Exciting New Food, Beverage and Entertainment Offerings in the Connecticut Building at The Big E

HARTFORD, Conn. (Sept. 14, 2023) – The Connecticut Office of Tourism is excited to welcome visitors to this year’s Connecticut Building at The Big E beginning September 15 with brand new offerings including escape room experiences and games, beer slushies, street corn, permanent jewelry, giant pretzels and more.

This year, 12 Connecticut businesses will join the fair for the first time adding to the building’s 36 returning vendors, creating a unique mix of culinary and cultural staples from around the state.

"Similar to our state, the Connecticut Building at The Big E is brimming with diverse attractions that showcase the amazing things made in Connecticut and serve up mouthwatering culinary creations," stated Anthony Anthony, Chief Marketing Officer for the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development. "We extend a warm welcome to residents and visitors alike to explore and experience why Connecticut is the best place in the country to live, work, and play.”

A sample of what fairgoers can expect in the Connecticut Building this year includes:

• Tasty NEW food items like Street Corn Esquites and Spanish Panzanella from Hot Taco Street Kitchen; as well as TJ's on Cedar serving up loaded pretzel bites, dessert pretzels, plus giant homemade pretzels and cheese made with Connecticut-brewed beer from Back East Brewing Co. and Alvarium Beer Co.; also, Noujaim's Bistro will be offering fresh corn on the cob grown at Gresczyk Farms.
• The largest-ever Connecticut Beer Garden, featuring a rotating selection of beer and cider from over 100 craft breweries across the state. Plus, the beer garden will offer refreshing beer slushies for the first time ever. 
• Interactive experiences including two NEW escape room tents and a teaser game from Codeword Escape, plus snap pictures in front of the NEW “Connecticut Loves” photo booth.
• CT grown products like honey, maple syrup, cheese, apples, jams along with educational materials and displays at the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s booth.
• Iconic Connecticut eats including seafood at Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale, award-winning meats at Bear's Smokehouse BBQ, signature pizza at Randy's Wooster Street Pizza Shop, and handcrafted chocolates and pies from Fascia's Chocolates and Lyman Orchards.
• NEW specialty shops and products like The Dainty Dahlias offering fresh, build-your-own flower bouquets and permanent jewelry; handmade jewelry, art, and accessories from Sylvia Grace Creations, laser-cut décor from Carib Creations; and all natural cooking spices from 2 Food Dudes.
• Returning favorites including the Connecticut Farm Wineries booth, the Florence Griswold Museum, Juniper Loft Soap, Sweet Madelines, Republic Gastropub, Big Enzo’s BBQ, Maple Craft Foods, Mohegan Sun, Connecticut Valley Tobacconist, and more.

“We’re happy to be back again in the Connecticut Building, showcasing a variety of CT Grown products from more than 15 agricultural businesses as well as wine from 13 CT farm wineries across the state,” said Bryan Hurlburt, Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Agriculture. “I encourage everyone to visit these great small businesses and stewards of the land, both during the course of the fair and then again back at the farm.”

Connecticut Day at The Big E is Wednesday, September 20, and fair attendees can enjoy a day-long celebration that will feature a parade and over 12 hours of live entertainment on Connecticut’s front lawn stage—including performances by the Savage Brothers Band, Mass-Conn-Fusion, Coastal Chordsmen, KC Sisters and Jamie’s Junk Show. Additionally, Donovan Clingan from the NCAA Men’s Basketball champions the UConn Huskies will be making a guest appearance to meet fans.

The Connecticut Building is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

For more information, follow the Connecticut Building on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheConnecticutBuilding/

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