Beyond all the fried dough stalls, tents full of hot tubs for sale, vendors selling leather belts and the general sea of flashy foods on display lies the most underrated part of The Big E: the state buildings.
Tucked back on the Avenue of States, away from many of the entrances and unassuming for those not in the know, the state buildings are replicas of their actual counterparts in the capitals of each New England state. They’re also hubs for awesome vendors that hail from each state and showcasing some of the best goodies throughout the entire fair.
Usually, the state buildings are home to some of the most crowded areas in the fair. Normally, it’s an inconvenience. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s a serious issue to consider, even with an indoor mask mandate in effect in West Springfield.
So even though fairgoers are required to wear masks indoors, the state buildings might not be cause for pause for some visitors. Fortunately, some vendors are located outside their respective buildings.
Whether you’re looking to go inside or just keep to the outside, there’s plenty to do at each state building.
In years past, Maine and Vermont were the stars on the Avenue of States. However, things have changed in 2021. All of a sudden, it’s Massachusetts that has the most loaded lineup, with Rhode Island also showcases some new features.
Here’s a rundown of what to get at each state building at The Big E, and whether each place is indoors or outdoors:
The Pilgrim Sandwich from the Massachusetts Building at The Big E. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)
Massachusetts Building
The Massachusetts Building is absolutely loaded this year. You’ve got the usuals: The cider doughnuts, the lobster rolls, the chili, the maple candy. That’s all back.
But on top of that, there are some more recent additions, including:
Macken’s Specialty Sliders (outdoors) - This is the Southwick-based company’s first year at The Big E and they’ve been going all out, setting up a full stall out behind the building and cranking out some fantastic foods between the bun. For sliders they have the BBQ Cowboy, Garlic Bomb, El Diablo (with sriracha) and a Caprese slider. But the highlight is the Bacon Waffle Burger served on two delicious, chewy, delightful Liege waffles. It’s one of my favorite new foods at this year’s fair.
Main Street Deli, (featuring The Pilgrim (Indoors) - It’s hard to miss the big signs showcasing “The Pilgrim” sandwich (above), which comes in both 12-inch and 24-inch versions, featuring all the familiar ingredients of a Thanksgiving sandwich, from the local turkey to the cranberry sauce. They also have Maple Bacon Mac & Cheese as well as their Thanksgiving bowl, which cuts out the bread from the equation.
Andrea Stanley pours a Big E Cream Puff Stout at the Valley Malt Beer Garden behind the Massachusetts Building (Nick O'Malley)
Valley Malt Beer Garden (outdoors) - Located a stone’s throw away from Macken’s is one of the most underrated spots at the fair to grab a beer. They’ve got the Big E Cream Puff Stout, which is really good. But they’ve also got a lineup that’s rotating through some awesome beers from Massachusetts breweries, including Trillium, Amherst Brewing Company, Redemption Rock and Wormtown Brewery.
Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream (indoors) - You can stand and watch as the ice cream is made right in front of you using liquid nitrogen, blast-freezing the ingredients and creating a cool cloud of fog as the finished product comes together.
A Unicorn Ice Cream Sandwich Cookie from Wright's Dairy Farm in the Rhode Island Building at The Big E. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)
Rhode Island Building
The Rhode Island Building has seen a number of changes in recent years, with the hot weiners stand giving way to a beer garden. However, there are a couple of new spots that stand out.
Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery (indoors) - The North Smithfield-based farm is busting out its awesome cookies in two forms. You can either get the jumbo cookies on their own, or in ice cream sandwich form (see above).
Friskie Fries (indoors) - Here you can order French fries 20 different ways, ranging from poutine and chili fries to General Tso’s and Buffalo chicken. There’s also crazy S’mores fries option. But you’re better off sticking to the savory stuff.
Maine Baked Potatoes stand in the Maine Building at The Big E. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)
Maine Building
The Maine Building is normally bustling, but is dealing with some absences this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Of note, the Wicked Whoopies stand is empty, depriving us of their crazy collection of flavors. The place that serves blueberry pie and ice cream is also gone. But we’ve still got:
Maine Baked Potato (indoors, cash only) - This is one of the most popular items at the fair, which is why the line typically winds outside of the building and into its own separate tent. If you’re willing to wait, the end result pays off. It’s a darn good potato.
Sebastian’s Smoke House (indoors, cash only) - I’ve long been a proponent of their smoked salmon on a stick as a fun-but-healthy option at the fair.
Chris Mimms at Danny's Little Taste of Texas was very excited about getting his picture taken, so I took his picture. You're welcome, Danny. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)
Connecticut Building
The Connecticut Building is basically a double building. There’s the State Building itself and then there’s the big tent out back that features a hybrid indoor-outdoor area. The increased space makes it more accommodating for crowds.
Danny’s Little Taste of Texas (outside) - This is another popular spot for baked potatoes and also features an elaborate system to take care of the lines. They specialized in topping theirs with some spot-on BBQ.
Noujaim’s Mediterranean Bistro (in the tent) - Come for the hummus, stay for the awesome bread pudding with cardamom cream sauce.
Randy’s Wooster Street Piza Shop (inside) - My go-to place at the fair to get pizza. Be wary of the Skippy’s Dare, which is a peanut butter bacon pizza. You’re probably better off going with a classic cheese or white-sauce slice.
The Ben & Jerry's stand in the Vermont Building at The Big E. (Nick O'Malley, MassLive)
Vermont Building
This is another building that’s normally crowded, but also has some familiar faces absent this year. One of my favorites, Cookie Love, didn’t have their usual spot. Fortunately, there’s plenty to enjoy, especially if you’re looking for apple cider or maple syrup.
Ben & Jerry’s (inside) - In years past, I’ve said to skip Ben & Jerry’s. But they do offer the “Perfect Maple Milkshake” featuring Ben & Jerry’s Ice cream and Vermont maple syrup that is exclusive to The Big E.
The Skinny Pancake Vermont Creperie (inside) - An awesome spot for sweet and savory crepes, featuring a lot of Cabot cheddar and other Vermont products.
The Mac & Cheese stand at the New Hampshire Building at The Big E. (Nick O'Malley)
New Hampshire Building
Finally, down on the right end of the Avenue of States lies the unassuming New Hampshire building. It’s normally one of the least crowded, thanks to its layout. It’s also got two awesome spots.
Zack’s Mac N’ Cheese (indoors, cash only) - If a vendor has space set up for when a line goes outside the building, you know it’s good. This spot features some of the best made-to-order mac & cheese you’ll see at the fair with the options to add bacon, broccoli, garlic and lobster. You can also get all of it in the “Zack Attack.”
NH Kettle Corn/Cloud Nine Delights (outdoors) - You’ll smell the giant kettle cooking up popcorn by the giant batch before you see it. Unless you’re indoors and wearing a mask, in which case it’s a pleasant surprise. Either way, this is my go-to spot for kettle corn.
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