KM Explains it All!

The Big E!


This past weekend was the last weekend of the Big E for the year and I finally got out there to see what it was all about.  JenBiff and Vicki invited the rest of us out so that we could all enjoy the weekend together.  It kind of surprised me that not a lot of my friends from the Boston area knew what this was considering how big it is.  The best way I can describe it is saying that it's a giant expo that has aspects of a fair, carnival, and just a hint of the circus involved.  


When we first got there we walked through the state houses.  There are buildings that each represent a state in New England and within these buildings are different vendors from that state.  For example, in Rhode Island there were different seafoods you could buy like clam fritters or clam chowder while Connecticut had wine tastings.  

JenBou and I indulging in some Maine potatoes

There were larger buildings with a variety of other vendors inside that sold everything from showers to sports paraphernalia to exercise equipment.  They had just about everything you could think of and more.

Vicki getting a work out on a power step machine

Christine getting a feather put in her hair

On top of everything they were selling there were animals to see!!!!  It was fun to walk around and look at the Alpaca's, sheep, cows, and more.  There was a free petting zoo where you could also feed the animals then there were a few exhibits where you had to pay to get in to see the largest horse alive.  We were told that was a rip off and it really wasn't that big.  

A lot of the animals were there for different shows that they were entered into.  One show they had was a dog show and we spent a good amount of time awing at the dogs.  I sent pictures to my parents trying to convince them how awesome it would be to make a dog like that an addition to our family...Dad's on board but I'm still working on Mom...she's gotta give in some day right?!  There were also other competitions like one that involved decorating a pumpkin.  Now when I say decorating a pumpkin I don't mean the typical carve it up, jack-o-lantern type.  These things were dolled up!

This one was my favorite!

Even though we didn't do that well this season still have to represent!

One thing in particular that I had read here was that there was a butter sculpture.  This intrigued and disturbed me at the same time so when I asked Vicki, who has been there many times, about it she thought I was nuts and said she didn't know anything about it.  To both of our surprise we saw the sculpture before entering one of the animal buildings...it grossed me out majorly!

Butter sculpture of a sheep being sheered

Overall my experience at the Big E was a great one.  It was the first time all five of us were in the same state since May and the weekend was full of laughs.  One thing to keep in mind when you go here is to go on an empty stomach and wear your most comfortable shoes.  I wore my wellies (rain boots) because the weather wasn't ideal and by the end of the day my legs were sore.  It was like walking around with weights on my feet because of how heavy they are!  Even though it allowed me to jump in puddles and not care if the ground was muddy, next time I'm wearing my Chucks.

Have you ever been to the Big E?  What did you like best about it?  Let me know!!!