It was Chicopee Day at the Big E, a day for the city to shine and celebrate everything that makes this community special. 22News spoke with Chicopee residents who were proudly celebrating this day at the fair.
WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – It was Chicopee Day at the Big E, a day for the city to shine and celebrate everything that makes this community special. 22News spoke with Chicopee residents who were proudly celebrating this day at the fair.
This day is a celebration of community, bringing together local businesses and residents to showcase the city’s pride and spirit. People enjoyed local eats, entertainment, and even a parade.
Fairgoers celebrated “Salute to Chicopee Day” at the Big E, honoring the second-largest city in western Massachusetts, after Springfield. Parade floats made their way down the avenue of states with the mayor waving along the way.
“I just wanna support my town, and I support the high school Chicopee Comp cheerleaders and the football team and beyond,” said Dawna Lashway of Chicopee.
Chicopee businesses were there too, representing their city. Inside the Massachusetts building was the very popular Koffee Kup Bakery, a staple to the Big E for over 20 years.
“We get a lot of people saying oh I used to come there as a kid, grandparents use to bring us and they still come to us so we’re thankful for that,” said the Owner of Koffee Kup Bakery, Dino Facente.
Some of their most popular sellers are the Boston Cream Pie, New England Whoopie Pie, and Canolis. “It just shows the hard work we’ve put in and the good workers and you can stay a float,” added Facente.
Another food staple to Chicopee was Millie’s Pierogi’s. “Obviously the pierogi is our big thing. Then we are also proud to carry Chicopee Provision another Chicopee brand we carry their kielbasa and hot dogs and then we have our own gołąbki as well which is a stuffed cabbage roll,” said the Owner of Millie’s Pierogi, Tim Kerigan.
On top of serving their famous Polish dishes, they’re excited to be back here on the fairgrounds, celebrating their community. “They always remember that we are down in Chicopee we are right on Broadway. They come down to see us and it’s a great feeling,” expressed Kerigan.
If you missed today’s salute day, the next one will be a salute to Agawam on Wednesday, and on Thursday it will be a salute to Westfield.
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