Big E canceled because of COVID-19

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Organizers announced Monday their decision to cancel the 2020 Big E Fair in the interest of safety.

The event was scheduled to be held from Sept. 18 through Oct. 4. Approximately 1.6 million people attend the annual event.

"The Big E Fair is so much more than just a fair, it is tradition, it is celebration, it is the showcase of everything we are so proud of in New England. This is why our hearts are heavy as we bring you this news," a spokesperson wrote.

Organizers said staff spent months trying to figure out a way to save the event, but "realized that The Big E experience that everyone has come to know and love would not be the same."

Anyone who had purchased tickets for the Zach Williams concert on Sept. 20 will be refunded in full by the Big E Box Office, officials said.

This is not the first time that the event has been called off in its 104-year history. The fair was put on hold during both World Wars, officials said.

For 2021, the fair is scheduled to return between Sept. 17 and Oct. 3.