The Big E stands for Eastern States Exposition. it's kind of like a 4-H show on steroids. The states involved are Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is held on about a hundred acres of land, in West Springfield, Ma. They have many permanent structures for this fair alone, that is held once a year for 17 days. Just ONE of the animal barns are as big as a football field, and they have at least FOUR that I have seen. It is so huge, that we spent over 10 hours there, and I STILL didn't get to see everything!