Steppin’ Out: The Big E
From Wikipedia: The Big E, also known as The Eastern States Exposition, is billed as “New England’s Great State fair”. The Big E serves as the de facto state fair for all six of the New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Each of the New England states is prominently represented at the fair. The Big E is the sixth largest agricultural fair in the country, and the largest in New England.
From my experience: A huge ass fair where people lose their damn minds and stand in line for hours for a baked potato. Also, giant slurpies, beer, fried things, horses, crazy people, rides of questionable safety, good times.
We went on Friday, which was a Good Idea because although it was busy it wasn’t unable-to-move busy like it was last year on a Saturday. The weather was fantastic and the kids were 99% angels and even Mr. I Don’t Wanna Go There Are People There And I Hate People had a pretty good time.
Each state has a building showcasing the best stuff from their area. Maple things and seafood are in all of them.
What is this, a carousel for ANTS?
Best baby ever. We just fed her kettle corn the whole time and she barely made a peep.
No corndog no!!! Oh wait, that looks delicious. NOM NOM NOM.
I had the veggie platter for lunch and called it a healthy choice because it wasn't fried butter.
Duck Quack Quack
To make the day even more extra awesome, we met up with one of my long-time internet friends Leah (long time meaning since before I had any kids at all and her oldest kid was only a teeny weeny baby), who normally lives in Chicago but was visiting her family in Massachusetts. Little Evan immediately decided her son Calder was his new best friend, which meant he was allowed to borrow his dinosaur toy. Calder was too busy feeding popcorn to Caroline and sucking down the rest of my slurpie to care, so they got along GREAT.
Dinosaur RAWR
Driving buddies
This ride went WAY TOO FAST around the corners. Obviously Evan is terrified.
Choo choo train
Hey girl.
The boys practically mowed down the ticket taker carnie to be the first ones on and secure their spot in the engine. Calder then invited a cute little girl to sit with them. Mad skills for a 3 1/2 year old.
Hands up the whole time. This kid is fearless.
Isn't it nice when people you know online turn out to be awesome in real life too?
At one point, Leah had to go get some poutine (because, obviously) and I watched her sleeping baby and Calder. When he asked where his mom went I said “To get some food. You just stay here with the random person your mama met on the interet.” “Ok” said Calder. The people in line with us looked a little more concerned, but they must have thought I was joking. AHAHAHA jokes on them!
I love you Big E. See you next year!
So I was just linking to last year’s post about our trip and awwwwwwing over Baby Evan looking like a baby when I noticed I wore the same boots last time. I wonder if I came home and thought “Wow, those were a POOR CHOICE. Next year I’m wearing sneakers!” Because that’s what I thought this year. I win at forgetting things. Wait, what was I saying?
Tags: Caroline, fair, fall, family, fashion, food, friends, fun, little evan, omg i just made a fashion tag, steppin out, the big e
The problem is those boots look too good. It’s inevitable you will forget again because the pull of the look will be too strong.
At this point they are totally B U S T E D – the zippers come apart in the back and the lining is in shreds – so I might throw them away. Maybe. OK, I won’t really, but I’ll put them in my closet and forget about them until I pull them out 3 months from now and forget AGAIN why I haven’t been wearing them. I need new boots.
Agh, so jealous, I always wanted to go to the Big E when we went back to visit the family. My mom always talked about how amazebalz it was. (She totally used that word too ;-)) Anyhoo, looks like you guys had fun and didn’t suffer any major coronary artery disease from the food. God I love fair food. :-) Can I come visit and go with you next year?
Absolutely. Come and help me eat fried things – maybe next year we can find the fried kool-aid I head rumors of.
Your lunch looks amazing and delicious. OMG.
I am with Christa on the boots. Looks like you guys had a blast. Your humor is so much like mine I always enjoy your posts.
Thank you!
Ohhhh, I LOVE the Big E! We went last year when I was ready to pop pregnant and I wanted to walk the baby out. The food, mmmmm, the food. The lobster salad sandwiches in the Maine hall were the best things I’ve ever eaten. I think I had three.
As always, your pictures are awesome!
We walked past the lobster AGAIN this year and I just couldn’t commit. Next year, I am definitely getting one.
Looks like you had a really beautiful day. And glad the babies were 99% angels. I love it when that happens with TWO kids. It’s a rarity.
that plate of fried vegetables looks horrible and wonderful all at the same time!
The fried carrots were a little weird. Everything else, DELICIOUS.
I love your gingers!! I have three (including husband). Looks like a really fun time you guys had…and you look so cute!
Having gingers is like being in a secret club. We actually had parents with a red-headed toddler stop us to chat in the middle of the fair, just because they noticed we all had gingers. I need to start a secret handshake or something.
Love the Zoolander reference!!!!!!
Yay for Big E fun and random internet friends!
Calder woke up this morning and told me,”Hey! I dreamed about your friend!” I think he means Evan? Otherwise that would be weird.
When I saw you (met you??) on whatever day that was I was going to say something about how funny it is that our lives kinda seem to overlap a lot. Well I should have said that, because it would have made the fact that we were at the Big E on Friday alot more ironic. Or something. Yeah.