<Ul> <Li> Basketball Hall of Fame -- housed in a $47 million structure designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates , it is a shrine to the world 's second most popular sport , basketball . Located in the city where basketball was invented , the facility -- built beside the Connecticut River -- spans 80,000 square feet ( 7,400 m ) features numerous restaurants and the WMAS - FM studios . However , it is separated from Springfield 's Metro Center by the 8 - lane highway , Interstate 91 . </Li> <Li> The Big E -- also known as The Eastern States Exposition , it is New England 's collective , annual state fair . Held on a permanent fairgrounds approximately 1.5 miles ( 2.4 km ) west of Springfield 's Metro Center , across the ornate Memorial Bridge in West Springfield , it attracts more than 1 million visitors per year during its 14 - to 17 - day run beginning in mid-September . </Li> <Li> Bright Nights -- during the holiday season , Forest Park hosts a nationally renowned , 2 + mile , state - of - the - art lighting extravaganza . Year over year , the numerous lighting displays become creative and elaborate . </Li> <Li> City Stage -- Springfield 's best - known playhouse features off - Broadway productions , comedians , and children 's programming . </Li> <Li> Club Quarter -- a grouping of 60 clubs , bars , and restaurants around Stearns Square , Worthington and Main Streets . Springfield 's variety of nightclubs and entertainment is part of what makes it , according to Yahoo ! , one of America 's ten best cities for dating . LGBT and dance clubs are integrated with hip - hop , rock , jazz , and blues clubs . Thursday , Friday , and Saturday are particularly busy evenings . </Li> <Li> Connecticut River Walk Park -- a landscaped park that snakes along the Connecticut River , affording views of the Mount Tom Range , Mount Holyoke Range , and Springfield 's skyline . However , this park is separated from Springfield by the badly designed , 8 - lane Interstate 91 highway , which cuts through three Springfield riverfront neighborhoods , and thus presents a major obstacle to accessing this riverfront park . In 2010 , the Urban Land Institute released a plan for Springfield 's riverfront , which has given Springfielders cause for hope that Interstate 91 will either be moved or made more easily passable via new design features that would allow people to access the River Walk and the Basketball Hall of Fame . </Li> <Li> Court Square -- a park , referred to as `` Springfield 's front door , '' it remains the city 's only topographical constant since its founding in 1636 . Located on Main Street and surrounded by ornate architecture , including the iconic Springfield Municipal Group , Court Square is the civic heart of Springfield . Until the 1960s , Court Square extended to the Connecticut River ; however , as with Olmsted 's Forest Park , its connection to the river was severed by the building of the Interstate 91 elevated highway . </Li> <Li> Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden -- amidst the Quadrangle , there are large , bronze statues of characters from Springfield native Dr. Seuss 's books . </Li> <Li> First Game of Basketball Sculpture -- located directly on the site of the first game of basketball , this illuminated sculpture in Springfield 's Mason Square commercial district has become a site of pilgrimage for basketball fans from around the world . </Li> <Li> Forest Park -- designed by Frederick Law Olmsted , the renowned landscape designer of New York City 's Central Park , Springfield 's Forest Park is nearly the same size as Central Park at 735 acres ( 297.4 ha ) . It features the Zoo at Forest Park ; the 31 acres ( 12.5 ha ) Porter Lake ; numerous playgrounds ; a formal rose garden ; 38 tennis courts ; a skating arena ; numerous basketball and bocce courts ; lawn bowling fields ; Victorian promenades and water gardens ; tree groves ; baseball diamonds ; numerous statues ; an aquatic park ; and the Barney Carriage House , where many weddings take place . </Li> <Li> King Philip 's Stockade -- an historic , city park where in 1675 , the Pocumtuc Indians -- organized by Chief Metacomet , also known as King Philip -- initiated the Attack on Springfield during King Philip 's War . During the attack , approximately 75 % of the city was burned . </Li> <Li> MassMutual Center -- formerly known as the Springfield Civic Center ,
<Ul> <Li> Basketball Hall of Fame -- housed in a $47 million structure designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates , it is a shrine to the world 's second most popular sport , basketball . Located in the city where basketball was invented , the facility -- built beside the Connecticut River -- spans 80,000 square feet ( 7,400 m ) features numerous restaurants and the WMAS - FM studios . However , it is separated from Springfield 's Metro Center by the 8 - lane highway , Interstate 91 . </Li> <Li> The Big E -- also known as The Eastern States Exposition , it is New England 's collective , annual state fair . Held on a permanent fairgrounds approximately 1.5 miles ( 2.4 km ) west of Springfield 's Metro Center , across the ornate Memorial Bridge in West Springfield , it attracts more than 1 million visitors per year during its 14 - to 17 - day run beginning in mid-September . </Li> <Li> Bright Nights -- during the holiday season , Forest Park hosts a nationally renowned , 2 + mile , state - of - the - art lighting extravaganza . Year over year , the numerous lighting displays become creative and elaborate . </Li> <Li> City Stage -- Springfield 's best - known playhouse features off - Broadway productions , comedians , and children 's programming . </Li> <Li> Club Quarter -- a grouping of 60 clubs , bars , and restaurants around Stearns Square , Worthington and Main Streets . Springfield 's variety of nightclubs and entertainment is part of what makes it , according to Yahoo ! , one of America 's ten best cities for dating . LGBT and dance clubs are integrated with hip - hop , rock , jazz , and blues clubs . Thursday , Friday , and Saturday are particularly busy evenings . </Li> <Li> Connecticut River Walk Park -- a landscaped park that snakes along the Connecticut River , affording views of the Mount Tom Range , Mount Holyoke Range , and Springfield 's skyline . However , this park is separated from Springfield by the badly designed , 8 - lane Interstate 91 highway , which cuts through three Springfield riverfront neighborhoods , and thus presents a major obstacle to accessing this riverfront park . In 2010 , the Urban Land Institute released a plan for Springfield 's riverfront , which has given Springfielders cause for hope that Interstate 91 will either be moved or made more easily passable via new design features that would allow people to access the River Walk and the Basketball Hall of Fame . </Li> <Li> Court Square -- a park , referred to as `` Springfield 's front door , '' it remains the city 's only topographical constant since its founding in 1636 . Located on Main Street and surrounded by ornate architecture , including the iconic Springfield Municipal Group , Court Square is the civic heart of Springfield . Until the 1960s , Court Square extended to the Connecticut River ; however , as with Olmsted 's Forest Park , its connection to the river was severed by the building of the Interstate 91 elevated highway . </Li> <Li> Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden -- amidst the Quadrangle , there are large , bronze statues of characters from Springfield native Dr. Seuss 's books . </Li> <Li> First Game of Basketball Sculpture -- located directly on the site of the first game of basketball , this illuminated sculpture in Springfield 's Mason Square commercial district has become a site of pilgrimage for basketball fans from around the world . </Li> <Li> Forest Park -- designed by Frederick Law Olmsted , the renowned landscape designer of New York City 's Central Park , Springfield 's Forest Park is nearly the same size as Central Park at 735 acres ( 297.4 ha ) . It features the Zoo at Forest Park ; the 31 acres ( 12.5 ha ) Porter Lake ; numerous playgrounds ; a formal rose garden ; 38 tennis courts ; a skating arena ; numerous basketball and bocce courts ; lawn bowling fields ; Victorian promenades and water gardens ; tree groves ; baseball diamonds ; numerous statues ; an aquatic park ; and the Barney Carriage House , where many weddings take place . </Li> <Li> King Philip 's Stockade -- an historic , city park where in 1675 , the Pocumtuc Indians -- organized by Chief Metacomet , also known as King Philip -- initiated the Attack on Springfield during King Philip 's War . During the attack , approximately 75 % of the city was burned . </Li> <Li> MassMutual Center -- formerly known as the Springfield Civic Center ,
when does the big e start in springfield mass
when does the big e start in springfield mass
mid-September
mid-September