The Big E sets five daily attendance records this year

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Five daily attendance records were set at The Big E this year, despite all the rainy days.

A total of 1,427,234 million people visited the fair this year, according to a news release from The Big E.

Five daily attendance records were set during The Big E in 2023, such as:

• September 19- 57,802
• September 22- 97,477
• September 27- 95,689
• September 28- 108,962
• October 1- 170,471

The Big E dealt with some setbacks, from the dreary weather to the muddy roads and overall traffic, but overall it was a great fair season for all.

Gene Cassidy, President and CEO of the Eastern States Exposition told 22News, “Economically we took a hit because of the rain for sure but it was a very successful fair. We set record attendance on five days so for us was a winner.”

“It takes months and months of planning so when the weather gets bad, we get scared but this past weekend the sun shined and our customers were there for us and we so appreciate it,” said Crystal Macken, co-owner of Macken’s.

Cassidy said that the fair is like ‘the farmer’ and if the farmer has bad weather they have no crop. This year, despite some of the hiccups that they encountered with the rain, the crops were able to grow.

The Big E is America’s only multi-state fair that celebrates the rich history, culture, and traditions of the six New England states. The 17-day fair has grown to become the largest fair in the Northeast.