Back to The Big E
Life is a little sweeter around Big E time — and it’s not just because the air becomes infused with plumes of powdered sugar. Each year, The Big E in West Springfield brings with it big fun, big stars, and if you’re over 30, big (and completely worthwhile) indigestion. It also brings a healthy dose of nostalgia as many people in the Valley — and beyond — have gone to The Big E with friends and family every year of their lives, enjoying the music, agriculture, acres of vendors, midway rides, games, and food, glorious grease-sizzled, cheesey, gooey, exotic, salty, sweet foods. In 2015, all the familiar favorites will be back: the New England buildings, the Better Living Center bazaar, the Morgan horse show, ag awards, the butter cow, the big yellow slide, the cute little hatchlings, the circus, the smallest horse in the world, and the Maine baked potatoes (pro tip: skip the line and get yourself a spud at Billie’s Baked Potatoes, they’re excellent). But The Big E hasn’t been around for 99 years just offering the same old thing. Unique aspects of this year’s fest include: the Garbage Bowl (everything on White Hut’s menu in one bowl), the turducken sandwich, Dinner In A Cone, deep-fried martinis, x-pogo (extreme pogo-sticking), The Mitchell Showboat Marionettes, Drink a Fruit From a Fruit, The Big Rib (a “Flintstone’s” -size steak), and, of course, the music. Musical acts at The Big E this year include Alabama, Kansas, Kiss’ Ace Frehley, Brett Eldredge, Jacob Whitesides, Jana Kramer, The Charlie Daniels Band and this year’s winner of the Grand Band Slam, Truck Stop Troubadours. Also new, The Big E has launched an app that gives patrons the ability to navigate the grounds, find points of interest, check out a schedule of events, and plan their trips to the fair.
See you all there, I’ll be by the cheese curds stand!•
The Big E, Sept. 18-Oct. 4, 1-day tickets: $15 adult, $10 child; 17-day pass: $40 adult, $20 child. The Eastern States Exposition, Memorial Avenue, West Springfield, TheBigE.com.
