ATTENTION BIG E LOVERS: Welcome to 17 days of Pure Joy

The wait is finally over! Opening day gates are unlocked, breakfast is being served, animals are showing, and all exhibits & buildings will be open by 10am. The streets are bustling with vendors, the grills are fired up and the first fairgoers have arrived! You can smell the fairtime aromas as you approach The Big E grounds. At The Big E, you’re guaranteed to experience Excitement, Education, and Exploration! This year there are many new exhibitors and attractions for fairgoers to enjoy.

Today, Friday, Sept. 13, enjoy “Be a Kid for a Day”, when everyone pays the child’s price of $10 for admittance and “Military Appreciation Day” - ID required for free admission for:

•    Active duty military personnel
•        Dependents of active duty military personnel
•    Veterans (no dependents)

Visit the new Wine and Cheese Barn to sample and purchase products from selected winners of The Big E Northeast Gold Wine and Gold Medal Cheese Competition. Treasures of the Hard Rock is a fantastic exhibit that displays a collection of iconic music memorabilia. It’s your chance to have a sneak peek into the Hard Rock “Vault.” Also, new to the Fair are the Swifty Swine Racing Pigs who are sure to tickle your heart as they race against each other for an Oreo cookie. And don’t forget to visit the Midway to ride the new, spectacular Mach 3! But that’s not all; there are many more newcomers to discover as you stroll down the roads of The Big E.

Today, The Big E Grande Mardi Gras parade will hit the streets at 5pm and DJ Pauly D will be performing on the Court Honor Stage at 8pm. He’ll be spinning records to create a memorable dance party that is sure to light up the night!

During each day of the Fair, there are many events and entertaining performances to see. It’s a challenge to visit all of The Big E’s breathtaking attractions in one day – and taste each of the amazing new foods! So we welcome you to partake in 17 days of pure joy at The Big E.

Goodbye, Hello

As each day passes we get one day closer to the start of the 2013 Big E! Crunch time is upon us as we come into the last two weeks of preparation and set-up before the Fair begins. As we look outside the windows, everything is coming together. Tents are going up, vendors are arriving and the excitement on the grounds has been kicked up a few more notches.

Farwell Party for Caroline Lasorsa

Last week we said, “see you soon” to the Marketing department Summer Writer, Caroline Lasorsa. She is now back at UMass Amherst to complete her senior year. This week we begin anew as we welcome Anne-Alise Pietruska and Lauren Silvis to the Department for the Fall Fair season. Pietruska is a Communications major at Westfield State University and Silvis is a recent Marketing Communications/Advertising graduate of Western New England University.

Pietruska and Silvis are honored that they have been given the opportunity to promote The Big E. Working behind the scenes in the Marketing department and understanding all that goes into orchestrating the Fair is incredible – and they are proud to be a part of it. It’s a chance of a lifetime that will enhance their skills and experiences.

Both girls will be assisting Eastern States Exposition staff members and performing various tasks around the fairgrounds – from writing press releases to assisting at traditional Fair competitions and contests. To see the girls’ most recent work, make sure you keep watching The Big E on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Blogger.

The Big E opens next Friday, Sept. 13 and runs through Sept. 29. The 97^th annual Big E officially begins at 8am. Join us on Opening Day for Be a Kid for a Day when you only pay children’s price admission and Military Appreciation Day – ID required for free admission for:

§  Active duty military personnel

§  Dependents of the active duty military personnel

§  Veterans (no dependents)

Make sure you’re at the gates early to be one of the first to explore and taste the flavors of this year’s Fair! Don’t forget to stay for the first ever Big E dance party with DJ Pauly D at 8pm on the Court of Honor Stage! See you here!

New England Craft Beer Pub

Do you love the pub atmosphere as you wash your favorite meal down with a pint of ice cold, refreshing beer? Well you’re in luck because for the first time in Big E history, the Fair is teaming up with local restaurateur, Peter Rosskothen, and a wide selection of New England craft breweries to open the New England Craft Beer Pub across from the Rhode Island Building.

Featured breweries include Long Trail, Woodchuck Cidery and Shed Brewery of Vermont; Baxter Brewing, Peak Organic Brewery, Rising Tide Brewing Company and Shipyard Brewing Company of Maine; Sommerville Brewing Company, Westfield River Brewing Company, Ipswich Ale Brewery and Notch Brewing Company of Massachusetts; Thomas Hooker Brewing Company of Connecticut; Grey Sail Brewing and Foolproof Brewing Company of Rhode Island; and Smuttynose Brewing Company of New Hampshire. As an added bonus, brewers from these companies will visit the New England Craft Beer Pub on their respective “State Day” to educate fairgoers on their products.

To make for the ultimate pub experience, the New England Craft Beer Pub will feature a list of menu pairings to match each beer. Try our delicious Lobster Mac ‘n Cheese and pair it with a Westfield River Oktoberfest. For a lighter meal; enjoy a Cape Cod Chop Chop Salad with a Thomas Hooker Blonde Ale.

Bring the whole family and enjoy an extensive menu of pub favorites. Looking for a home style meal? We have a rich, delicious chicken pot pie and a hearty stout beef stew. For something a little different try our Irish nachos which are covered in corned beef, bacon, tomato, onion and cheddar cheese. Finish your meal with apple and berry cobbler topped with whipped cream. Yum!

Mix and match your beers and meals, or enjoy them by themselves at the New England Craft Beer Pub.

The Countdown: 15 Days Until Fairtime

The Fair is 15 days away and the grounds are buzzing with excitement as everything  comes together. Walking through the grounds you can see vendors’ tents are being set up and the white Ticket Booths are being polished to shine brightly. The Grounds department is working tirelessly to plant beautiful flowers and put finishing touches on the landscaping. Here at Eastern States Exposition we can’t wait for The Big E to be back in full swing!

Hard Rock: More than Meets the Eye

Until I started working for Eastern States Exposition as the Marketing department’s summer writer, I never understood how much work went into The Big E. To be honest, I never really thought about it, but the exposure I have had thus far has introduced to me the hard work and effort this company puts forth to ensure the 17 days of fun that takes place every September.

Behind closed doors, this company is smaller than you would expect. In the Marketing department alone, there are only five of us, myself included, but as a team we work laboriously to get out every piece of information to the public as quickly and efficiently as possible.

We are currently working on a variety of projects, sharing with the public the Fair details as they unfold. An even bigger challenge awaits us as we collaborate with Hard Rock New England in hopes of building the only hotel and casino resort destination in Western Massachusetts.

Here at The Big E we are excited for this opportunity to come to our community because the benefits are endless. As a company, Hard Rock International prides itself in philanthropy and preaches its motto, “Love all – Serve All” throughout the world and reaches out to others to help those in need.

Eastern States Exposition’s collaboration with Hard Rock is due, in part, to similar beliefs in giving back to the community. Since 1916, Eastern States has been a successful, not-for-profit company built from the ground up through the philanthropy and leadership of its founder Joshua L. Brooks.

Eastern States flourishes in its original mission to give back to the community and remains rooted in agriculture, so why would a corporation like The Big E encourage and invite a company like Hard Rock New England onto its grounds?

•  Hard Rock’s presence will not take the place, or even interfere with, The Big E. The annual fair that you have grown to love will remain as is.
•  Hard Rock has agreed to promote restaurants and other establishments by creating a Restaurants Association.
•  Hard Rock will be purchasing an estimated $50 million worth of goods and services from local businesses annually. The developer will also create a network of small businesses and work to identify capabilities, products, services and resources with the help of the West of the River Chamber of Commerce.
•  As part of a $35 million overall project cost, Hard Rock is planning to build a new exit off Route 5 to directly access the resort.
•  Memorial Avenue gets a complete makeover spending more than $10.5 million in reconstructing the road from the Memorial Bridge rotary to the Morgan-Sullivan bridge. New sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and beautification are part of the project. In addition, bicycle lanes and ADA-compliant crosswalks will make the area more pedestrian-friendly. This will be at no cost to the Town or its taxpayers.
• Eastern States and Hard Rock will team up to support initiatives in the Town, including some of the organizations Hard Rock has already reached out to—The Parish Cupboard;  Boys & Girls Club of West Springfield; The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts; the local Red Cross; American Cancer Society;  West Springfield Garden Club; the Taste of West Springfield; Friends of the Library and others. 
• It’s more than a Casino. Hard Rock New England will feature shopping, restaurants including the iconic Hard Rock Café, and an entertainment arena which will attract major musical acts and shows to the Pioneer Valley.

Many people express concern with the effects a casino will have on our community, but what they overlook is the benefits that an organization like Hard Rock will bring to West Springfield. Casino gaming is just a small detail in Hard Rock’s presence in this city, but unfortunately it is what people emphasize most. Hard Rock’s philanthropic ideals will work side by side with Eastern States Exposition’s beliefs in giving back to make West Springfield an even better place to live.

Media Gets a Taste of New Fairtime Food

Deep fried delights are a staple at The Big E, and each year fairgoers come from all over to drop the diet for a day or two and indulge in fairtime favorites. To kick off the Fair with new delicious delicacies, the media was invited to have a taste, and all of our guests were very pleased.

If you love The Big E’s Craz-E Burger as much as we do, you won’t be able to resist the Craz-E Breakfast Sandwich. Like our famous burger, our new addition to the breakfast menu replaces bread with a glazed donut. But instead of a burger, fairgoers will enjoy the combination of egg and cheese and choice of sausage or bacon. One of our special guests described the sandwich with bacon as “ridiculously good.” Find the Craz-E Breakfast Sandwich at the Big EZ Café.

If breakfast food isn’t your cup of tea, The Big E is introducing new desserts. Described by one of our guests as the “most delicious ice cream alternative imaginable,” the new Baconana is an ice-cold, frozen banana covered in chocolate and sprinkled with real bacon. Your taste buds will be zapped with a salty surprise at the end of each bite, perfecting the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Find this new fruity favorite at the Veggie Patch on Commonwealth Ave.

The Big E’s tradition of deep frying unusual foods like Kool-Aid and jelly beans continues with the introduction of their new Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake. These vendors are experts at what they do, and while you might expect the shortcake to dissolve the second you bite into it, these chefs have perfected the recipe by covering the berry-filled dough with a won ton wrapper. The shortcake comes prepared with powdered sugar and chocolate sauce or strawberries and whipped cream. Visit the Coffee Break to try this new fair addition.

The Fair will also feature other savory treats guaranteed to satisfy any palate. The Moolicious Pie Shack will feature Peach, Blueberry, Apple, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Turtle and Pecan pies, which will be served a la mode. Also available are Moo-Nuts, a delectable donut stuffed with soft serve ice cream and a variety of toppings.

Don’t forget about classic BBQ style lunches. The Ultimate BBQ has a new lunchtime addition with its Three Pigs in a Bun. Pork-lovers will want to try this 6-inch grinder roll filled with grilled pork sausage, bacon and pulled pork. The Big E is your last chance of the season to enjoy corn on the cob. Choose a flavored butter at Meester Mike’s Corn on New England Avenue.

The New England Craft Beer Pub is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy an ice cold beer made in local breweries across New England. Pair your favorite local brew with classic and upscale pub food such as our lobster mac and cheese and Reuben sandwich.

Each year The Big E celebrates its love for food with fairgoers from all over New England. We can’t wait to see what you think about our new additions. We know you won’t be disappointed. 

NEW! Big E Wine and Cheese Barn

There’s been a lot of buzz and construction around the grounds and for good reason! The Big E has completed its installation of the brand-new Big E Wine and Cheese Barn and we can’t wait for it to open during the Fair! The new barn will feature award-winning wines and cheese from the Annual Big E Northeast Gold Wine Competition and Big E Gold Medal Cheese Competition. Stop by during the Fair and sample all New England cheese entries and a selection of Northeast wines. Find your favorite pairings and take them home to share with friends and family.

Step inside the new barn and experience a brief break from the hustle bustle of the Fair. You will temporarily leave the cream puffs and deep fried deliciousness behind and feel like you’ve entered a New England vineyard and specialty cheese shop. Speak with vintners and find the wine that tickles your taste buds and the cheese that suits your palate or favorite homemade recipe.

The new barn will feature a variety of wines, from white and red to sparkling and mead. Try Rhode Island’s Great White Wine from Newport Vineyards or Cape Cod’s award-winning Zinfandel from Truro Vineyards. This new addition to The Big E has something for everyone.

Judging for The Big E Gold Medal Cheese Competition will take place Aug. 23, 2013. We can’t wait to taste this year’s entries!

The Barn is adjacent to the beautiful Mallary Gardens, an oasis of native flowers surrounding a Koi pond created by Picture Perfect Ponds, steps away from our main entrance at Gate 9-A.