Swordfight at Enchanted Forest Renaissance Faire in Phillipston
A commoner chooses to do battle at the Enchanted Orchard Renaissance Faire at Red Apple Farm in Phillipston on Saturday, May 3.
As September continues, The Big E is preparing to return to Springfield for its 2025 fair season.
Hosted by the Eastern States Exposition, the Big E is the largest fair on the East Coast and the seventh largest in North America, representing all six New England states.
As always, this year’s fair will feature two jam-packed weeks of live music performances from household names, thrilling carnival rides, huge shopping markets, historical attractions and all types of indulgent food, guaranteeing a fun-filled experience for all visitors.
Planning to check out the fair this year? Here’s a guide to The Big E 2025.
When and where is The Big E?
This year, The Big E will run from Saturday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 28.
Gates open daily at 8 a.m. with the attractions closing at 10 p.m. weekdays and 11 p.m. weekends. Different parts of the fairgrounds open and close at varying times, so be sure to check before you go.
Fairgrounds for the Big E are located at 1305 Memorial Ave. in West Springfield.
The Big E tickets
Tickets sold at the gate are $20 for adults, $12 ages 6 to 12 and free for ages 5 and under. Discounted tickets, which are available for advance purchase online through Sept. 11, are $16 for adults and $10 for ages 6 to 12. Season passes are also available at $70 for adults and $35 for ages 6 to 12.
Sunday through Thursday, seniors age 60 and over enter for $16, and all ages enter for $11 after 5 p.m. Additionally, veterans and active or retired military personnel receive free admission Friday, Sept. 13, the fair’s military appreciation day.
Parking at The Big E
On-site parking is available for $10 for cars and trucks and $5 for motorcycles at Gate 9, located at 875 Memorial Ave. Parking is cash-only and there are no ATMs in parking areas. The Big E will also reserve gate 1A for drop-off or pick-up, located at 1761 Memorial Ave.
Several adjacent private parking lots are located in the neighborhoods along Memorial Avenue. The Big E encourages guests to seek alternate parking and use public transportation.
Food at The Big E
The Big E is known for its variety of delicious fair food, with choices ranging from classic corndogs to deep-fried jelly beans. This year, the fair is introducing over 60 new food items including pickle ice cream sundaes, lobster nachos, elote corn dogs, iced cannoli lattes, 2-foot chili cheese dogs and the sloppy dough, a sloppy Joe sandwich with fried dough for buns.
The on-site Big E Bakery will sell their famous homemade cream puffs to finish off your meal with espresso as this year’s specialty flavor. To help wash everything down, multiple unique bars are located on the fairgrounds including The Sam Adams Beer Garden and the new Spirited Christmas Bar.
What attractions are at The Big E?
Rides
Midway rides and games offer adventures that all ages can enjoy including a special sky-high super wheel. Younger children can enjoy small rides in Kiddieland.
Ride tickets are available for deals like 20 for $10, 45 for $20 and 140 for $60. Magic pass wristbands are available online or at the box office for $37 or $33.50 if purchased online before Sept. 10. Midway express access passes, which help guests skip the line, are sold at the kiosk only for $15.
The Big E’s midway rides will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Giant Slide
The Big E’s most iconic attraction, the Rocky’s Ace Hardware Giant Slide, is back for its 56th year. The 46-foot-tall slide will be open for all fairgoers to glide down from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, located next to the Big Top circus tent.
Music
The Big E has a packed lineup of daily musical guests.
Local and small musicians are featured on the E Stage, with free performances at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. weekdays and 12:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. weekends.
The Court of Honor Stage offers a variety of musical shows in the heart of the fairgrounds. Shows on this stage are free with admission and are held at noon, 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily. This year’s Court of Honor acts include the Mariachi Divas, B.o.B, The Band Perry and MKTO.
Major headline performances take place in the Big E Arena Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m. This year, headliners include Busta Rhymes and Rick Ross, Foreigner, The Kid LAROI and Train. Tickets to the arena concerts must be purchased separately, but a concert ticket includes admission to the rest of the fair.
Performances
Beyond music, The Big E offers a variety of other interesting performances. The Circus Spectacular, performed daily at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., features juggling, clowns, magic and acrobats.
With live country music, trick roper performances, line dancing and mechanical bull rides, Dolly’s Honky Tonk brings a taste of Nashville to The Big E.
Additionally, family-friendly entertainment is put on by community members daily at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Storrowton Gazebo.
Attendance to the circus, honky tonk and gazebo performances is included with admission, though ringside circus seats can be purchased for $10.
The Big Parade
A parade of high school marching bands, specialty floats, vintage cars and performance groups will march through the fairgrounds daily at 6 p.m., lasting for 30 to 45 minutes. The parade’s Mardi Gras Reveler Experience brings an authentic New Orleans celebration full of beads and floats to New England.
Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration
An Irish celebration will kick off The Big E, filling the first weekend of Sept. 12 to Sept. 14 with traditional Irish entertainment, products and attractions including Irish dancing and the Dingle Distillery Bar.
Shopping
From Hampden Avenue to the Craft Common to the Eastern States Farmers Market, shopping at The Big E has everything you could ever imagine. Handmade goods and artisan finds with vendors from all around the world fill the fair, with available goods including specialty foods, wine, cheese, decor, clothes and more.
Competitions
Competitions at The Big E range from wreath making to pie baking. Judging takes place throughout the weeks of the fair and awards are up for grabs in each category.
Agriculture
The Big E’s agricultural fair features educational displays, daily demonstrations and a signature equestrian show. While participants compete for awards and scholarships, guests can watch competitive exhibits like livestock pulls, grilled cheese and milkshake contests, sheepdog demonstrations and more. See the full schedule of daily events for more information.
Car Show
Collector Car Live is returning to The Big E for a cruise night featuring classic, custom and collector cars with special guest star Ryan Preece of NASCAR.
The show will take place Thursday, Sept. 18 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Big E Arena. Access to this event is included with fair admission.
Historical Attractions
Many attractions which showcase the rich history of the fair and its home in New England are available at The Big E.
The history of the fair can be explored at the history museum, which is full of photographs, artifacts and archival items from the Eastern States Exposition’s archives. This walkthrough can be found in the Hampden County Improvement League Building.
Guests can also learn about the history of New England at the Storrowton Village Museum or visit state house replicas for each individual state on the Avenue of States, where each building has a variety of exhibitors unique to the state.
Each of these historical attractions is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Big E Rules
- Metal detectors are in use at every entrance gate. Bags are allowed but are subject to being searched.
- Lockers are available to rent inside gate 1A and outside gate 9A, and they can be purchased onsite or reserved online.
- Wheelchairs, strollers and scooters are available for rent in person at gates 4 and 9A or online 24 hours in advance. Wheelchairs are $25 per day, electric scooters are $70, strollers are $11 and double strollers and wagons are $17.
- A security office, first aid station and lost people center (LPC) are all located across from the fire station.
- Service animals are the only pets allowed on fairgrounds.
- ATMs can be found at various sites throughout the fairgrounds.
- The lost and found contact number is (413) 205-5164.
- Professional photography equipment is not allowed on the fairgrounds.
- The Big E does not allow the use of drones on the fairgrounds.
- Camping is allowed in the parking lot for $20 per space taken up per day. Portable restrooms are available for campers.
