Big E is off to a record start
Sep. 23—WEST SPRINGFIELD — It was a great opening week at The Big E for Rachael Gately, owner of Pink Knob Farm in Somers, whose dorset and texel sheep were presented in competition Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday.
"On Saturday we had a reserve champion ram and junior champion ewe," she said, in the dorset competition.
THE BIG E
WHAT: Billed as "New England's Great State Fair," the Big E is the largest agricultural event on the Eastern Seaboard and the seventh largest fair in the nation.
WHERE Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.
WHEN: Through Sunday, Oct. 2
HOURS: Gates open at 8 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. Hours for specific exhibits and buildings vary.
ADMISSION: Adults $15; children age 6-12 $10; younger than 6 free; after 5 p.m. $8
MORE INFORMATION: www.thebige.com
On Monday, she said, their ram, "Mr. Pickles," was awarded grand champion ram in the texel sheep competition, and a yet to be named ewe, won grand champion as well.
The two went on to a final competition Tuesday, where Mr. Pickles won supreme champion ram.
Visitors and vendors are enjoying The Big E's 17 days of festivities that celebrate agricultural achievements of New England.
More than 286,000 people attended the Eastern States Exposition during its opening weekend, said Keri Nichols, public relations and media coordinator for The Big E, with Friday breaking the record for highest opening day turnout ever.
The Big E is a tradition for many that come to visit every year.
Lisa Ransom of Windsor, who was visiting with three of her friends, said she has been coming to The Big E since she was a child playing clarinet in the school band that would march in one of the fair's parades.
She said she and her friends all have children who have played in parades at The Big E.
"We always do a girls' day," said her friend Linda Howell.
"It's the time to get together," said another friend, Elaine Mains. "This is the one thing we rely on."
"I love to people watch," Howell said.
Food is another major reason to come to the fair every year.
"It's a no diet day," Howell said.
Vendors said they have been are looking forward to the best Big E since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
"I think it's been awesome this year," said Steve Perrone, supervisor of the Bear's BBQ stand at the Connecticut State Building. "It's definitely a pick up from last year, back to pre-pandemic numbers."
Their Big E special this year is the Bear Neccessite-E, a burnt end sandwich topped with coleslaw and macaroni and cheese.
Food and beverages end up being a benefit for other vendors, said Tim Sadler, a representative of Earthlight Technologies.
"It gets very busy, especially with the beer tent next door," he said.
Sadler said The Big E is perfect for them as it allows outreach throughout their sales region throughout Connecticut and most of Massachusetts.
Darci McHenry, owner of Teach Art 2 Me in Glastonbury, at the Connecticut State Building, said they saw a lot of business for both children and adults, doing face painting, glitter tattoos, and henna.
"We had a concert here on Friday," she said. "The Dropkick Murphys were playing and I was doing clovers and shamrocks and Irish designs on the grownups on their way to the concert."
"I think we are expecting a high volume," said Ali Alhusseini, owner of Villa of Lebanon in South Windsor, at the Young Building, who is having his first year at the fair, selling shawarma, shish kababs, and other Middle Eastern cuisine.
"The Big E is the best to advertise and promote your business," he said. "People from all over ask, 'Where's your restaurant?' For any restaurant, it's good to be at The Big E and introduce yourself to the market and see what food you have."
For coverage of local restaurants, cultural events, music, and an extensive range of Connecticut theater reviews, follow Tim Leininger on Twitter: @Tim_E_Leininger, Facebook: Tim Leininger's Journal Inquirer News page, and Instagram: @One_Mans_Opinion77.
