Boston Flora

Tag: Eastern States Exposition

  • August 20 – October 2 – Massachusetts Grange Fairs and The Big E

    Support your local Grange (or at least support one closest to you.)  August and September are harvest months and Grange fairs are taking place around the state.  Here is a sampling, and if you go you’ll find many prize winning vegetables, fruits and flowers, not to mention baked goods, available for purchase at the closing auction:

    Saturday, August 20 – Rochester Grange Fair, 205 Hartley Road, Rochester  (www.rochesterma.com)

    Friday and Saturday, August 26 & 27 – Ware Grange Fair, 297 Belchertown Road, Rt. 9, Ware

    Saturday, August 27 – South Middleborough Grange Fair, 570 Wareham Street, Middleborough

    Saturday, August 27 – Shelburne Grange Fair, Little Mohawk Road, Shelburne

    Friday and Saturday, September 9 & 10 – Dartmouth Grange Fair, Grange Hall, Dartmouth

    And, of course, the granddaddy of them all, the Eastern States Exposition, Friday, September 16 – Sunday, October 2, 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield (www.thebige.com)

  • Massachusetts Agricultural Fair Schedule for August – October, 2014

    Grange and 4-H Fairs are, some will say, the quintessential American summer activity, and if you city folk haven’t experienced going to one, we suggest you put one of the following fairs (listed alphabetically by town – those with websites are highlighted in red, just click to link) on your calendar right now.  Generally, admission is free, often there is an auction of prize winning vegetables, flowers, pies and preserves at the end of the show, or check out the bake sale, and enjoy yourself in the “country.”  This is by no means an exhaustive list – for that, visit http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/docs/fairs-directory.pdf.

    Cummington Fair – August 21 – 24, 97 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington

    Dartmouth Grange Fair – September 5 – 6, Grange Hall, Dartmouth

    Dunstable Grange Fair – August 16, 511 Main Street, Dunstable

    Eastern States Exposition, September 21 – 28, 1305 Memorial Avenue, West Springfield

    Franklin County Fair – September 4 – 7, Wisdom Way, Greenfield

    Hardwick Community Fair – August 15 – 16, Rte. 32A, On the Common, Hardwick

    Marshfield Fair, August 15 – 24, Rte. 3A, 140 Main Street, Marshfield

    Martha’s Vineyard Fair -  August 21 – 24, 35 Panhandle Road, West Tisbury

    Middlesex County 4-H Fair – August 22 – 24, So. Chelmsford Road, Westford

    Rochester Grange Fair – August 16, 205 Hartley Road, Rochester

    Shelburne Grange Fair – August 23, Little Mohawk Road, Shelburne

    South Middleborough Grange Fair – August 23, 570 Wareham Street, Middleborough

    Spencer Fair – August 29 – September 1, 48 Smithville Road, Spencer

    Sterling Fair – September 5 – 7, Sterling Airport, 121 Greenland Road, Sterling

    Three County Fair – August 29 – September 1, 54 Fair Street, Northampton

    Topsfield Fair – October 3 – 13, Route 1, Topsfield

    Truro Agricultural Fair – August 31, Rt. 6A & South Pamet Road, Truro

    Ware Grange Fair – August 22 – 23, Ware Grange Hall, 297 Belchertown Road, Ware

    Westfield Fair – August 15 – 17, Russellville Road, Westfield

    Williamsburg Grange Fair – September 13, 10 Main Street, Williamsburg

    Worcester County 4-H Fair – August 23 – 24, 92 McCormick Road, Spencer

     

  • Saturday and Sunday, December 4 – 5 – Yuletide at Storrowton

    Garden clubs from the Springfield, Massachusetts area, including the East Longmeadow Garden Club,  decorate historic Storrowton Village at Yuletide at Storrowton/Eastern States Exposition, December 4 and 5 in West Springfield.  Music, family activities, 19th century craft demonstrations, ice sculpting, caroling, tree lighting and more are free and open to the public.  For more information, log on to www.thebige.com, or call 413-737-2443.

  • Massachusetts Agricultural Calendar Photo Contest

    Amateur photographers who enjoy capturing local rural scenes, farm animals and fresh produce are invited to enter the Massachusetts Agriculture Photo Contest sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources(MDAR), the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc. Winning photos will be featured in the 2011 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar.

    Twelve photos will be selected, one for each month. Photos will be selected that depict the diversity of agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources on the Commonwealth’s farms throughout the year.  To view last year’s winners, click here.

    Winning photographers will be credited in the calendar, will be invited to attend a winner’s ceremony at the Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in Springfield in September, and will receive copies of the calendar and tickets to the fair.

    The Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar will also feature facts and figures about Bay State agriculture, horticulture and conservation, as well as other educational resources. Information about how to order the calendar will be announced on the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Website in the fall. Calendars will also be available at selected public events.

    Deadline for submissions is June 1, 2010. For details and an entry form, visit Photo Contest Rules and regulations: or contact Rick LeBlanc at Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, 617-626-1759 or send an e-mail to him.

    http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/galleries/photos/35063.jpg

  • Friday, September 18 – Sunday, October 4 – The Big E

    There’s no better place to enjoy the sights, sounds and taste tempting aromas of the fall season than at The Big E, New England’s Autumn Tradition and the largest fair in the northeast. It’s a New England extravaganza with top name entertainment, major exhibits, The Big E Super Circus, the Avenue of States, New England history and agriculture, animals, rides, shopping, crafts, a daily parade and a Mardi Gras parade and foods from around the world for 17 glorious days during New England’s most colorful season. How can you visit all six New England states in less than one hour? Visit The Big E, the only fair in the country with multiple states participating! Take a stroll along the Avenue of States and see impressive replicas of each New England state’s original statehouse sitting on land actually owned by that state. Take a step inside and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and tastes and of quintessential New England.

    Eastern States Exposition, home of The Big E, was founded by Joshua L. Brooks in 1916 when he convinced the National Dairy Show to hold its annual event on the Exposition grounds. In 1917, the first Eastern States Exposition took place. Brooks’ desire was to bring together all six New England states in one location to share ideas and improve regional agriculture. Brooks dreamed of having state buildings at the fair that would showcase the traditional and new products and attractions that make each New England state unique.

    Walking through the life-size replicas of each state’s original capitol you can learn about the people, products and attractions each New England state has to offer. A trip down the Avenue of States allows you to have a taste of what New England has to offer, from Maine to Connecticut and all points in between. You can begin your journey at whichever state you prefer - just be sure not to miss any!

    Take a step into the past at the Historic Deerfield exhibit in Massachusetts. Learn about wildlife in The Pine Tree State in the Maine building. Shop for a wide array of local products stocked at the Connecticut General Store. Find authentic handmade one-of-a-kind gifts in New Hampshire. Browse fine Rhode Island Coastline-inspired jewelry and art. Bring home unique Vermont-made flannel and woolen products. Explore the Avenue of States and you can do all this and more without ever leaving.  The Gates open at 8 a.m., and most exhibits are open between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m.  Avenue of States opens from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the Midway is open weekdays and Sundays 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays until 11 p.m.  Advance tickets $10 adults, $8 children six and over.  Passes for multi day admissions also available.  To order, call 413-205-5049.  Online, log on to www.thebige.com for secure purchases.