WEST SPRINGFIELD – A New England tradition, the Big E, may be canceled this year due to the ongoing pandemic, but people will still be able to enjoy food, shopping and entertainment on the fairgrounds in West Springfield.

The Eastern States Exposition (ESE) has launched Big E Summer Weekends, an opportunity for visitors to enjoy the businesses that make up Storrowton Village throughout the summer, while staying safe and socially distanced.

Visitors can plan an afternoon starting with a lunch at the Storrowton Tavern. The upscale restaurant is open for lunch from 11 a.m. or dinner beginning at 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, with a barbecue brunch available Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The tavern hosts live music Friday and Saturday nights on the patio. Reservations are encouraged, but not necessary.

For those who are interested in a more casual dining experience, the Sam Adams Brew Garden offers pizza, burgers and appetizers, as well as dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan options. They feature over a dozen beers, including an assortment on tap, and a choice of wines.

The Brew Garden is open Fridays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The dining areas in both the Storrowton Tavern and the Sam Adams’ Brew Garden are set up for social distancing, with tables spaced six feet apart. Guests are required to wear face coverings when ordering and receiving food.

Those looking for something sweet can take advantage of the Big E Bakery drive-through line, set up at the New England Center on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. People can pull up and order the Big E’s signature cream puffs and eclairs in singles or packs of three or six. The Big E Bakery will soon feature online ordering so people can pick up their pastries with more convenience.

There’s more than just food at Storrowton Village, however. The Storrowton Village Museum is hosting historic house tours of the 18th- and 19th-century buildings with costumed interpreters, Tuesday through Thursday. Activity blocks are scheduled on Fridays and Saturdays, including ghost tours of Storrowton Village on Fridays at 8 p.m. in August. Reservations are required.

After exploring the museum, visitors can browse in the Storrowton Village Gift Shop, which offers metalwork items hand-forged by volunteer blacksmiths and pottery that is exclusive to the Village. Gifts and Big E memorabilia are also for sale in the gift shop. The shop is open Tuesday through Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more details on visiting the gift shop, call 205-5051.

Big E Summer Weekends are organized with visitor safety in mind. Face coverings are required everywhere on the grounds, said Catherine Pappas, public relations and communications manager for the ESE.

“We hope people will feel safe here on the grounds and come out to support our local businesses that make up Big E Summer Weekends at Storrowton Village,” Pappas told Reminder Publishing.

Pappas noted that offering the Big E “downtown” attractions is new territory, so the ESE is not yet sure how many people will visit, but said, “We will be watching attendance very closely to be sure we adhere to local requirements.”

Parking for Big E Summer Weekends at Storrowton Village is free and more information can be found at www.thebige.com/summerweekends.