The Big E will feature performances by Hunter Hays, The Beach Boys and more.
WEST SPRINGFIELD – For the past few weeks the tents have been going up, traffic has been increasing and vendors have been flooding onto the Eastern States Exposition grounds for the Big E which kicks off Friday.
With gates opening at 8 a.m. and exhibits and buildings opening at 10 a.m. fairgoers can go straight to their favorite part of the 17-day fair from the fried food including the new chocolate baconana (a banana dipped in chocolate, wrapped in bacon) to the entertainment, the draft horse competitions and more.
“At our core we are still an agricultural fair and I encourage people to go on our website and see the many animal related events we have from sheep shows to cattle shows and horse competitions,” said Eastern States Exposition President Eugene J. Cassidy.
This is Cassidy’s second year as president of the fair, but 20th fair overall.
“I spent most of those years as the CFO behind the scenes, but now it’s a completely different experience being out on the fair grounds everyday,” he said.
As always this year's fair will bring some of the same and some new things as well.
Kicking off the festivities Friday night at 8 p.m. will be DJ Pauly D, made famous by his many year's on MTV's "Jersey Shore."
It will be a standing room only electronic dance party on the Court of Honor stage.
“It’s the first time we are trying this and I think it will be great. I like that music so I will definitely be there,” Cassidy said.
Country superstar Hunter Hayes will thrill the crowd at the XFinity Arena stage on Sept. 20. Tickets to the show have already sold out.
Cassidy said many people are also looking forward to some classic performances by Tommy James & The Shondells on Sept. 15 and The Beach Boys on Sept. 29.
Another unique musical event will be the "Symphonic Sounds of Elvis," a free concert held at the XFinity Arena on Sept. 21.
“Maestro Joe Guercio will be conducting and the night will feature many of Elvis' classic hits,… Cassidy said. "It's going to be a great show."
Although West Springfield residents opted against a host agreement with Hard Rock Casino on Sept. 10 the entertainment company will still sponsor a large display of Hard Rock memorabilia in the Young building.
“They are still excited to show the collection and fair goers outside the area will not be familiar with the back story, so hopefully people will enjoy it,” Cassidy said. “This is a world class museum level exhibition with memorabilia that is kept in the executive board room. This is stuff that does not go on display very often.”
Also new this year is the Big E Wine and Cheese Barn near the Mallary Complex featuring 1,800 square feet of Massachusetts and Connecticut wines as well as cheeses from all over the country.
As for the agricultural programs, Cassidy said the exposition has at least 18 states represented this year.
“ You have people driving from thousands of miles away with these large horses in trailers and all of their personnel, just to be at our fair,” he said. “It speaks volumes about the quality of our programs.”
Cassidy also encouraged visitors to explore the grounds to experience all the fair has to offer.
“There are just so many things to do and so many events to see. It’s really a wonderful experience,” he said.
As for the weather, Cassidy tries not to think about it too much.
“As good as the science of weather has gotten, they still get it wrong sometimes. And even if it's raining here, some people in Rhode Island or even as far as Maine may have better weather and still head over to West Side,” he said.
The fair will run until Sept. 29.