The Big E 2024: Your guide to New England’s biggest trade show

Events

The massive West Springfield fairgrounds will welcome more than a million visitors to Big E 2024 starting September 13.

A sure sign that fall is just around the corner: The Eastern States Exposition (known to everyone as “The Big E”) returns to Springfield this week, welcoming nearly 1.5 million visitors to its Hampden County grounds.

Dating back to 1916, “The Big E” is New England’s version of the popular state fairs across America. All six New England states are represented on the grounds.

The 2024 edition will see even more live music performances, all the popular farming competitions and plenty of the delicious fried treats that visitors have come to expect at the fair, which runs from September 13-29.

Whether you’re a long-time visitor or a first-time visitor, here’s everything you need to know about The Big E 2024.

Click on the links below to go directly to the following information:

What’s new on The Big E 2024

New food at The Big E 2024

Like many state fairs, The Big E 2024 will feature a wide variety of delicious food. More than 75 new menu items will debut at this year’s fair, including five different types of deviled eggs served regular or fried.

Many of the new food stalls can be found in the Better Living Center, which has been completely redesigned for The Big E 2024. There you’ll find stalls selling sweet and savory crepes (The Nook), a reimagined Craz-E Burger made with Angus beef sandwiched between two doughnuts (The Emporium), and cocktails garnished with cotton candy (The Cantina).

It’s not all about gluttonous gastronomy, though: More than 40 food and beverage vendors are offering gluten-free options at this year’s fair, while 10 vendors are offering vegan products, including Front Porch restaurant SoulFully Vegan.

If you want the most bang for your buck, head to The Big E on Monday, September 16, for the fair’s Three-Buck Bites day. More than 50 vendors will offer select menu items for just $3.

No more exotic animals

In recent years, visitors to Big E have been able to get up close and personal with animals such as lions, tigers and elephants at its Circus Spectacular. But a new law passed in Massachusetts earlier this summer prohibits the use of these animals in circus performances.

Animal rights activists cited Beulah – a 54-year-old Asian elephant who died of blood poisoning caused by a uterine infection on The Big E in 2019 – as a turning point in their fight for the legislation.

Big E President Eugene Cassidy publicly condemned the ban, but acknowledged that the lack of circus animals would not have a major impact on Big E’s ticket sales.

“They were a centerpiece of the American circus,” Cassidy told MassLive. “This movement put the American circus out of business.”

The Big E 2024: Tickets and Prices

How much do the tickets cost?

There are different price tiers for entry to The Big E 2024, as well as several ways to get discounted pricing. (See below for more information.)

Regular one-day admission to the fair is $20 for adults (ages 13 and older) and $12 for children ages 6 to 12. Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. These prices are the same whether you purchase online or at the fairgrounds.

If you plan on repeat visits, a season pass that allows you admission to all 17 days of The Big E costs $70 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $35 for children ages 6 to 12.

How much do rides cost?

When it comes to rides on the Big E’s Midway, you have two options for purchasing tickets. You can either buy a Midway Magic pass that allows unlimited rides for $35, or you can buy a certain number of ride tickets that can be redeemed when you board the ride. The cheapest rides cost nine tickets, while the most expensive – the Ferris wheel – costs 21 tickets.

That’s how much it costs to buy a ticket.

• 1 ticket – $0.50
• 20 tickets – $10
• 45 tickets – $20
• 65 tickets – $30
• 140 tickets – $60
• 240 tickets – $98

And here you can find the full list of rides at The Big E, along with information on ticket prices and minimum height requirements.

How do I get discounted tickets?

If you’re heading to Big E after work, the fair offers $11 admission after 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Seniors (ages 60 and over) also receive all-day admission from Sunday to Thursday for $16.

Finally, anyone presenting military ID (either active duty or military veteran) will receive free admission on opening day, Friday, September 13.

The Big E: 2024: Opening hours, parking and transport

When does The Big E open in 2024?

Visitors to Big E 2024 have a lot of flexibility when planning their day. Gates to the fairgrounds open at 8 a.m., most shops and attractions open at 10 a.m., and areas typically close for the night sometime between 9 and 11 p.m.

Here is a detailed overview of The Big E 2024 opening hours:

• Entrance: 8 a.m.
• The Big E Bakery: 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m
• Buildings and Crafts Common: 10am – 10pm
• Avenue of States and Storrowton Village Museum & Shops: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• New England Center: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• Midway: Sunday-Thursday, 11am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-11pm

Parking and transportation

The Big E is a short drive from several major freeways: I-91 for guests coming from the north and south and I-90 for visitors coming from the east and west. Parking for cars, vans and trucks is available at Gate 9 and costs $10, and motorcycles are $5. Please note: Parking is cash only and there are no ATMs near Gate 9.

If you are dropping off or picking up guests, you can use Gate 9A.

If you want to avoid the long wait in parking lots, you can take a free shuttle from Union Station in Springfield.

Music at The Big E 2024

For live entertainment, head to one of Big E’s three main stages, where over 50 artists perform throughout the festival. Big E Arena hosts the biggest headliners every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night at 7:30 p.m., including artists like Ludacris, Diplo, Umphrey’s McGee and Public Enemy.

It should be noted that unlike the other stages, the Big E Arena costs between $39 and $69 depending on the artist. This price also includes a day pass to the rest of the Big E.

On the Court of Honor stage, you’ll hear everything from one-hit wonders (Wang Chung, Deep Blue Something) to throwback artists (Fuel, Hinder, Debby Boone).

Finally, the E Stage is reserved for up-and-coming talent, so stop by if you want to hear the next big hit before anyone else.

The Big E 2024: Complete music program, schedule

The Big E Arena (all shows at 7:30 p.m.)

• Friday, September 13th: Phil Witham (with Bogie)
• Saturday, September 14: Ludacris
• Sunday, September 15: Umphrey’s McGee (with Lotus)
• Friday, September 20: Dustin Lynch (with Dylan Scott)
• Saturday, September 21: Diplo (with Kito)
• Sunday, September 22: America (with Jim Messina)
• Friday, September 27: Brothers Osborne
• Saturday, September 28: Public Enemy
• Sunday, September 29: Big Time Rush

Courtyard stage

• Friday, September 13th to Wednesday, September 18th, 12pm: DNA Mindreaders
• Friday, 13 September to Sunday, 15 September, 2pm: Siamsa Tire: The National Folk Theatre of Ireland
• Friday, September 13, 8 p.m.: Let’s Sing Taylor
• Saturday, 14 September, 8pm: Young Dubliners
• Sunday, September 15, 8 p.m.: Average White Band
• Monday, September 16 to Tuesday, September 17, 2 p.m.: Chubby Checker
• Monday, 16 September to Tuesday, 17 September, 8 p.m.: Australian Bee Gees
• Wednesday, September 18 to Thursday, September 19, 2 p.m.: Debby Boone
• Wednesday, 18 September, 8 p.m.: Asia
• Thursday, 19 September, 8pm: Paul Russell
• Friday, 20 September to Sunday, 22 September, 2pm: Deep Blue Something
• Friday, September 20, 8pm: Fuel
• Sunday, September 22nd, 8pm: Pepa from Salt-N-Pepa
• Monday, Sept. 23 to Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2 p.m.: Herman’s Hermits
• Monday, 23 September, 8pm: Wang Chung
• Tuesday, Sept. 24 to Sunday, Sept. 29, 12 noon: Powerhouse
• Wednesday, 25.9. to Thursday, 26.9., 2 p.m.: Femmes of Rock
• Wednesday, 25 September, 8 p.m.: Slaughter
• Thursday, 26 September, 8pm: Great Southern
• Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29: Andy Kim
• Friday, September 27, 8 p.m.: Lisa Loeb
• Saturday, September 28, 8 p.m.: Matt Friend
• Sunday, 29 September, 8 p.m.: Hinder

The E-Phase

• Friday, September 13, 12:30pm: Wyn and the White Light
• Friday, September 13, 4:30 p.m.: Reservations from 8
• Friday, 13 September at 20:30: Sláinte
• Saturday, September 14, 12:30 p.m.: The Corner Boys
• Saturday, September 14, 4:30 p.m.: Ruby Leftstep
• Saturday, September 14 at 8:30 p.m.: Hello Sister
• Sunday, September 15, 12:30 p.m.: Charlie Marie
• Sunday, September 15, 4:30 p.m.: Sarah the Fiddler
• Sunday, 15 September, 20:30: The new borders
• Monday, September 16 at 3pm: King Season
• Monday, 16 September, 7pm: Delta Generators
• Tuesday, September 17, 3 p.m.: Natasha Ramos and the Casuals
• Tuesday, September 17, 7 p.m.: Padded Waltz
• Wednesday, September 18, 3 p.m.: Stoneface Mountain
• Wednesday, 18 September, 7pm: JULAI and the Serotones
• Thursday, 19 September, 3 p.m.: nuVos
• Thursday, September 19, 7 p.m.: Leon Trout
• Friday, September 20, 12:30 p.m.: Katie Dobbins
• Friday, 20 September, 4:30 p.m.: CATWOLF
• Friday, September 20, 8:30 p.m.: The Breaks Inc.
• Saturday, 21 September, 12:30 p.m.: Derek O’Kanos
• Saturday, 21 September, 4:30 p.m.: Rolling Nectar
• Saturday, September 21, 8:30 p.m.: Krishna Guthrie Band
• Sunday, 22 September at 12:30: Audio Jane
• Sunday, 22 September at 16:30: Natalia Bonfini
• Sunday, September 22nd at 8:30pm: Buddahfly
• Monday, 23 September, 3pm: J Smith & The Oddballs
• Monday, 23 September, 7pm: Mainline
• Tuesday, 24 September, 3 p.m.: Our common roots
• Tuesday, September 24, 7 p.m.: Slow Burn
• Wednesday, September 25th at 3pm: River Sang Wild
• Wednesday, 25 September, 7 p.m.: Immuter
• Thursday, September 26, 3 p.m.: Madison Curbelo
• Thursday, September 26, 7 p.m.: Maddi Ryan
• Friday, 27 September, 12:30: Jeaux
• Friday, September 27, 4:30 p.m.: Drop Party
• Friday, September 27, 8:30 p.m.: Elle Baez
• Saturday, September 28, 12:30 p.m.: John Spignesi Band
• Saturday, September 28, 4:30 p.m.: The 413s
• Saturday, September 28, 8:30 p.m.: Noah Richardson
• Sunday, September 29, 12:30 p.m.: DAYMEN
• Sunday, September 29th at 4:30pm: Jelly
• Sunday, 29 September at 20:30: LASTMINUTE

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