Regional Industry & News

Day six of The Big E highlights Connecticut culture and local flavors

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - As we celebrate day six of The Big E, it is also the celebration of our neighbor down south: Connecticut. Fairgoers from the Nutmeg State enjoyed everything it had to offer in the Baystate.

Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz greeted dozens of fairgoers from across the state line on Wednesday as they made their way into the Connecticut Building. On this Connecticut Day, they were able to celebrate the many things that makes the state special. But it was also a day for some folks to make a new memory, “we purposely picked it (our first Big E day) for Connecticut Day actually, so it wasn’t a coincidence,” said Andrew Curry of Shelton, Conn.

Andrew and Therese Curry have been married for 32 years and have lived in Shelton, Connecticut for the last 30. On Wednesday, they stepped foot onto the fairgrounds for the first time ever. So far, they are very impressed, especially with what was inside their state’s replica capitol building.

“It’s much better than doing it on the internet. You need to get out and actually get into the mix. So, this is cool. You can just walk around, stop, read, sit, and run into people that we know,” said Therese Curry.

From the deliciousness of New Haven-style pizza to homemade items, like soap, there was something for everyone. This day also marked a return to the fairgrounds for others.

Alexis Durham is a Torrington native who now lives in Nashville. This is her first Big E in twelve years, “Last time I went, I went with my mom and my grandma a long time ago when I was really little and stuff. And it’s been a lot. I don’t really remember any of it. But I know it’s been really a good experience for me to come back,” Durham said.

Before the gates opened, western mass news spoke with Connecticut’s Director of Tourism, Rachel Fenda. She said this is a day for everyone to celebrate their area and support the state economy, “it’s those little bits that connect people to want to go and support their own hometown business and spend their money here while also going out and venturing into the other buildings on the avenue,” Fenda said.

For these fairgoers, it was about being proud of the place they call home, “New England has, like, the pretty views and stuff and, like, the nature down there and the environment. It’s really pretty if you go up here,” Alexis Durham said, “there’s a whole lot to see in the state and there is a whole lot of things to experience.”

While there is only one Connecticut Day at The Big E, state residents are happy to cherish and celebrate their roots every day. They hope those who visited the Connecticut building take time to visit the state and embrace as much of it as possible.