Sept 15 – Oct 1
Volunteer: The Big E
You will earn Volunteer Service Hours
Hours will be reported for you
Sign-ups are open.
** GENERAL PUBLIC AND TOURISM INDUSTRY – PLEASE VISIT OUR OFFICIAL BIG E PAGE.
ORIENTATION VIDEO | ORIENTATION DOCUMENT
If you sign up, please email bige@nhgsa.com to get your ticket.
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 15 – October 1, 2023).
We are looking for friendly, happy people to volunteer at New Hampshire Tourism Information Booth in the New Hampshire Building at The Big E in Springfield, MA. All Granite State Ambassadors, New Hampshire residents and tourism industry folks are invited to volunteer during the 17-day expo.
Tourism industry members are invited to display their brochures and/or volunteer and showcase their businesses at no cost to participate. More info…
For more information: Kelly Bryer 603-851-8624 kelly@nhgsa.com
2023 NEW FOODS at The Big E
This is an older video but gives you a pretty good idea of what The Big E is all about!
www.thebige.com
Special Day Schedule | Entertainment Schedule | Agricultural Schedule | 2022 Attendance #s
Friday, September 15 – Sunday, October 1, 2023
S
hifts are 3-4 hours long and there are always 2 management staff, plus up to 4 volunteers in the booth. Shifts begin at 9:30am and run through 9:00pm daily. You can volunteer for one shift or several.
We will have sneeze guards, masks, face shields, and sanitizer available for your use if you choose. We will also be using covid killing cleaning products. You can opt to stay behind the counter where you can maintain a 6′ distance or you can mingle with guests in the ‘crazy corner.’ The choice is yours.
Make it a get-a-way and volunteer for a shift on two consecutive days and stay over. That gives you plenty of time to play and enjoy the expo!
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 2022, 1,603,354 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 1.4 million visitors to the Avenue of States, and 609,275 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 456,956 guests).
There is no need to have extensive knowledge of New Hampshire to volunteer. Our brochures are set up by region, there is a computer on site for looking things up and we have numerous resource sheets along with the personal knowledge of your co-workers. All you need is a love for New Hampshire and an authentic smile!
We have an in-person training/orientation scheduled for Friday, September 1st at 10am at the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, 172 Pembroke Road, Concord NH and a virtual orientation via Zoom on Thursday, September 7th at 10am. The orientation is posted above.
TO SIGN UP YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY – CLICK HERE.
LODGING OPTIONS for ALL Volunteers – OUR ROOM BLOCK IS NOW CLOSED.
Granite State Ambassadors is able to offer discounted 2, double bed, full kitchenette rooms at Candlewood Suites, West Springfield for $110 per night on a first-come/first-served basis that are booked directly through us. View our Room Availability. 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 unreserved rooms in our block 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!)
Please note that minors and non-volunteering family members are not allowed on the employee shuttles. You will have to pay to park near or on the grounds.
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.
