The Big E Kicks Off Tomorrow, and It’s Closer Than You Think
The Big E, formerly known as The Eastern States Exhibition, kicks off tomorrow for a two plus week run in West Springfield, Massachusetts. I have a hint for you in Western and Southern Connecticut, The Big E is closer than you think.
The Big E is a massive celebration of all six New England States, the only six-state fair in America, and each state has their own building along the Avenue of States. Connecticut's building has just been redesigned and refreshed for 2024, and you'll find locally-made products to purchase and news, tv, and radio personalities trying to capture a photo of your kid eating a turkey leg. I love the lobster rolls in the Massachusetts building, clam fritters from the Rhode Island building, huge baked potatoes from the Maine building, Cabot cheese and maple syrup from the Vermont building, and I usually get nothing in New Hampshire, no offense.
The big draw, besides the incredible number of vendors, and weird street food concoctions, is the entertainment. The Big E has booked several diverse headline entertainers for 2024, including Ludacris, Diplo, America, Public Enemy, and a couple of Country singers. All of those performances are ticketed events at the Big E Arena, but a slew of acts will perform for free - Average White band, Asia, Debby Boone, Fuel, Pepa from Salt & Pepa, Wang Chung, and New England's own Lisa Loeb.
How far are you from Hartford or Bradley? When I've mentioned that we're going to the Big E, people think that it's in Boston. It's not, Springfield is 15 minutes North of Bradley, and around 20-25 from Hartford.
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