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While some are holding on to the last few weeks of summer, I am counting down the days until it is officially fall.
Fall has always been my favorite season for many reasons. One is that my birthday is in September. Two, the beauty of the leaves changing. Three, all the fun festivities like pumpkin picking. Four, apple cider donuts. And five — although I could go on and on — it’s fair season.
Growing up in Connecticut, my family and I didn’t venture to Massachusetts often, but every September, we made the trip to the Big E.
My parents would always pull me and my sisters out of school early, in an effort to beat the crowds. It was the best day when that happened because less school, more fun!
After entry, our first stop always — and still to this day — is buying a baked potato from the Maine Building. The line always looks long, but I promise, it moves quickly and it’s worth the wait. The ratio of potato to toppings — melted cheese, sour cream, bacon bits and chives — is amazing. And yes, I have had other baked potatoes at the fair, but this one is by far the best.
Another Big E must-do is walking through the Better Living Center. Located somewhat in the middle of the fair, the building is filled with various vendors ranging from food to household appliances, and everything in between. It’s always cool to see what new gadgets are on display, but it can also be dangerous, as the people lure you in and somehow convince you to spend $70 on a vegetable dicing set. Or maybe that’s just me … Either way, whether or not you buy something, it’s worth checking out!
Whenever I think of the Big E, one thing that always comes to my mind is the Giant Slide. Running up those tiny steps to reach the top — overlooking the fair at nearly 50 feet up — and racing down is just as exhilarating at 25 years old as it was at 5 years old.
All in all, the Big E has something for everyone no matter your age. From the Circus Spectacular to Storrowtown Village to the Farm-A-Rama and the countless concerts in the Big E Arena, you are guaranteed to have a fun-filled day.
For those who prefer a smaller fair, there are many happening in the area this month, including the Franklin County Fair from Sept. 4-7, the Four Town Fair in Somers from Sept. 11-14 and the Belchertown Fair from Sept. 19-21, to name a few.
In this month’s edition of Go Local, we highlight High Five Books, a Florence-based children’s bookstore that focuses on social justice and LGBTQIA+ themes; Common Grounds Café of Wilbraham, a coffee shop that serves up a handful of breakfast sandwiches and beverages; and Autumn Mist Farm, a farm-to-table restaurant and retail store in Feeding Hills.
Just like the fairs, Go Local offers a little bit of everything!
Happy reading!
Lauren LeBel, editor
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