Family traditions aid high turnout on Big E’s Agawam Day

The Agawam High School band shows off its musical talents while marching in the Big E parade on Salute to Agawam Day.

Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Bill and Terry Ann Toelken began visiting the Big E more than 50 years ago, first as a couple, then with their daughter. Now, the longtime Agawam residents come to watch their grandchildren march with the Agawam High School band in the Salute to Agawam Day parade, celebrating their town.

“The fair has changed a lot since we started coming here,” said Terry Ann Toelken, who grew up in Agawam. “There’s not as much emphasis on agriculture and farming now.”

Bill Toelken said as a neighboring community, it’s important that the Big E recognize Agawam with a special day: “There’s a lot of work that goes on to support the fair on both sides of the river, not just in West Springfield.”

His wife added that with a special day, the high school can showcase the talents of its students in the band.

“I wouldn’t miss the opportunity to see my grandkids march and play their instruments in the parade for anything in the world,” she said.

The Toelkens joined their daughter, Heather Mansur, who came to support her two sons in the band. They and two other band parents, Gary and Jennifer Goulet, were enjoying in the fair for a few hours before the evening parade. Mansur and the Goulets are members of the Friend of Agawam Music Education.

“This is ‘parent time,’” said Jennifer Goulet, whose daughter is in the band’s percussion section. She said this was their opportunity to browse, visit the state buildings and eat some of their favorite foods. The Agawam native said she’s never missed a Big E since she was a child.

“It always brings back a lot of memories. My father and grandfather were farmers who used to exhibit, so as a little girl I got to explore the fairgrounds,” she said.

Mansur said one of her favorite foods is the Big E-clair. She also likes to browse vendors in the Massachusetts Building. But her main mission was to support the Agawam band.

“It’s wonderful to see how the kids have grown over the years — both in the band and in sports.”

Gary Goulet said being in the parade is “a great experience” for the kids.

“It’s another chance for them to practice their music and an opportunity to show off their talents in front of crowds lining the parade route,” he said.

They were among the 86,317 visitors on Sept. 25, the Big E’s annual Salute to Agawam Day. While it wasn’t a record-setting day like in 2023, when nearly 96,000 showed up at the fair, Salute to Agawam still boasted among the highest weekday attendance numbers for the record-setting 2024 season.

Agawam Junior High School student Alyssa Perry, like all the town’s schoolchildren, got a free ticket to go to the fair after school. Perry was excited about being at the Big E this year. She and her friends wore their soccer jerseys to school and planned to meet up in the afternoon.

“We like to go on rides and watch the parade. It’s a fun time,” she said. Her favorite fair foods are corn dogs and deep-fried Oreos. She added, “I also like visiting the farm buildings to see the animals — especially watching baby chicks hatch.”

The 13-year-old said it’s nice to have a special day for Agawam.

“Our high school band gets to be part of the parade and to show off their talent and maybe even inspire some kids to join the band,” she said.

Paul LaBarre has volunteered at the Agawam Lions Club restaurant for the past eight years. He works in the “pit” where chickens are barbecued, but his responsibility is cooking French fries, chicken wings, nuggets and tenders.

“I also help with anything else that needs to be done,” said the Agawam resident. “I’m not a member of the club — I do it because it’s for a good cause.” He works 11 out of the 17 days of the fair, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

LaBarre said working the deep fryer keeps him pretty busy.

“I don’t like to stand around, and there’s always a lot for me to cook,” he said, adding that he fries about 12 to 20 pounds of potatoes during his shift.

Attending the Big E for Salute to Agawam is a long tradition for Agawam residents Kristin and Ed Smith.

“We started when our two kids were little. Now that they’re grown, we come back every year just to enjoy the fair for ourselves,” said Kristin Smith. “It’s become such a tradition that our bosses expect us to ask for the day off.”

Ed Smith said that they have been coming for so many years that they often run into some of same people at the fair: “We usually see parents of kids who grew up with our kids.”

Their annual routine is to arrive early and leave after the parade.

“We come once and we try to make the most of the day,” said Kristin Smith. “We go to the Better Living Center, the state buildings — we love the Maine Building with lobster rolls, maple sugar and baked potatoes — the craft area and catch a show on the village green. We’re traditionalist — we have our own little route,” she said.

Added her husband, “The best thing about the Big E: It beats working.”