WEST SPRINGFIELD – The leaves have not yet fallen, but Christmas is already in the air. With snow machines whirring and a battery of powerful air conditioners on full blast, the “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” exhibit at the Eastern States Exposition aims to get fairgoers into the holiday spirit. “It’s an idea I’ve had for a few years....
Walking in a Winter Wonderland is a new exhibit in the Young Building at the Big E.WEST SPRINGFIELD – The leaves have not yet fallen, but Christmas is already in the air.
With snow machines whirring and a battery of powerful air conditioners on full blast, the “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” exhibit at the Eastern States Exposition aims to get fairgoers into the holiday spirit.
“It’s an idea I’ve had for a few years. I wanted to bring back the nostalgia days of when I was kid and you’d go see Santa” said James Cicerchia, one of the exhibit’s designers. “It was spectacular. You’d plan your day around it. I wanted to create that feeling.”
Sponsored by Uncommon USA, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” was created by J3T•SET Design Group, a newly established design firm based in Springfield.
“We’ve been working on this concept for a couple of years now and doing all the research. That was a lot of leg work” Cicerchia said.
J3T is comprised of four partners Cicerchia, James Amaceo, James Maher and Tanya Fields, who could be the faces behind some of your favorite displays for department stores like Lord & Taylor and Macy’s. As visual merchandisers, they all met while working at Macy’s.
“We started this partnership and made a company,” Cicerchia said.
Located in the Young Building on the Big E grounds, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” is a 4,000-square-foot forest comprised with 140 Christmas trees and four winter- and Christmas-themed scenes.
The scenes include “Vintage Glamour,” reminiscent of old 1940s-era Hollywood, 1800s “Victorian Romance”, a traditional Christmas dining room scene that Cicerchia dubs “very Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren,” and a candy-inspired scene with an “old candy shop feeling” he said.
Complete with high-powered air conditioners and snow machines that give the exhibit climate appropriate temperatures, “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” promises a snowstorm every day.
“I wanted the magic of Disney on a smaller scale,” he said.
And no holiday is complete without the annual Christmas card. As fairgoers exit the exhibit, they will have the opportunity to get their pictures taken, choosing from dozens of backdrops using green screen technology and buying options that will give families one thing to check off their Christmas to-do list.
Looking ahead to the future of J3T•SET Design Group, Cicerchia said they hope to expand “Walking in a Winter Wonderland” and move to a bigger location and have it on display during the holidays.
“This is such a great partnership there’s no way I could’ve done it myself. It wouldn’t have happened without them” said Cicerchia of his team which also includes a team of 32 freelancers throughout the duration of the fair.
For more information on the Big E, visit www.masslive.com/the-big-e