6/7/2023 0 Comments Eastern states exposition![]() In keeping with the fair's agricultural roots, there are many livestock displays at The Big E. The Big E remains true to its agricultural roots today, with more than 7,100 4-H and FFA participants, and 1,100 open-show exhibitors, as well as educational displays and attractions. There also is an emphasis on tourism promotion here. ![]() Due to this distinction, tickets for each of the six lotteries can be purchased among the houses. Through an arrangement with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, they are administered by representatives from each state's police force during the Fair. Much like national embassies, the statehouses and the land on which they sit are owned by the respective jurisdiction. The Rhode Island building features Del's Lemonade, Blount Seafood Clamcakes and Chowder, Rhode Island iconic souvenirs from My Little Town, as well as books from a Rhode Island author C. The Connecticut building supplies Timex watches, as well as Lego, which has its US headquarters in that state. The Maine baked potatoes have become an icon, with buyers regularly joining long lines during the fair's busier periods. Vendors also sell locally-made products and handicrafts. For example, the Maine House offers lobster, blueberry, and potato items, while the Vermont House has Ben and Jerry's ice cream, maple syrup, and Cabot cheese. Food vendors can be found in each building selling items that are traditional to their jurisdiction. These buildings feature exhibits and vendors that best exemplify the heritage, food, and traditions of each state. The buildings for New Hampshire and Vermont have no resemblance to their original state houses. In actuality the state houses are not replicas but rather modeled after original state houses in most instances. ![]() The Avenue is said to contain life-size replicas of the six original New England statehouses, as well as the New England Grange House. ![]() One of the most popular attractions at The Big E is the Avenue of States. Since the first fair, only World War I (1918), World War II (1942–1946), during which the military requisitioned the grounds as storage depots, and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), have interrupted the annual tradition. In 1966, for the fiftieth anniversary, the fair began marketing itself as "The Big E." The "E" stands for what organizers said was an emphasis on "entertainment, education and excitement." At that year's horse show in West Springfield, competitors from Delaware, New Jersey, and New York were placed in the open classes as opposed to the New England division. Entertainment elements were added by the 1930s, including demonstrations of "automobile polo" (featuring acrobats playing polo while driving Ford cars), and competitive performances by high school bands.īy 1940, the exposition had begun to focus more on the six New England states. The rise of the eugenics movement in the 1920s led to the inclusion of "Fitter Family" contests, in which prizes were awarded to individuals and families based on appearance and ethnic background. In 1923, the Massachusetts Department of Health built a model schoolhouse on the fairgrounds, in which free medical and dental examinations were offered. The exposition began to grow beyond agriculture and industry within its first few years. Newspaper ad for the Eastern States Exposition, 1938 Each year, the fair opens on the second Friday after Labor Day and runs for seventeen days. Located in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, a short distance from the Memorial Bridge spanning the Connecticut River, The Big E is held every autumn in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Each of the New England states is prominently represented at the fair. The Big E is inclusive of all six of the New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is the largest agricultural event on the eastern seaboard and the sixth-largest fair in the nation. The Big E, formally known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as " New England's Great State fair". The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts in 2007ġ305 Memorial Ave.
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