The Big E was crowded Saturday and Sunday, the final weekend of the year. But neither day broke an all-time record.
Overall, 346,969 people attended The Big E during its final weekend of the 2023 season. On Saturday, 176,498 people attended, while on Sunday there were 170,471 people.
Saturday’s attendance was just under the fair’s all-time attendance record for a single day, which is 177,789 fairgoers, set Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Although Sunday’s attendance was lower, it was a daily attendance record.
Attendees over the weekend had parking woes as gate 9 was operating at a third of the capacity due to muddy conditions.
“Be prepared to seek alt. parking,” the website warned.
Some parking spaces outside of the fairgrounds were being sold for $40-60 on Saturday.
Between rain, increased prices and traffic, some Big E fairgoers were turned away and The Big E had a decrease in overall attendees.
- Read more: Big E finishes fair with huge crowd, but didn’t completely recover from multiple rainy days
There were 1,427,234 people who attended the fair over its 17-day run. In 2022, there were more than 1.6 million fairgoers.
This year was likely the rainiest Big E in recent memory, only seconded by the fair of 1989 when it rained 10 out of the 12 days (the fair expanded to 17 days a few years later).
Less fairgoers doesn’t just mean less people got to enjoy things like cream puffs, rides and shopping, it also means the Eastern State Exposition can do less over the next year, Eugene J. Cassidy, president and chief executive officer told The Republican.
Keeping the fair alive and thriving is especially vital for farmers, since the awards they receive means they can sell and breed their cattle at a higher price and helps improve the lineage of the animals.
“The value is they can share and exchange best practices,” he said.
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About 87% of the Eastern States Exposition budget comes from the fair and after 30 years working there, Cassidy predicted on Sunday the nonprofit would end up with a net income of $2.5 million. In a good year it will top $4.5 million, he said.
Still, the Big E still managed to break four daily records for the biggest first Tuesday, second Wednesday, second Friday and the last Thursday, said Catherine Pappas, spokesperson for the fair.
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And it won’t be long until people are back at the Eastern States Exposition.
The next trade show is for gem and lapidary wholesalers on Oct. 13. There’s also the Springfield Wedding and Bridal Expo in January.
2023 daily attendance:
Friday, Sept. 15 — 86,212
Saturday, Sept. 16 — 95,541
Sunday, Sept. 17 — 91,287
Monday, Sept. 18 — 16,549
Tuesday, Sept. 19 — 57,802*
Wednesday, Sept. 20 — 72,849
Thursday, Sept. 21 — 69,963
Friday, Sept. 22 — 97,477*
Saturday, Sept. 23 — 69,042
Sunday, Sept. 24 — 70,549
Monday, Sept. 25 — 37, 981
Tuesday, Sept. 26 — 63,688
Wednesday, Sept. 27 — 95,689*
Thursday, Sept. 28 — 108,962*
Friday, Sept. 29 — 46,674
Saturday, Sept. 30 — 176,498
Sunday, Oct. 1 — 170,471*
2023 total: 1,427,234
* Daily attendance record
