Behind the Scenes at the South Shore Big Ex: Porta-Potties, Prep & What You Don’t See

When most people think about the South Shore Exhibition—better known as the Big Ex—they think of late-night concerts, blue-ribbon cattle, and cotton candy. It’s one of the best weeks of summer. But if you’ve ever wondered how the whole event stays clean, functional, and ready for another day of crowds, the answer is: a lot of behind-the-scenes work.

From porta-potties to camper cleanouts, here’s how we support the South Shore Big Ex

Dalton Jodrey Plumbing & Heating is proud to be a Bronze Sponsor of the Big Ex—and we’re also the team that keeps the portable toilets pumped out and the campers cleaned up every day of the fair.

Here’s what that actually looks like.

Setup and Teardown: Bookends of a Busy Week

We’re on site for two key days outside the main event—one for setup, one for teardown. That means delivering and positioning dozens of portable toilet units, coordinating with the event team, and making sure everything is accessible, spaced properly, and ready to handle fair traffic.

Once those units are in place, we shift straight into daily service mode.

Daily Service Starts Early

Every morning before the gates open, our crew is on the grounds servicing every single porta-potty. This isn’t a light-duty job—it involves:

• Pumping each unit

• Cleaning and sanitizing

• Restocking supplies

• Making any quick fixes on the fly

It’s a fast-paced morning, and it takes time, planning, and a crew that works like a well-oiled machine. And while it’s not the kind of work that grabs headlines, it’s what makes the day better for everyone who steps onto the grounds.

Camper and RV Pump-Outs: The Real Time Commitment

In addition to the portable toilets, we also provide on-site pump-outs for campers and RVs throughout the week. Many participants and vendors stay on the fairgrounds in trailers, and we offer scheduled cleanouts to keep everything running smoothly.

This part of the job is time-consuming and takes a lot of coordination—especially with our regular routes and summer bookings still happening in the background.

Our crew works hard to juggle it all, often making multiple trips to the treatment facility each day to stay on schedule.

Fitting It In? It’s a Team Effort

Big Ex week falls right in the middle of our busiest season. Between plumbing calls, septic appointments, and portable toilet rentals across the county, our schedule is packed.

But this event is special. It’s local. It’s tradition. So we make it work—through early starts, smart planning, and a team that’s always ready to show up and get the job done.

Thinking About Hosting Your Own Event?

If you need portable toilet rentals or reliable event service, we’d love to help. Whether it’s a small gathering or something big, we bring the same level of care and commitment.

Visit our portable toilet rental page or contact us to talk about your needs.

And if you spot our truck at the Big Ex—you’ll know what we’re up to.