Walking (And Savoring) The Big E, Eastern States Exposition
One of the best days ever.
One more.
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) September 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
A constant of The Big E is that there’s always something to discover no matter how many you’ve attended. Surprises. Delights. A “hidden” garden with herbs and dye plants. The outdoor preview of the indoor creative urban gardens display.
Growing gardens in creative ways. Urban farming.
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) September 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Then there are the aromas. Apple crisps, enticing. Hay. Barbecue. Scents from goat’s milk soaps. Earthy around the ESE Coliseum (love it), horses, barns. Cotton candy-ish (may be funnel cakes, cider donuts, want to follow) sweet wafting scents. Leather. Kettle corn. Clean shavings in the roomy enclosure of mamma sow (asleep) and her piglets.
Food passing by like a living buffet as people were noshing: Smoked salmon on a stick. Corn dogs. A delectable corn on the cob eaten sideways–slathered with spices, reddish in color, savory chomping. A paper cone brimming with fresh French fries; yep, set my stomach grumbling. Longing for the kapusta and sampling varieties of pierogis from Millie’s Pierogi booth–decked out in red and white and the Polish eagle proudly overlooking all. Potato and cheese and kielbasa in one savory plump curve of hand-pinched pierogi. Cheese with dill! Potato and onion…. am drooling.
Always head for a chocolate “Jetshake” at the 4-H booth near the Mallary Complex–the Hampden County 4-H Fair Association. Slurping. (Also milk, strawberry flavor.)
But then.
Inside the ESE Farmers Market building (near the wine and cheese tastings; ask for directions, go through the building) at The Big E, a cooking demo. Oh my, the samples. Chef Bill Collins pointed us to NOLA Cajun Kitchen; he is also owner of Center Square Grill.
A cooking demonstration/samples by NOLA in the ESE Eastern States Farmers Market–a sleeper–superb presentation, lively conversation. Food/taste most excellent. Hearty recommendations about the very real economic effects of supporting farms, community businesses, producers. Afterwards, walked over to find “the purple building” as he directed–oh boy, NOLA Cajun Kitchen and Raw Bar.Yum.
Zoom in on menu behind her welcoming big smile–NOLA Cajun Kitchen & Raw Bar at The Big E. Chicken etouffee, Cajun crab cakes; beignets and bread pudding–just a tease of what’s waiting for you.
Sated for the continued walk, up to quilts, needlework, photography.
Wow. Artist in fabric. At The Big E, one of the spectacular quilts on display.
Yes, it rained, but if prepared–that’s actually quite a joy. Less crowded–can see so much and all the human beings encountered were courteous. The morning was pretty wonderful because no rain, just spatters. And so much is under cover, that all a visitor needs do is think, strategize. Okay, by mid-afternoon, it did pour. (Yet because of the weather, saw much that otherwise would’ve been missed.) The smaller version of the mural–Still Here–in the Rhode Island building. (The original is enormous and looks out from Providence.)
— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) September 26, 2025 at 8:53 AM
More ahead. Pace yourself. Walking through each of the State Houses on the Avenue of States–a lifetime first. (If it had been perfect weather, this “journey” would not have been possible due to throngs of fellow fair-goers.)
By day’s end, “walking on my knees” as my mother used to say. Note to future self and those longing to be there: Scooters and other helpful mobility devices can be rented on site. “Wheelchairs and a limited number of oversized wheelchairs are $25 per day. Electric scooters are $70 per day and may not be available on extremely wet days. Wheelchairs and scooters from Scootaround can rented on the grounds during the Fair at Gates 4, 9A and at the Transportation Center. Strollers ($15), double strollers and wagons ($20) can also be rented at Gates 4 and 9A. If you would like to rent a scooter or wheelchair in advance you will need to make a reservation 24 hours prior to the day you plan to attend the Fair. Rent a scooter or wheelchair online. All reservations made in advance require a credit card payment to reserve over the phone or online. Walk up rentals have the option to pay with cash or credit.” So it will be still possible to still go see, take in all the sights and sounds. Flavors. (Having a fractured ankle in high school taught how precious getting around on legs can be. Never take it for granted and protect those ankles. Wear sturdy shoes/boots/gear.)
Farm-A-Rama, indoors with open doorways, breezes–excellent. Pigs. Decorated pumpkins, gigantic pumpkins. Clydesdales. Honey. FFA. (One tip: Pick up a brochure at any Information Booth for the map and listing of daily schedules, special features). Maps are also posted in strategic location also to help with orientation to where you want to go next. The Information Booth people are so friendly, helpful.
The HKS Clydesdales of Duxbury, Mass.–don’t miss the daily hitch-up demonstrations of these magnificent horses–learn more about the team, drivers, all associated with teamwork. A child-size wagon with lines (reins) is set up for young humans to “drive” a pair of draft horses (large photograph of them from the rear, a driver’s view). Very nice touch!
Annual regional economic impact of this sprawling exposition/city that appears then leaves ’til next year? $1,167,200,000. “The Big E is the cornerstone of this impact, drawing more than 1.6 million attendees over 17 days and generating 87 percent of the Exposition’s total revenue. As a not-for-profit operating without state or federal funding, Eastern States Exposition (ESE) delivers economic return and regional resilience few institutions can match.”
Source: https://www.easternstatesexposition.com/p/mission-focused/impact.
Some history: “Eastern States Exposition, home of The Big E, has presented the finest livestock, the most innovative commercial, industrial and artistic developments, and the highest caliber of varied entertainment to the people of the Northeastern United States for more than a century. More than one million people now attend the 17-day Big E, an annual autumn extravaganza of entertainment, exhibits and agriculture – the culmination of a visionary idea first expressed by Joshua L. Brooks at the beginning of the 20th century. Brooks knew that farming in New England was on the decline and that production costs were soaring. His hope was to create an Exposition that would provide demonstrations of new farming methods and establish competitive awards which would inspire farmers and their children to produce more efficiently and sponsor cooperative purchasing that would lower the farmers’ costs.
“Above all, Brooks believed in developing and showcasing an agricultural New England. Working with twelve community leaders, Brooks spearheaded the purchase of 175 acres of former swampland in West Springfield. It took less than eight months to construct the Coliseum and cattle barns. The site was ready.”
Look closely at the building that houses this exhibition, ESE. Linked back to source for more history.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated.