Big E recap and plans for next year

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Big E ended this weekend, capping off a record-breaking fair season.

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Vendors and exhibitors at the Big E packed their things this morning. The fair brought in the most visitors on record with one point six three million. Eastern States Exposition President and CEO, Gene Cassidy described how this year will shape future fairs.

"We learned a lot and hopefully we are able to create more commerce with what we learn and so next year is already being fully planned," said Cassidy.

The weather played a huge role in attendance, with less than an inch of rain during the 17-day fair.

Maria Ferreira sold some of the most coveted items at the fair, cream puffs. She told 22News about her first-year experience.

"I think my business did well and we sold a lot of eclairs and puffs and stuff like that for the customers and everybody... I like it a lot and I hope I can come back next year," said Ferreira.

One issue many deal with each fair season is traffic. While some have pushed for limiting fair occupancy to reduce local impacts, The Big E reaches much farther than western Massachusetts.

"People travel great distances to get here and you cannot turn people away because for whatever chaos we might think we have to endure in the middle weekend, turning people away with create far more damage than anything else," said Cassidy.

There are already some talks about next year's performers and acts, and we'll let you know once the names are released.

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