock and Roll.

The Soul Survivors - Sept. 22-25, 3 & 8pm - Get ready for a taste of R&B from Philadelphia’s Soul Survivors as they take the “Expressway to Your Heart.”

Ides of March - Sept. 26-29 - 3 & 8pm - Their 1970 smash “Vehicle” started a string of hit records including “Eye of the Tiger” and “The Search is Over.”

 

Kix Brooks - Fri. Sept. 27 - Kix Brooks is best known for his success with Brooks & Dunn, the bestselling Country music twosome of all time. Together, they sold over 30 million records, won more than 75 major industry awards, had 23 #1 hits and scored 41 Top Ten singles. In 2006, he joined American Country Countdown and was honored with the 2009 National Broadcasting Personality of the Year award. He is the first person to win a CMA in both the artist and broadcast categories.

Austin Mahone – Saturday, Sept. 28 – 7:30 p.m. - At just 17 years old, singer-songwriter Austin Mahone is poised for stardom. Already making his mark on the scene, he recently sold out New York’s famed Best Buy Theater within minutes of on-sales. His current single, “Say You’re Just a Friend” is lighting up the radio and climbing the charts. Mahone recently released a new album titled What About Love.

The Beach Boys - Sunday, Sept. 29 - Beach Boys Mike Love and Bruce Johnston take fairgoers on a Surfin’ Safari down memory lane playing a torrent of hits that sold albums by the tens of millions. The Beach Boys changed the musical landscape of their day and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. The original duo is joined by Christian Love, Randell Kirsch, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill and Scott Totten as they continue the legacy of this iconic American band.

Counting Down: One Month Until Fairtime

The humidity has lifted, and the August air is shifting towards the crispness of fall. Soon my father’s lemon tree will be inside for the next nine months, my backyard pool will be closed, and it will be time to return to school before I’ve finished packing my clothes and belongings for my Amherst apartment. With the seasonal transition comes the end of BBQs and hot dogs, fresh vegetables from my father’s garden and the bittersweet feelings of leaving the warm nights and beach days behind.

It also marks the end of my summer as a marketing assistant at The Big E, where I have learned the ins and outs of journalistic writing and formed great relationships with the marketing team. Since early June I’ve been coming into the office from 9-5, holding a job much different than those of my friends at school. Instead of serving customers at a local restaurant or country club, or working as a lifeguard at a local pool, I am doing something I enjoy and gaining the experience I will need after graduation. I love it here, and as the Fair draws closer, I become aware of the limited time I have left.

Each day I write stories on cream puffs, Craz-E Burgers and the animals that star in the major competitions, and I revisit my childhood and the excitement I felt around seeing the livestock and elephants up close. Each year I begged my parents to take me to the Fair, and for the most part, they did. Then in high school I marched in the parade with the Minnechaug Band, leaving school early and indulging in tasty treats and riding the Giant Yellow Slide. It was one of my favorite days in the school year.

Fast forward to today, Aug. 13, 2013. It is exactly one month until the Fair, and my experience with The Big E has evolved into so much more than eating fried dough and shopping for flannel shirts in the Vermont Building. Becoming a part of the behind-the-scenes Marketing team, I now understand the endless hours of preparation ESE goes through to make the Fair possible.

Soon I will leave my position behind to start my classes, welcoming the crisp air and the changing leaves as they become a pumpkin shade of orange and a cardinal red before falling to the ground. Warm cider and crisp McIntosh apples will fill my kitchen, and flannel shirts will replace the short sleeves and sundresses I’ve been wearing since May.

New England is breathtaking in the fall, but I know that I will miss my summer writing job and the people I am lucky enough to work with. In a way though, it isn’t truly over until Sept. 29, the last day of the Fair. For those 17 days I can still revisit the grounds and drop by the office as if I never left, and going back to school was simply a detour.  

Tales From Haunted New England

Tuesday, October 30 7:00pm

It’s that time of year, Halloween is coming. Every channel is featuring spooky movies, and every other commercial seems to feature a horror movie. Between the music and special effects, movies can be scary, even spooky, but in our highly digital world, we often forget the power of storytelling.

This year’s spooky storytelling program will feature ESE’s own Dennis Picard, who for many years has done similar presentations for various audiences all over New England.

This is don’t miss event!

The lights will be dim and the candles flickering in our 1834 Meeting House as Dennis presents an evening of true and eerie tales, mysterious happenings, and scary stories from the darker side of New England history that just may raise the hairs on the back of your neck!

Tales From Haunted New England will run approximately 45 minutes. Admission is $5.00 per person, children, adults, and seniors.

Fiber Festival Photos

It's time to start thinking cozy sweaters and warm scarves as the cooler weather is upon us, and as we're getting closer to the 3rd annual Fiber Festival of New England, we thought we'd take a picture tour of last year's event.

Come to the 3rd annual Fiber Festival, November 3-4, 2012, to see where you favorite fall fibers come from. Get inspired for your next craft, maybe pick up some yarn to knit with or buy a cozy hat for winter.

Last year's fashion show featured some adorable autumn attire. Check it out below and don't foget to

Here are some other items that were featured at last year's Fiber Festival.

Ready to shop? I know I am. Don't miss the Fiber Festival of New England, November 3-4, 2012, at Eastern States Exposition. For more information check out the Fiber Festival page on our blog or go to FiberFestival.org.

You can see more Fiber Festival photos on our Flickr page or on Pinterest.

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