Granite State Ambassadors are contracting partners for the New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism Development to assist with the planning, volunteer management, and onsite management of the New Hampshire Tourism Information booth within the New Hampshire building on the Eastern States Exposition grounds in West Springfield, MA for the Big E (September 16 – October 2, 2022).
We’re looking for friendly, happy people to volunteer at NH Tourism Booth in the NH Building at The Big E in Springfield, MA. GSA volunteers, friends, and tourism industry folks are invited to volunteer during the 17-day fair. ALL volunteers will receive a free ticket to the expo and parking for the day(s) of their volunteer shift(s). Travel and accommodations are on-your-own, but we’ve researched a few options that are listed below including our deeply discounted block-booked rooms. We look forward to seeing you at the fair!
This is an older video but gives you a pretty good idea of what The Big E is all about!
If you are a New Hampshire tourism business and are interested in having your literature displayed at the NH Tourism Booth, contact bige@nhgsa.com or view the information below.
This information will be updated regularly as we get closer.
HOW TO SIGN UP if you are a GRANITE STATE AMBASSADOR (GSA) Volunteer
GSA volunteers – sign up for shifts on the online calendar, as you would for anything else. Do NOT fill out the registration form below. If you are not a GSA with a current calendar login – see next section! Orientation Sept 8 at 9:30, 172 Pembroke Rd in Concord. Sign-up in the calendar.
The New Hampshire Building is part of the Avenue of States, which boasts impressive replicas of each New England state’s original statehouse sitting on land actually owned by that state. In 2021, 1,498,774 people made the Big E their destination for fun. An estimated 90% of those fair-goers visit the Avenue of States, according to Big E exit surveys. Most of those (82%) are looking for food and shopping, but a substantial number (38%) are seeking travel information. In real numbers, that’s about 1.34 million visitors to the Avenue of States, and 569,534 people who are specifically looking for tourism information. About 75% of those who were looking for travel literature planned to travel to NH after the fair (that’s 427,150 guests).
HOW TO SIGN UP if you are a FRIEND OR INDUSTRY MEMBER
Note: if you volunteered in the past, the account you created should still work. You can skip step 1. There is a link to reset forgotten passwords.
You will be given the option to create an account on our system so you can return to add/change your chosen shifts. on our online calendar system. To be a featured business – sign up where you like and include your business/organization in that field on the form.
If you chose to create a login on our system, follow these steps to return to the calendar to add or change shifts. If you don’t want to access the calendar directly yourself, email Kelly Bryer at Kelly@nhgsa.com or Emily McMaster at emily@nhgsa.com and we will help.
STEP 1: Fill out the SIGN UP FORM/ACCOUNT SET UP. You can choose your shifts here, submit them and you are all set. No need to do anything else. If you would like more information like who else is signed up already or would like to change your shift, read on to see how to log into our calendar system.
After you have created an account via the link above, CLICK HERE to go to NHGSA’s volunteer online calendar system and login using your email address and the password you created when you registered to see who else is signed up or to change, cancel or add shifts.
STEP 2:
Once you are logged in, click the CALENDARS tab and then on the date you wish to volunteer or attend orientation. Click the Schedule Me button on your desired shift(s).
Have questions or need help? E-mail Kelly at kelly@nhgsa.com.
SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS, ORGANIZATION, OR CLUB
SEND YOUR BROCHURES: If you would like to reserve your FREE brochure spot at the Big E, please fill out the brochure request form to reserve your space.
Space is limited and will be reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis. Over the past several years, we have tracked usage patterns and preferences of our visitors to determine what guests pick up at this event and in what quantities.
Please read the GUIDELINES FOR LITERATURE 2022prior to requesting free rack space. Note to lodging and camping properties: Because of limited rack space and due to the fact that individual lodging brochures historically perform very poorly at the Big E, we will not be accepting individual lodging and camping brochures. If you are a lodging or camping company and still want to be at the Big E, it is highly suggested that you produce a rack card with content of interest to the Big E guest. Rack cards can feature area hiking trails, scenic bike routes, and family activities in your area and include your lodging information as a footnote in the piece. This type of rack card will be accepted because it is an activity brochure and not a lodging brochure. You can also become a featured business (see web page) to gain extra exposure.
SHOWCASE YOUR BUSINESS IN-PERSON: Sign up to volunteer using the form (link above) or on the online calendars and then let Kelly (kelly@nhgsa.com) know that you would like to be the ‘Featured Business/Celebrity‘ for that shift.
If no one has already signed up as the Featured Business/Celebrity, you can put your brochures, samples, etc. on the front counter, post an introduction sign, and use the video monitor if you would like.
This is a great way to put yourself right in front of our primary guest market. Click here for an information sheet for our industry friends.
LODGING OPTIONS for ALL Volunteers
Granite State Ambassadors is able to offer a few discounted kitchenette rooms at Candlewood Suites for $110 per night on a first-come/first-served basis that are booked directly through us. Contact Kelly (kelly@nhgsa.com) to make your reservations. Send your check made out to ‘Granite State Ambassadors’ to PO Box 417, Campton NH 03223. We will be releasing the un-spoken for rooms we have reserved at this special rate on Friday, September 1. After Sept 1, you have to make reservations directly with a local hotel.
Military retirees or Active Guard and Reserve members can get inexpensive lodging at The Flyers Inn on Westover Air Reserve Base in nearby Chicopee. The telephone number is (413) 593-5421.
DIRECTIONS – this may change – we will keep you posted
Driving Directions to the employee lot (If you are taking Route 202 or Route 90 in, we highly recommend that you get to Route 91 south ABOVE Springfield and come in from this direction to avoid heavy traffic!)
Directions with map (PDF) Get to Route 91 South above W. Springfield and take Exit 10B (formerly 13B). Turn right off the exit and follow Route 5 (Riverdale Street for about a mile. After the Cinema complex, there is a light. Just after the light, fork to the right onto Elm Street. Candlewood Suites (the GSA hotel) will be on your left. Follow Elm Street for just over a mile. At the third light, turn right onto Park Street. At the first light (at the end of the grassy common) turn left onto Western Ave. The employee parking lot is on your left (you will need your parking hang tag from orientation) – look for white and yellow tent. If this lot is full, they will direct you to continue to end of block and turn left for lot 2.
If you prefer to use your GPS or Google, the Big E employee parking lot on Western Ave in West Springfield can be reached by inputting 7 Western Ave. If that lot is closed or full, they’ll be using the next lot over, which you can reach by taking the next left onto Bliss St., and it will be immediately on the left.
NH Entertainment
Sept. 16 Abrielle Scharff
Sept. 17 The Honey Bees
Sept. 18 Slattery & Stewart
Sept. 24 Rob Oxford & Americana’s Most Wanted
Sept. 25 Mix Tape A Capella group
Sept. 30 Pete Peterson
Oct. 1 Jose Lezcano
Oct. 2 Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki and Jim Prendergast
2022 NH Day – September 23rd
9 am – 4:00 pm: NH Fish & Game
K-9 team demonstrations:
10:30
11:30
12:30
1:30
2:30
12:00 pm: Keene Cheshiremen Chorus (45 minutes)
1:00 pm: Stone Wall Demonstration by Kevin Gardner
2:00 pm Cardigan Mountain Tradition band (45 minutes)
3:00 pm Dueling Pianos (45 minutes)
4:30 pm TJ Wheeler & the Smokers (45 minutes)
Big E parade starts at 6 pm
BIG E 2022 SPECIAL AND STATE DAYS
Friday, Sept. 16 – Be A Kid For A Day, Military Appreciation Day
Saturday, Sept. 17 – Maine Day & 4-H/FFA Day
Sunday, Sept. 18 – Storrowton Day & Chalice of Salvation Sunday
Monday, Sept. 19 – Salute to West Springfield
Tuesday, Sept. 20 – Rhode Island Day & Salute to Holyoke
Want to know more about the Big E? Visit their website here:
