With almost half a million visitors last weekend, The Big E trade fair broke many times its previous visitor records.

The Big E takes place from September 13th to 29th and is considered one of the largest carnivals in the USA and Canada, according to Carnival Warehouse.

A total of 275,444 visitors came to the fair on its opening weekend. This weekend there were 426,817 visitors.

A total of 952,620 people have visited The Big E so far this year.

The number of visitors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday broke records.

On Friday and Sunday, attendance was never as high as on the first day. That means that on the second Friday and Sunday of the fair, more people were at The Big E than ever before.

With 178,608 visitors, an absolute visitor record for a single day was broken on Saturday.

The number of fairgoers not only represents how many people enjoy things like cream puffs, rides and shopping, it also reflects what the Eastern State Exposition can accomplish next year, Eugene J. Cassidy, president and CEO, told The Republican.

It is especially important for farmers that the fair remains alive and flourishing, because the awards they receive enable them to sell and breed their livestock at a higher price and help improve the animals’ pedigree.

“The value is that they can share and exchange best practices,” he said.

About 87% of the Eastern States Exposition’s budget comes from the fair. After 30 years there, Cassidy predicted the nonprofit would net $2.5 million after the 2023 fair. In a good year, profits will exceed $4.5 million, Cassidy said.