Fair weather draws Big E crowdSunday, October 03, 2010
By LORI STABILElstabile@repub.com
WEST SPRINGFIELD - Fried cheesecake and fried Oreos, chicks hatching in plain view, the "largest" pig in the world, singing vegetables, midway rides, a circus and Mardi Gras-style parades.
The Eastern States Exposition lives up to its name of the "Big E," and on Saturday crowds took advantage of a perfect fall day after two days of rain to enjoy the last weekend of the fair. The Big E ends its 17-day run today.
Following a dousing of more than 2 inches of rain Friday, Saturday broke crystal clear, with highs in the upper 60s and a touch of fall in the air.
"Weather makes or breaks the Big E in the final analysis," said G. Wayne McCary, Big E president. "This has been a very wet week." But attendance on Saturday was extraordinary, he said, and he expected more of the same today.
"I think we're going to do something like a quarter of a million people in two days," he said. "I think we're going to approach last year's numbers."
Last year the Big E had a record attendance of 1,260,487.
Traffic reflected the Big E attendance Saturday afternoon, backing up motorists on nearby roads, bridges and Interstate 91.
Joining the throng of Big E-goers Saturday were the Adler children, of Longmeadow, who enjoyed the fried cheesecake for $6 before they headed to the circus.
"It's the most amazing thing I've ever had," Matthew H. Adler, 10, said as he shared the dish with siblings Sam A., 13, and Hannah K., 7.
Kenneth R. Russell, of Wallingford, Conn., tried the fried Oreos, which he said were good, but not better than the regular version.
from: www.masslive.com
The Eastern States Exposition lives up to its name of the "Big E," and on Saturday crowds took advantage of a perfect fall day after two days of rain to enjoy the last weekend of the fair. The Big E ends its 17-day run today.
Following a dousing of more than 2 inches of rain Friday, Saturday broke crystal clear, with highs in the upper 60s and a touch of fall in the air.
"Weather makes or breaks the Big E in the final analysis," said G. Wayne McCary, Big E president. "This has been a very wet week." But attendance on Saturday was extraordinary, he said, and he expected more of the same today.
"I think we're going to do something like a quarter of a million people in two days," he said. "I think we're going to approach last year's numbers."
Last year the Big E had a record attendance of 1,260,487.
Traffic reflected the Big E attendance Saturday afternoon, backing up motorists on nearby roads, bridges and Interstate 91.
Joining the throng of Big E-goers Saturday were the Adler children, of Longmeadow, who enjoyed the fried cheesecake for $6 before they headed to the circus.
"It's the most amazing thing I've ever had," Matthew H. Adler, 10, said as he shared the dish with siblings Sam A., 13, and Hannah K., 7.
Kenneth R. Russell, of Wallingford, Conn., tried the fried Oreos, which he said were good, but not better than the regular version.
from: www.masslive.com
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