When Does The Big E Start - T-Tees - Your Answers Await, Life's Questions Unraveled

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WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Gates open for The Big E fair Friday morning and with it comes new foods, performances and ticket prices! Here’s everything you need to know for this year’s state fair.

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What time do the gates and buildings open?

The gates open at 8:00 a.m. every day.
The Big E Bakery is open from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
The Buildings and Craft Common is open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The Avenue of States and Storrowton Village Museum & Shops is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The New England Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Midway is open Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.

What is the cost of admission?

The Big E offers a full season pass that you could purchase, which costs $70 for adults, and for children ages 6-12 costs $35. If you purchase tickets at the gate, it costs $20 for adults, $12 for children 6-12, and admission is free for children five and under.

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There are some days during the fair that offers discounted tickets. Opening day is Be A Kid For A Day, which means that admission costs $12 for everyone. Military Appreciation Day is also opening day, and free admission is provided with a veteran or military ID to:

Active duty and retired military personnel
Dependents of active duty military personnel
Veterans (no dependents)

There is also Eleven-After-Five, which means that tickets cost $11 after 5:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

Senior Days are Sunday through Thursday and tickets will cost $16 for anyone 60 years old and over.

How much does parking cost?

There is on-site parking that is available for $10 (cash only) in Lot 9. Motorcycles can park in Lot 9 for $5 (cash only), and bicycles and bird scooters can park for free at 915 Memorial Avenue.

The Gate 9A area is available for drop-off/pick-up of passengers and has a large canvas tent with benches.

Is there handicapped parking?

The Big E provides 580 handicapped accessible parking spaces on a first-come, first-served basis.

New foods to try this year

Here are some new locations at the fair this year:

Bacon Bomb, located on East Rd. – Bacon wrapped burger w/BBQ sauce
Waffleicious, located on Springfield Rd. — Stuffed waffles on a stick with a variety of toppings
Dolly’s Honky Tonk, located on Industrial Ave. – Empanadas
Top The Crust, located at the Food Court — Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza, Caramel Apple Snicker Dessert Pizza, Milkshakes red velvet, cookies and cream
Luann’s Bakery, located at the Front Porch – Frosting shots, cookies, variety of cupcakes
Calabrese Market, located at the Front Porch – PoppingKettle Corn Live
Ferrindino Maple, located on Springfield Rd. — Ferrindino Maple Bacon Hot Dog, Maple Creemee Sundae, Maple Creemee Latte

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There will also be more than two dozen new foods at your favorite vendors returning once again this year. You can view all the new foods here.

What are this year’s Special and State Days?

Walk through one of the State Buildings and visit their exhibits or watch the Daily Parade, which honors each day in a special way.

The 2023 special and state days are as follows:

Friday, September 15 – Be A Kid For A Day/Military Appreciation Day
Saturday, September 16 – 4-H & FFA Day/Maine Day
Sunday, September 17 – Storrowton Day
Monday, September 18 – Salute to West Springfield
Tuesday, September 19 – Rhode Island Day/Salute to Holyoke
Wednesday, September 20 – Connecticut Day
Thursday, September 21 – Massachusetts Day
Friday, September 22 – New Hampshire Day
Saturday, September 23 – Vermont Day
Sunday, September 24 – Grange Day
Monday, September 25 – Salute to Springfield
Tuesday, September 26 – Salute to Chicopee
Wednesday, September 27 – Salute to Agawam
Thursday, September 28- Salute to Westfield
Friday, September 29 – Harvest New England Day
Saturday, September 30 – Hooplandia Day
Sunday, October 1 – Salute to Special Olympics

Live Music at The Big E

This year’s music lineup for The Big E Arena and the Court of Honor stage has some iconic bands, performers, and musicians that are known across the country.

Here are all the performances scheduled this year:

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