Only four days away from The Big E Fair

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Mark your calendars, the Big E fair is just four days away!

Starting on September 15th, New England’s 17-day Great State Fair will show off a wide range of entertainment and rides, including the Sky High Super Wheel, agricultural competitions, and the Avenue of States.

President and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition, Eugene Cassidy told 22News, “Everybody is here finishing and some people, actually, just arriving to get setup, so it’s a very busy time on the fairgrounds and as fun as it is today to watch this city being built, it’s going to be much bigger.”

The home of the fair is the Eastern States Exposition, they are organized as a not-for-profit, educational institution under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Big E is best known for its fair foods, arts and crafts, state buildings, Mardi Gras floats parade, rides, agricultural events, and music performances!

Here is what you need to know about The Big E Fair:

What time do the gates and buildings open?

The gates open at 8:00 a.m. every day.
The Big E Bakery is open from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
The Buildings and Craft Common is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The Avenue of States and Storrowton Village Museum & Shops is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The New England Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Midway is open Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

What is the cost of admission?

The Big E offers a full season pass that you could purchase, which costs $70 for adults, and for children ages 6-12 costs $35. If you purchase tickets at the gate, it costs $20 for adults, and $12 for children 6-12, and admission is free for children five and under.

There are some days during the fair that offer discounted tickets. Opening day is Be A Kid For A Day, which means that admission costs $12 for everyone. Military Appreciation Day is also opening day, and free admission is provided with a veteran or military ID to:

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

There is also Eleven-After-Five, which means that tickets cost $11 after 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Senior Days are Sunday through Thursday and tickets will cost $16 for anyone 60 years old and over.

What are this year’s Special and State Days?

Walk through one of the State Buildings and visit their exhibits or watch the Daily Parade, which honors each day in a special way.

The 2023 special and state days are as follows:

Friday, September 15 – Be A Kid For A Day/Military Appreciation Day
Saturday, September 16 – 4-H & FFA Day/Maine Day
Sunday, September 17 – Storrowton Day
Monday, September 18 – Salute to West Springfield
Tuesday, September 19 – Rhode Island Day/Salute to Holyoke
Wednesday, September 20 – Connecticut Day
Thursday, September 21 – Massachusetts Day
Friday, September 22 – New Hampshire Day
Saturday, September 23 – Vermont Day
Sunday, September 24 – Grange Day
Monday, September 25 – Salute to Springfield
Tuesday, September 26 – Salute to Chicopee
Wednesday, September 27 – Salute to Agawam
Thursday, September 28- Salute to Westfield
Friday, September 29 – Harvest New England Day
Saturday, September 30 – Hooplandia Day
Sunday, October 1 – Salute to Special Olympics

How much does parking cost?

There is on-site parking that is available for $10 (cash only) in Lot 9. Motorcycles can park in Lot 9 for $5 (cash only), and bicycles and bird scooters can park for free at 915 Memorial Avenue.

The Gate 9A area is available for drop-off/pick-up of passengers and has a large canvas tent with benches.

Is there handicapped parking?

The Big E provides 580 handicapped accessible parking spaces on a first-come, first-served basis.

Live Music at The Big E

This year’s music lineup for The Big E Arena and the Court of Honor stage has some iconic bands, performers, and musicians that are known across the country.

Here are all the performances scheduled this year:

The Big E Arena: (all shows take place at 7:30 p.m.)