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Eastern States Exposition
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13 reviews for Eastern States Exposition
Oh Big E (or Big Yee as I like to call you) you have really fancied yourself up since the last time I had a chance to visit you, about 15 years ago. I used to think the Wisconsin State Fair had it all over any other state's fair, but you and WSF are really neck & neck right now.
Man you have really packed in a bunch o'fun in that small area, havent you? All the carnival rides and sights, the buildings full of wacky infomercial goods, that WTF strange pipe organ thing at the front entrance. The non-butter cow (more like a butter farm?), the crafts and the animals! My favourite is your buildings for each state though. Made to resemble a mini version of each capitol is very clever! I am sorry to say Connecticut still is the lamest state of all though...why cant you folks do better than that?
The food is really insane and I am SOOOOO happy I got to have my most missed Big Yee food, the fried dough with the tomato sauce (I know, I know, everyone in the Midwest is cringing right now). But it is AWESOME and you can even ask Mr Chicago himself, Andy M. He had a bite and he liked it...so there!
The hamburger with the donut was horrific and vile, whoever invented that should have to assist a liposuction surgeon for six months as penance. But the baked potato from Maine ROCKED and dare I say, WAY better than the one at WSF (sorry Wisconsin!). I was so stuffed though I missed out on my second favourite thing which was the apple pie with cheddar. Sad, but also another reason to make a trip next year...right?!
Thanks Big Yee for an awesome trip back down memory lane, if just for a day. You bet I will be back!
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Oh Big E, how I love you so. If you don't know anything about The Big E, you've been missing out. The biggest fair in the New England area offers three weeks of pure joyous gluttony. From the Big E cream puffs, the Brontosaurus sized turkey legs, the caramel apples, and the introduction of the new Big E Burger (a hamburger sandwiched in between a honey glazed donut), there is something for every one.
Being what I call a Big E(expert), I haven't missed a year in over a decade, rain or shine. The Big E is definitely fun for all ages. The sea lion show has returned. There are amusement park rides for the kiddies and for the adults. There is also martini bar and Samuel Adams beer garden. On the weekends there are different music acts playing on the main stage (e.g. Boys to Men). If you have never been before, try and catch the Mardi Gras parade and definitely don't miss out on the state houses. Vermont is the best in my opinion. Can we say, APPLE CRISPS?!.
If you missed it, definitely look out for it next year.
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My first impression of the Big E is that it's a poor man's version of every other State Fair that I have visited. But once you see all that it has to offer, it turns out to be a lot of fun.
The Big E is a Fair that includes all of the states in New England. As with most state fairs, there are animal exhibits and plenty of merchants selling everything from Cell phone holders to Chicken Feed. The Fair is laid out in a fairly small area. We were able to see all of it in under four hours, but the Big E had some pleasant surprises that I really enjoyed. The Highlights include:
1. Exhibition halls that represent all of the different states. There are different foods that each State features.
2. The New Hampshire baked Potato's are delicious.
3. The Chocolate covered Bacon from Vermont.
4. The Krispy Kreme Burger. It's a Bacon Cheeseburger that is held together by two Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. It actually tasted pretty good until I needed the Defibrillator to start my heart again.
4. The layout is pretty easy to follow. There is plenty of walking space, so you're not bumping into everyone. Unlike festivals like the Waste of Chicago, there is plenty of space to sit and enjoy your food.
The bottom line is the Big E might not be the largest State fair that you will ever attend, but it offers loads of fun for everybody. There is something to appease everybody's taste. This is a fair that will be on my calendar for future visits.
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The leaves are turning, the air is crisp and the smell of burning leaves lingers in the air. Soon, carved pumpkins will be gracing doorsteps, lights will be strung along porch rails, families will be reuniting and the holidays will descend upon us. But in the interim...about 1 1/2 hours outside of Boston...the largest fair in New England is underway...
THE BIG E!!!
For almost one month (mid-September through early October) this country-fair-on-steroids offers a mind-boggling array of eats, sweets, events, rides, and as-seen-on-TV gadgets that one person can handle. Every year since I was 7, I've gone to the Big E with my family and we literally eat our way from one end to the other. I've made some mistakes...and I will impart these, as well as some don't-miss opportunities for you below...
1) If you plan to eat, eat, eat...I highly suggest that you do so BEFORE you head to the Midway for some rides and gaming. At all costs, avoid what I affectionately call the "Vomitorium" - you know...that ride that seems like a good idea at the time? The one where you go inside, stand against a wall and the thing just whirls like a heavy-load washer on the spin cycle? You will, I repeat, will get ralphed on (or ralph on yourself).
2) While in the Midway, stop in and see "The Biggest Snake in the World!!!" and "The Biggest Pig in the World!!!" I highly doubt these claims are true, but I can say from experience, that the hog is effing huge.
3) At one far end of the fairgrounds - there are replicas of each of the New England Statehouses. If you don't know which states comprise New England - we can't be friends - but let me take the pains to enlighten you. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. No. Don't argue with me. I'm right. Anyway - these replicas are amazing - Massachusetts replica is of the OLD statehouse - still glorious. In each statehouse, chosen vendors sell items specific to that state. For instance, in the Vermont house...you can get maple syrup, Vermont Flannel Company stuff, Ben and Jerry's and sooo much more. In Maine, try the blueberry cobbler, the lobster roll, or get a moose sweatshirt. You can browse for hours, but beware, the fanny-pack toting, visor wearing Grandmas are itchin' to get past you and they won't stop for nothin'.
4) If you're like me and my Dad, part of the appeal of The Big E are the GADGETS. Waltz on into one of the two huge buildings designed to house a bajillion and one vendors and let the fun begin. You want that steam mop?? There is a dude in one corner showing you how it works. Yep - he's wearing the big mic over one ear and yelling at you to come watch. You want "The Gratey" for all your cheeses and to make cheap ice cream toppings - there it is! How about everybodies favorite...SHAM-WOW!!! For $20.00 you get three regular size sham-wows plus two special kitchen sham-wows for your pots and pans!!! It is gadget overload at the Big E - and believe me, you can get sucked in so fast and spend so much money!
5) Finally, the FOOD. Fair lovers rejoice - you can get every fair food imaginable at The Big E and more. There are two main avenues that wind through the fair ground that offer nothin' but eats. Corn dogs, chili cheese fries, sausage, pepper and onions, fried whole belly clams, philly cheesesteaks, baked potatoes of every variety, candy apples, slushies, fried snickers (fried anything for that matter), stuffed mushrooms, cotton candy, fried dough and MORE.
...hold on...I need a couple Tums just thinking about it.
Also not to be missed - you can see horse shows, border collie sheep herding shows - watch the blue ribbon prizes being given out for the biggest pumpkins and the best pies. Also, take a gander at the beautiful Clydesdales as well. All I can say is pack up the mini-van and bring the kids, or bring the significant other to enjoy a day at the fair.
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Somehow, despite not growing up in Western Mass, I was sheltered from the "Big E" phenomenon. Could be that my mother would rather drop dead than walk around a place like this. I can only assume, given the amount of people who knew about this, that this was a blatant attempt to filter knowledge of the Big E from her offspring. Mom, I forgive you.
When my boyfriend, an Agawam boy, offered to take me to the Big E last year I just stared at him blankly. He stared back. "What the hell is the 'Big E'?" I asked. His eyes bulged, he was speechless. I think he almost considered breaking up with me for a second. However he quickly recovered and told me about the exposition, about getting drunk with his friends there when he was teenager and so on. I was not impressed. Then he mentioned tons of food and rides. I was intrigued. I have to say what really cemented my attendance was the Old Time Photo potential.
After asking around (OMG people have heard of this?!?), I decided to whole-heartedly embrace the idea.
We parked in some shady parking lot a couple of streets away and walked to the fairgrounds. (I am not 100% sure if this was just to avoid traffic, but in WM, he's the boss.) We paid our $15 and went in. As is mentioned in the other reviews, all New England states are represented in various buildings. Each state building offers "specialty" foods from that state: Vermont offers maple syrup; Maine offers baked potatoes; Massachusetts offers chowder; and so on. Each state building also offers various gift items including foods; drinks; apparel; souvenirs; etc.
Aside from the state building offerings, there are rides and shows; food carts and beer stands; White Hut was a big hit (whatever that is) and of course, my beloved Old Time Photo stand.
My boyfriend and I ate burgers, dogs, fried dough, pizza, cream puffs, turkey and pretty much anything else in sight and/or arm's reach. Yeah, there are a lot of kids. But! We found that the fair creators had thought of the potential pain that screaming, kicking, fighting little miscreants would have on the rest of us and so there is a very easy solution. And that, my friends, is beer. Which is very available here. I am pretty sure I also had a martini or two so you beer/children-haters are in luck too.
If you plan to eat, drink and, well, be merry- its not cheap. I think we spent over $200 that day between the two of us. Photos and beers and sampling 65% of the food there will have that kind of impact on your wallet.
Bring your money, your appetite and your tolerance for alcohol.
P.S.- May also be smart to bring a DD.
P.P.S.- May also help to pray that others around you have a tolerance for alcohol as I saw quite a few barf piles in and around the rides.
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I come to the Big E to eat. And boyyyy do I eat! Baked potatoes in my home state of Maine, Apple pie and brick oven pizza in Vermont... Fried oreos elsewhere... Tons of greasy fried fair food... MMMM.
Plus, you can buy all kinds of trinkets and crafts. New Hampshire also sells some wackadoo catnip, if you have cats. Be warned: that stuff is potent, and I had to throw it out because my cat was a little too crazy!
There are a lot of fair rides and games if you like that stuff too. Definitely a fun fall activity!!!
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I'm originally from Western MA, so I'm giving this fair mad props. Starve yourself 2 days before going. Trust me, when you leave, you'll be full for a week.
The state buildings are my favorite haunts - all of the states dole out foods that are manufactured/grown in that state.
Massachusetts - try the Finnish pancake ($1) very eggy and buttery with real maple syrup. My favorite! They also have vendors from the area with an assortment of dips/salsas/jams you can try for free. There is maple cotton candy - interesting AND good.
Connecticut - they have fare from the Peppridge Farm company as well as those nice vendors with their dips. I hear they now have a Steak-umm booth.
Maine - baked potato you HAVE to try. I know, it's like 6 bucks but it's really good. Don't get scared by the line, they have a system. They also have a blueberry booth NOT TO BE MISSED. They have grown since their first occupation - now they have this delicious fare of cheesecake in a waffle cone drenched with blueberries in syrup and topped with whipped cream. The apples aren't so bad and they give out free water to wash it all down at the Poland Springs spot.
New Hampshire - I never stayed too long in this one, but I did like the fresh milkshakes.
Vermont - ummm....Cheese! Samples of delicious cheddar cheese, apples, maple syrup. There is a Ben and Jerry's booth in the back, but eh, save room for more food.
Rhode Island - I didn't eat here much but was quite thirsty and enjoyed the iced lemonade. I hear that the fried clam strips are tasty, but I'm allergic so can't tell you offhand.
TIP - go to the longer lines during Mardi Gras parade. Lines clear out to the streets so you're all alone with this food. The parade is a bunch of floats with people throwing out cheap beads. Not missing a whole hell of a lot.
Other buildings - try Millies Pierogi Stand - good place to get Polish food to go. Fairly authentic - and the price isn't too bad.
Inside I think "International Building" go to La Fiortina - owns a shop in Springfield as well as Northampton. Italian pastry shop and VERY good. Eclairs very good and fudgey. Cannoli's A-, rum cake A+++
Another spot near the Big Slide is Carol's Chicken Shak - pretty good fried chicken strips, good pizza place across from the avenue of the states, think it's called "New York Pizza", and another sweet spot near the Big Slide is a shop that looks like Hansel and Gretel's wet dream. It's shaped like a cupcake with a cherry on top adorned with candy canes. Good waffles.
I haven't tried the Big E cream Puff or eclair - get it from La Fiortina.
Take time in between all of this eating to go to the Midway. Weekdays you can buy passes to unlimited rides. It's fun even when you're not 13.
Parking sucks - you will be expected to shell out 30 bucks to park in someone's yard. You can do offsite parking and take a shuttle in. Admission is probably 12 bucks now.
Have fun and EAT!
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Funny how this place is like sub par Chinese food. You eat it and swear you'll never be back and then a year goes by and just like you could set your watch to it, it's time and urge to go to the Big E rises once again. There have been years that I have been better at resisting than others but invariably every few years, I go back. Why? Can't pin it on any one thing. Maybe it's a little piece of my history. My brother brought me here when I was about 12 and it was just me and my big brother watching the horse pulls, animal displays and all the state buildings. The next year, my brother was killed in a motorcycle accident and I guess I like to go back and look at the same things we did years earlier. Keeps me connected.
There is no real way to rate this place since it's so intercate and complex but I will say this, there is something there for almost everyone. If you are willing to look for it, it's all there.
Parking is usually a pain but always try the main gates first as some of the parking areas around town can be quite a hike away not to mention expensive.
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I super de duper heart The Big E!!!!!
So I grew up in NYC where farm animals and fairgrounds are not exactly abundant. So every year or every other year when my friends and I hit up the Big E, it makes me feel like a kid and wish that I had something like the Big E growing up.
You have to come with an empty stomach and enjoy goodies such as the Big E trademark cream puffs, cheese curds, and turkey legs. My personal favorite is all of the regional treats you can sample at the Avenue of the States. There is amazing kettle corn right outside the exit of one of the states but I am always so in awe, I forget which state it is. Maine? Vermont? North Dakota? Oh sorry, we're talking one of the NE states.
So yeah there is the smell of horse manure and you see white trash here and there, but do yourself a favor and rush over to the BIg E in September. There are even famous celebrities (past and present) who make an appearance every year. This year's line-up includes Tiffany!!!, Leeann Rimes, Jordin Sparks, Fergie, Sugarland, and much much more.
Oh and for you romantics out there, there is also an annual contest for couples who want to try to win a chance to get married at the Big E!!!! Now that would be an awesome wedding food spread! :)
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The Eastern States Exposition, housed in West Springfield, MA, is home to 4-H shows, various conventions, and other good fun.
But really, it's all about The Big E. The big boy of all New England fairs. Where else do you get state houses where each state's wares are incredibly well-presented, from Vermont maple to Maine lobster to Connecticut radio (there was a radio set up there when I went by some time in the 90s).
Each September, Route 5 gets even more crowded as people merge into traffic on Memorial Drive, just for the opportunity to check out a variety of New England's wares, or a country or rock show, or a carnival experience that's much more fruitful than the Six Flags down the road. I haven't been in a few years, but there's nothing better than The Big E.
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One could talk solely about the fairground, but 90% of the people who would come to the Expo fairgrounds do so for the Big E every September, so let's focus on that.
The Big E is simple, silly fun. There's a lot- a LOT- of food to be had, including the legendary White Hut, deep fried oreos, pirogies, and your typical fair fare. There's also the Avenue of the States, where each state in New England owns and operates a replica of its original state house, and show off the Best and Brightest the state has to offer. Vermont brings down cheese and Ben & Jerry's, Maine brings lobster rolls, etc. This fair is the kind of event you'd best come to hungry.
Then there are the halls. One building, named Farm-A-Rama for the fair, has New England farms bringing out their livestock to show. There are Clydesdale horses, chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, llamas, and more. Also, as one might expect, there is also giant produce. I saw a 957lb. pumpkin. Now that is something you don't see everyday, let me tell you.
The rest of the halls contain various vendors showing their wares off. This part I usually avoid, since there are only so many live chamois demos I'm willing to sit through, regardless of how quickly it will clean the spilled Diet Coke from my counter.
Finally, the fair has the Midway, filled with carnival rides held together with little more than chewing gum and band-aids. There's a ferris wheel, the swing, bumper cars, and assorted other rides and rigged games to spend time at.
The fair can be an expensive proposition, but it's fun to just walk around and eat at. It's not classy, and it certainly isn't high society, but it's a damn good time if you're willing to accept it on its own terms.
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Mad love. I grew up going to the Big E. It's just what we did as a family every Fall. I miss it so much. I have tried to explain the appeal to my Cali-born husband and he just doesn't get it when I tell him it smells like a farm, lots of animals, some rides and so much nostalgia attached. Big E stinks but that's part of the appeal. I rode on my first horse and elephant at the Big E. My father and I would go on the ridges while my mom hung on to my little brother. We would eat too much cotton candy and candied apples.
The fondest memories..... *feeling a little weepy*
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The Big E is a very fun, low key tradition but I have to warn first-timers NOT TO GO ON A WEEKEND! If you can possibly go during the week instead, your experience will be much better. On a Saturday or Sunday, the state buildings are so packed it's hard to move let alone see. On a Friday, even, you will be able to get to all the food items you came to eat! For example:
Maine baked potato (don't let the line scare you, it moves)
Buffalo burgers
creme puffs (disgusting, but other people love them)
Apple pie with ice cream
fried quahogs in the RI building
a chocolate "shake" at the dairy barn (now outside near the Xmas trees).
And while you're there you can see llamas, sheep, horses and cows. Spend some time in the arena watching horse jumping and competitions. Farmarama has neat displays, and the NE Center usually has a new exhibit. It's not all about farms- there are plenty of vendors hawking their wares, and the Midway has all your rides for kids and adults. In addition, there are free concerts nightly, with (semi) big name performing artists. Lots of people just come in the evenings for the shows.
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