The Big E...

For those of you who don't know...
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as "New England's Great State Fair". The only cross-state agricultural fair in the United States, the fair serves as the de facto state fair for the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is the sixth largest agricultural fair in the country, and the largest in New England.
The Big E is held every autumn in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It is open every year for two weeks and three weekends, opening the second Friday after Labor Day and running through the third following Sunday.

I was born and raised in Connecticut right on the border of Massachusetts. The Big E has always been there, just 15 minutes away, every fall. Because it's so close by, I usually go a few times a year. It's only $5.00 to get in after 5pm on the week nights, so sometimes we'll just go eat fair food for dinner. Because of my frequent visits to the fair since I was young, I always find it hard to believe when a fellow New Englander says they haven't been since they were a child or that they've NEVER been at all! In these cases, I like to take it upon myself to show them what they're missing. Last year it was Katie from Pulse (I wish we had thought to take pictures!) and this year Sean from Brass City Tattoo. For me the Big E is about eating as much fried/weird food as possible and then if you have time you can pet some animals. Lucky for me Sean was into that. We begin where I begin every time I visit, the Maine building...

Waiting in the long line outside the Maine building just adds flavor to your loaded baked potato.

A 1,056 pound pumpkin only gets you second place around here.

In the Massachusetts building we tried some mac & cheese made with "world famous" Granville Cheddar Cheese. It was OK.
Baby chicken coming out party.
In the Connecticut building I discovered this tasty treat. CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON! I've often said that if bacon were a boy I would marry it. We'll probably never actually make it to the altar, but our relationship just got very serious. I don't know why I didn't think of this myself, and I don't want to tell you what I'd like to do to the person who did. I'm a sick person.

Also in the Connecticut building, Flying Saucer Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwich.

My biggest fear as a child... The Zipper. To this day I've never ridden it.

The butter sculpture. It's made from 600 lbs. of butter, it's different every year, and they put it behind glass so I can't eat it.

There are some awesome and unbelievable items available for purchase at the Big E. Including THE Wolf Shirt... http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Short-Sleeve-Black/dp/B000NZW3KC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1254861447&sr=8-1 It's worth reading the reviews on Amazon.com Only if you like to laugh really hard though.

Fresh and natural brick oven pizza with a Pale Ale from the Otter Creek Brewery in the Vermont building.
This guy was a "living robot" he was even plugged in. He was entertaining a crowd in the craft common and when I walked by he stole my sunglasses, and pinched my cheeks.
The Craz-E Burger. A glorious and delicious combination. It's an all beef patty with American cheese and bacon on a grilled glazed doughnut. What's not to love about this taste monstrosity?

So cute! Baby piggy pile. Mmm... the bacon of the future.

London broil steak and cheese sandwich.
We went in to the Rhode Island building to get some chowder and ran into this giant clam.

A true carnivore. I wasn't leaving until Sean took down a turkey leg.

The last thing we ate was the Giant Pickle. We went with a half sour. Aren't pickles supposed to aid in digestion if you eat them at the end of a meal?

Like I haven't had enough to eat today?
*Not pictured but eaten: Deep fried sharp cheddar cheese curds, 3 Potato and Cheese Pierogis from Millie's, and a fresh from the cow strawberry milkshake.

GO TO THE BIG E!