Photo courtesty of The Big E
By DENNIS P. HOHENBERGER
Correspondent
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Votes continue to pour in for the nation’s top state fair, including regional powerhouse The Big E in West Springfield.
The Big E, held annually at the Eastern States Exposition, was nominated for USA Today’s 2015 Ten Best Reader’s Choice Travel Award contest. An expert panel chose the Big E for the Best State Fair category. The online contest ends before midnight on Sept. 28.
To cast a vote, visit the contest’s website at WWW.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-fair/.
The Big E, the Northeast’s largest fair, faces competitors from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, Western Idaho, Wisconsin and Texas.
As of Tuesday, The Big E stood in fifth place, up from the 17th spot, among the 20 participating fairs. The Indiana State Fair holds at fourth place.
While the Iowa State Fair attracts a slew of presidential candidates, The Big E’s famed cream puff, circus, daily Mardi Gras inspired parade, New England State Buildings, and national acts attract nearly1.5 million visitors annually.
Noreen Tassinari, The Big E’s Director of Marketing, said the contest’s website will continually post standings. “We certainly had a number of votes from all of our fans at The Big E. We would love to have people vote more,” she said.
Fans can vote by computer, mobile phone or tablet. The website allows one vote every 15 hours per device.
To drum up support, The Big E contacted fans through traditional and social media, including FaceBook and Twitter. “Fans are definitely voting for us,” she said. “It’s helpful The Big E is coming up and people are excited about the fair.”
The Iowa State Fair is currently in first place. The fair had been in the spotlight the past several weeks as Republican and Democratic presidential candidates pitched to the crowds.
Tassinari said The Big E will remind fair-goers about the contest through video messaging and over the public address system.
In addition, The Big E launched a mobile app, which provide up-to-date information and alerts ticket holders of daily concerts, exhibits, livestock shows and, of course, the contest.
The app can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple iTune store. “The app will have virtually everything you need to know about The Big E,” she said. The app will show where events are being held and, importantly, the location of food vendors.
The Big E relies on a good stretch of weather and people’s love of deep-fried delights. Newer menu items include a deep-fried apple pie and a deep-fried martini.
“You have to see it to believe it,” said Tassinari, of the deep-fried martini. The drink will be served at the Craft Cocktail Bar. V-One Vodka came up with the deep-fried concoction.
Next year will be The Big E’s centennial anniversary. A “Ninety-nine Years of Fun” exhibit will be a featured attraction for this year. The exhibit celebrates the fair’s decades of fun, games and entertainment.
The Big E ranks fifth in attendance in North America and second outside of Texas, according to Tassinari. “For a lot of families it’s a tradition. People love hearing about The Big E as it approaches,” she said. “It means a lot to us.”
The fair also represents the whole of New England, unusual in the fair industry, she said.
The Big E will host the annual Salute to Westfield on Thursday, Oct. 1. Westfield school children will receive a free, after-school admission pass. The Salute to Westfield parade steps off at 5 p.m.
The Big E runs from Sept. 19 – Oct. 4. For more information, visit the fair’s website at www.thebige.com or FaceBook page.
