Large crowds celebrate ‘Vermont Day’ at The Big E

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WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Saturday began the second weekend of the Big E which is often one of the busiest times at the fair.

With so many craft and food vendors, events, and activities happening at The Big E, it’s no wonder that it draws in such a large crowd every year. And on Saturday, a lot of people found themselves celebrating Vermont Day.

The Big E’s Vermont building on the avenue of states became the center of attention. Outside the building, vendors were found offering a taste of home from the Green Mountain State right here locally. This year, you will find 25 local vendors inside and 14 more on the front lawn, with not only food, but art, maple products, plants and more.

Owner of Green Mountain Concessions in Bennington, Vermont, Mike Nigro and his team are serving up one of their crowd favorites — maple-glazed almonds. They shared the process of making the perfect batch!

“We roast German nuts, kind of a Bavarian nut, which caramelize sugar. And then after that, once it powders and glazes over, we’re going to add pure maple sugar. And that’s what turns it into a maple-glazed almond,” said Nigro.

It’s a process Nigro said usually takes nearly nine minutes. It’s just one of the many treats you can find them selling inside the building. At another booth, 22News found two things that go perfect together, cider donuts and an apple cider slushie.

But that wasn’t the only unique treat. 22News also discovered chocolate-covered bacon, which was a combination of salty and sweet. Cabot Cheese, which has been attending The Big E for 25 years, offers a variety of cheese options, including the “Big E Cheese.”

The Manager of Cabot Cheese, Gail Grandon explains what makes it so special. “It’s an extra, extra sharp cheddar. It’s very creamy. So it starts off as that sharp cheddar. And then you have a smooth taste in your mouth in it, and it melts beautifully,” explained Grandon.

“I’m definetely interested in going back and checking those out as well as going and looking at the Ben and Jerry’s stall,” said Ankith Joel Samuel of Leominster. Next to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is a door that leads back outside where you can find warm and gooey toasted marshmallows.

It’s not just food that attracts people to the Vermont building. Visitors also learned about the miles of snowmobile trails and several ski resort destinations, as well as the best hiking spots. Many told 22News that after visiting the Vermont building, they now plan to visit the state in the near future.

Last year, the day generated $2 million in sales for Vermont businesses – and typically brings in the most visitors during the entire 17-day fair, with 178,000 people visiting last year on Vermont Day.

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Kayleigh Thomas

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