The 2024 Eastern States Exposition, or Big E, ended its annual run in West Springfield, Mass., Sept. 29, setting all time attendance record of 1.6 million attendees over its 17 days, according to MassLive.com. The Big E celebrated its 112th year as the largest fair on the East Coast and the fifth largest in North America specifically showcasing both agricultural displays from CT, MA, RI, VT, NH, and ME, rides, vendors and live concerts.
And all those people at a lot of food, also known as “the Big Eats.” Ranging from sweet to savory and everything in between, this year’s event introduced more than 75 new food items.
Attendees enjoyed plenty of classic fair food fare like corndogs, cotton candy, fried dough, and turkey legs, plus new culinary creations from many genres ranging from giant sweet & sour shrimp, to The Extreme Burger, constructed with onion rings and two donuts replacing the bun and standing over seven inches tall. Thousands of the ever-popular cookies & cream cream puffs were sold, plus vendors offered unique takes on favorites like deep fried meatballs on a stick, bacon macaroni and cheese tater tots, and Mexican street corn pizza.
The Big E returns to West Springfield on Sept. 12, 2025 for another 17 days.
