By KEITH J. O'CONNOR
How many reasons are there to visit The Big E this year when the granddaddy of all fairs swings open its gates tomorrow morning?
How about 17 reasons, the same number of days New England's great fall fair is open?
"If someone wants to come to The Big E every day of the fair, well then there's something new for them to see and do each of those 17 days," said Wayne McCary, president, Eastern States Exposition.
For the next two plus weeks, some of the biggest names in entertainment will be heading to the West Springfield fairgrounds, beginning tomorrow night with a paid concert appearance by British pop star Natasha Bedingfield. There will be new adrenaline pumping rides on the midway for those brave enough to give them a whirl, shopping on every corner of the fair from the Better Living Center to Craft Common, two parades including Mardi Gras floats and bead tossing revelers, and enough food to put any dietitian into a tailspin. McCary is predicting another "big year" for The Big E, that is, "if the weather holds," he said.
"I think there's a lot of pent up energy right now among families and individuals who want to get out and do something this fall, especially with many more staying closer to home this summer than in the past because of the price of gas," he said.
Tomorrow's opening day will honor the men and women of the armed services with Military Appreciation Day, when all military personnel, their immediate families and veterans with ID will be admitted free. Saturday is 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) Day honoring tomorrow's agriculturists, while Sunday is Cultura 2008 Day, celebrating Hispanic heritage and culture from food to art and from music to dance. Representing many of the Hispanic-American cultures present throughout Western Massachusetts, the special day will feature musical performances by Latin artists on stage and in the Food Court along with dance demonstrations and salsa lessons for everyone.
"This is the second year we are celebrating Cultura which has become an important part of the fair as we seek to embrace the many cultures of our region," McCary said.
On the entertainment front, while most acts such as The Big E Super Circus are free with Big E admission, the fair two years ago introduced a ticketed show at its Comcast Arena Stage and this year has three on its lineup. In addition to Natasha Bedingfield tomorrow night at 8 p.m. with tickets priced at $30 and $20, there will be country duo Sugarland, who is sold out for Sept. 27, however tickets priced at $55 and $45 remain at this time for "An Evening with Fergie" on the fair's closing day, Sunday, Sept. 28. Big E admission is included when tickets are purchased in advance of the concert date at thebige.com.
"I'm not surprised that we sold out Sugarland and I expect Fergie to sell out soon," said John Juliano, special events director at The Big E.
"Getting someone like Fergie to play in Western Mass. is quite a big event, and I don't think we've had someone of her caliber at the fair since Jessica Simpson," he added.
There will also be plenty of free entertainment and music to enjoy on the Comcast Arena and Court of Honor stages throughout the fair. First up on the Court of Honor Stage is former Monkee Micky Dolenz tomorrow through Sunday, followed by the disco infused Taste of Honey, county warblers JYPSI, 80's teen idol Tiffany, classical guitarist Esteban and Latin rockers Malo, the latter performing daily.
The Comcast Arena Stage has two free concerts this weekend, former Bad Company lead singer Brian Howe on Saturday and Danity Kane - stars of Making the Band.
"Danity Kane, who are very popular right now, have a tie to the area with member Wanita Woodgette, who was born in Springfield and whose father still lives here," Juliano said.
Other free shows include Leann Rimes, American Idol Jordin Sparks, country's Jason Aldean, and Springfield's own country girl Ashley Gearing, who recently signed with Curb Records.
Of course, in addition to the ever-changing entertainment schedule, fairgoers always want to know what's new at the fair, noted McCary.
The fair's biggest new exhibit is a free show running all 17 days of the fair called Sea Lion Splash. Hosted by "Surfer Joe," the comedic and educational show features the comedians of the seas as they retrieve objects, do handstands, and sing and dance for the audience, who can even have their pictures taken with the friendly creatures.
"We come into a fair and set up so that it looks like a tropical environment with rocks and waterfalls and two water pools, one with glass that allows fairgoers to watch the underwater antics of our sea lions," said Peter Marco of Squalus Inc. of Florida, promoters of the show.
"And if you miss one of our shows, you can always see our sea lions on display from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.," he added, noting that in addition to California sea lions, they travel with two South America seas lion, a rarity in this country.
Fairgoers will find two new exhibits at this year's Big E. American Circus Posters, located in the New England Center, offers a look at circus art from when the big top was at its peak, and in Farm-A-Rama visitors will find American Goat: A Photographic Journey through America's Growing Goat Industry.
Also, for techies who like to be up on the latest trends, and even for those confused by their home remotes, the new JVC-Hi Def Experience! Tour offers a traveling showroom with the opportunity to see, hear and touch the company's latest electronic marvels including high definition televisions and camcorders.
And, there's even a new float joining in this year's Mardi Gras Parade. Called the Freedom Float and decorated in red, white and blue with similarly colored patriotic lights, the float is dressed with a symbolic eagle and the Statue of Liberty flanked by the American flag.
The new float joins the lineup of seven ornately decorated, authentic Mardi Gras purple, green and gold colored floats built for The Big E by Kern Artists Inc. in New Orleans.
"Luckily the float arrived at our fairgrounds one week before the hurricane hit. Believe me, we were watching the weather," said Juliano.
Of course, The Big E continues its longtime focus on New England history and agriculture with prize-winning animals from across the country in the largest livestock show in the East, the one-of-a-kind Avenue of States and Storrowton Village, an authentic reconstructed 19th century New England Village - all alongside a staple of Big E favorites including the Eastern States Exposition Horse Show, Harvest New England Kitchen with cooking demonstrations, food samplings and recipe contests, and tons of fun for kids including the Mechanical Man, giant slide, Commerford's Petting Zoo, Early-American children's games and more, including tons of "fair food.
New to The Big E menu this year will be a Pot Roast Sundae and all kinds of New Orleans inspired foods including a Brick of Fries served plain, with garlic butter or Cajun style.
And, while at The Big E, there are plenty of information booths located throughout the fairgrounds and a staff of information specialists ready to answer fairgoers' every questions.
Event: The Big Efriday Tomorrow through Sept. 28; gates open at 8 a.m. with most exhibits and buildings open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Avenue of States open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Midway hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., weekends 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., except Sunday, Sept. 28, closing at 9 p.m.; Storrowton Village open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Craft Common open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Where: Memorial Avenue, West Springfield
Cost: Adults, $12 weekdays and $15 weekends; children ages 6-12, $8 weekdays and $10 weekends; children five and under are free; 17-day Value Passes are $40 for adults and $26 for children ages 6-12, other Big E admission discounts include "Five after Five" where admission is $5 after 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, senior admission is $10 Monday through Thursday for those 60 and over; regular price self-printing gate admission tickets are also sold online at thebige.com; Magic Midway Pass, $25 on Monday through Thursday; parking in the Big E's Gate 9 lot is $5 Monday through Friday and $10 on weekends; campers $20 per night with no hookups; handicapped parking and covered drop off area at Gate 9A; wheelchair and stroller rentals at Gates 4 and 9A; also, travel to The Big E by bus or luxury coach with PVTA, King Ward, Peter Pan Showbus and other tour bus companies to provide bus service to the fair from a number of locations, all packages include a discount Big E ticket, for complete information visit
www.TheBigE.com/bus-it
For more info: call the info line at 413-205-5115 or visit www.thebige.com