WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Big E in West Springfield broke its all-time attendance record in 2024 with more than 1.6 million visitors, making it the fourth-largest fair in the country according to Carnival Warehouse. In total, 1,633,935 people walked the fairgrounds during the 17-day event in 2024. There were also seven daily attendance records and one single-day attendance record on Saturday, Sept. 21, with 178,608 visitors through the gates. The Big E Fair News Carnival Warehouse released its top 50 fairs in North America based on attendance records. The Big E Fair ranked fourth, citing North American Midway Entertainment (NAME) as its carnival provider. NAME provides the Big E with rides, games, and classic food concessions. 2024 Top 5 Fairs Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Houston, Texas - 2,553,185 in attendance State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Texas - 2,385,855 in attendance Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul, Minnesota - 1,925,904 in attendance Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield - 1,633,935 in attendance San Antonio Livestock Show & Exposition in San Antonio, Texas - 1,500,000 in attendance The home of the Big E fair is the Eastern States Exposition, a not-for-profit, educational institution under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. They celebrate New England’s agricultural history, generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity, and offer many exciting events, rides, and a variety of food for everyone. Last year's fair brought in performers such as Big Time Rush, Dustin Lynch, Public Enemy, and Ludacris to name a few. This year's 109th Big E Fair will run from September 12 through September 28 and will provide plenty of opportunities to explore its wide variety of food and entertainment.  Local News Headlines Audit faults state on hospital monitoring DEEP identifies body found in Connecticut River Son accused of killing father in Hartford motel stabbing The Big E ranks in largest U.S. carnivals for attendance WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.