{"id":80075,"date":"2026-08-27T13:49:19","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:49:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/80075\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T13:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T13:49:19","slug":"opa-opa-brewing-dropped-from-the-big-e-after-nearly-20-years-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/germany\/80075\/","title":{"rendered":"Opa-Opa Brewing dropped from The Big E after nearly 20 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

After nearly two decades, a family-owned Massachusetts brewery<\/a> says it won\u2019t be returning to The Big E<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rickie Rizos, whose family owns Massachusetts-based Opa-Opa Brewing Company<\/a>, said on Instagram<\/a> that the brewery has not been invited back to The Big E this year. The fair, which runs Sept. 18 through Oct. 4, is known for its wide range of food and drink vendors, including offerings representing all six New England states.\u00a0She wrote that this year \u201cwould have marked 20 years for my family at the Big E.\u201d She added that it has been \u201cdifficult to process how this chapter is ending.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile this is not the ending we ever expected, we will always be grateful for the thousands of customers, friends, and fellow vendors who supported us year after year. The memories made inside that beer tent\u2014the laughter, the long days, the traditions\u2014will always mean the world to us,\u201d Rizos said on Instagram.<\/p>\n

Rizos said on Instagram that the brewery was “among the first beer tents to introduce the cinnamon sugar rim and flavored craft beers.” The brewery is known for producing a range of craft beers, including hoppy, fruity, malty and seasonal brews, from lighter lagers and wheat beers to darker stouts. Opa-Opa has also received recognition for its beer, including a silver medal at the 2006 Great American Beer Festival.<\/p>\n

Rizos told MassLive.com<\/a> that The Big E was an important source of income for her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat businesses are able to make in two weeks can sustain an entire year\u2019s worth of a family\u2019s income for some people,\u201d Rizos told MassLive.com. \u201cAnd I don\u2019t think people understand the impact that that has.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a statement,\u00a0Eastern States Exposition<\/a> (ESE), which operates The Big E, said vendors operate under annual contracts and that Opa-Opa was notified Nov. 5, 2025, that it would not be included in the 2026 fair. The organization said the brewery\u2019s former space will be changed to accommodate an entrance to a new venue and that Opa-Opa may apply for space at future fairs. The statement added that “ESE recognizes the commitment and support Opa-Opa\u2019s operators invested in their presence at The Big E over the years.”<\/p>\n

“ESE is engaged in a multi-year comprehensive master planning process and feasibility study to reimagine the facility and identify opportunities for improvements to layout and operations. A current area of focus is the west end of the grounds surrounding The Big E Arena. Changes are underway in that area to accommodate a new venue entrance slated for 2027, which impacts the former location of Opa-Opa,” the statement read.<\/p>\n