WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Organizers of New England's largest fair, the Big E, say this year's 17-day event smashed attendance records.
Eugene Cassidy, president and chief executive officer of the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield said on Sunday's closing day that nearly 1.5 million visited the fair this year, up from almost 1.4 million last year.
He says more than 105,000 people visited on closing day alone, which was capped off by a Beach Boys concert, while almost 161,000 visited Saturday.
Cassidy says attendance was driven by the variety of exhibitions as well as by the largely sunny weather that prevailed over the length of the fair.
The annual fair states, features carnival rides, food and goods from all six New England states, animal exhibitions, shows and musical concerts of many genres.