The Big E Eater’s Guide 2025: What to eat and where to find it

The Big E is back for 2025 — and MassLive is here to help you find all the best new fair foods you have your eye on.

For 17 days in September, New England’s biggest state fair is the one place where you walk past baby chicks, giant slides, Mardi Gras parades and even the occasional Chubby Checker performance on the same day. It can also be an overwhelming maze of buildings and vendors, especially when it gets crowded on the weekends .

If you’re like me, a big draw for The Big E is the food. This year, we’ve got some awesome new entries to the Big E-cosystem of fried wonders and sweet creations.

But with so many options and so much fairground to navigate, how do you choose? That’s where the Big E Eater’s Guide comes in.

Sure, a map of The Big E fairgrounds is helpful. But we went through all the work of breaking down the fair into individual roads to point out where each vendor is at the fair — plus what they sell.

Here are some handy Big E maps to give you everything you need to know to make navigating and finding the food you’re looking for easy.

NOTE: I try my best every year to make sure everything is up-to-date and that the vendors and menus are accurate. Things change and can fall through the cracks. If you spot anything amiss in the guide, please let me know at nomalley@masslive.com .

(This is an updated version of our annual Eater’s Guide that most recently ran in 2024 .)

The 2025 Big E Eater’s Guide

The Big E fairgrounds are, well, big. They can also be tricky. The roads bend in weird ways. If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s easy to miss big parts of the fair — or just go in circles.

It doesn’t help that there are changes every year with new vendors arriving, some moving and not returning to the fair.

To simplify things, we’ve broken down the fair into 15 numbered areas. There are seven roads, the food court, four “building” areas and two newer areas. There’s the Front Porch, which debuted in 2022. This year, we’re also including the Craft Common, which now has three food vendors, including an exciting new one.

Areas 1-8 are the biggest outdoor hubs for food, 9-11 are side streets, 12-14 have indoor vendors and the state buildings (15) are a whole other subsection by themselves:

1. New England Avenue

2. The Front Porch

3. Commonwealth Avenue

4. Food Court

5. Avenue of States

6. Craft Common

7. East Road

8. West Road

9. Springfield Road

10. Industrial Avenue

11. Hampden Avenue

12. Young Building

13. Better Living Center

14. New England Center

15. The State Buildings

New England Avenue at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

1. New England Avenue

New England Avenue is the entry point for many visitors entering the fair from the main parking lot. It starts at Gate 9A and stretches out toward the heart of the fair — where the Court of Honor Stage and Coliseum are.

New England Avenue is a great starting point, since it’s got some of the best food options at the fair. Just be careful not to fill up too quickly before you get to explore.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Marion’s Fried Dough:  Fried Butter

• Chompers : Chicken Parm Chompers

• Tots-a-Lot: Chicken Tot Pie

Full list of foods and vendors:

Barbie’s Ice Cream Shoppe- Ice Cream, Fancy Waffle Cones, Upside Down Banana Split, Frozen Bananas, Barbie Ice Cream (Strawberry Ice Cream with Birthday Cake Crumbles), Cracker Jack Sundae

Billie’s Baked Potato- Baked Potatoes

Big E Cream Puff Bakery- Big E Cream Puff, Big E-clair, Espresso Cream Puff

Butcher Boys- London Broil Sandwich, Gyros, Italian Sausage

Chan’s Original Chicken-on-a-Stick- Chicken-on-a-Stick, Noodles, Egg Rolls

Chompers- Fried Croquette Balls with flavors like Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Parm, Taco, Vegetarian Potato & Corn

Deluca’s- Caramel Apple Sundae, Chicken Parm Sandwich, Deep-fried Meatballs on a Stick, Toasted Garlic Bread Bowl, Deep-Fried Ice Cream Sandwich

Dimitri’s Greek Food- Pita, Falafel, Hummus, Baklava, Gyros, Kabobs

Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts- Giant Donuts with Toppings, Giant Donuts, Donut Sundaes, Pickle Donut

Harpoon Beer Experience- Craft Beer, Hard Seltzer, Loaded Pretzel Bites, Giant Shrimp Skewers

The Hub- Cheese Dogs, Chili Dogs, Burgers, Fries, Chicken Tenders

LuAnn’s Bakery- Specialty Cupcakes, Maple Bacon Cupcake, Bucket Cakes

Marion’s Fried Dough- Fried Kool-Aid, Fried Jelly Beans, Fried Butter, Fried Dough, Fried Oreos

NY Style Pizza- Pizza Slices, Pickle Pizza

Penalty Box Pub- Frozen Cocktails, Beer, Hard Seltzer

Piche’s Beignets- Beignets, Beignet Sundaes, Fried Oreos, Funnel Cake Sundaes, Funnel Cakes, Fried Snickers, Fried Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Red’s Red Apples- Candy Apples, Samoa Apples, Pickle Popcorn

Soup-R Bowl- Soups, Chili, Bread Bowls, Regular Bowls, Maple Marshmallow Drizzled Sweet Potato Fries

Super Dog- 6-inch Dog-on-a-Stick, 12-inch Super Dog, 18-inch Mega Dog

Stella’s Milk & Cookies- Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Cone or Bucket, Milk

Stella’s Milk & Cookies (2nd location)- There’s now a Stella’s location near the Court of Honor Stage that sells cookies and muffin tops.

Sugar Shakers (Funnel Cakes)- Deep-Fried Whoopie Pie, Funnel Cake, Giant Eclairs

Tootsie’s Fried Dough- Fried Oreos, Dough Nuggets, Fried Candy Bars

Tots-A-Lot - Chicken Tot Pie, Loaded Tots, Apple Dumpling Tots, Bacon Mac & Cheese Tots, Vegan Tots

Wild Bill’s Curly Fries- Chicken Tenders, Foot-Long Corn Dogs, Curly Fries

The Front Porch at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

2. The Front Porch

The Front Porch is a subsection of the fair near the Court of Honor Stage that debuted in 2022. It’s a nice little corner with some cozy seats tucked away in the shade.

It’s a welcome oasis near some high-traffic areas on the fairground. If you get overwhelmed by the crowds, this is a good place to take a break.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• SoulFully: Spicy PB&J Burger

• Granville Country Store: Mac Melt (Mac & Cheese Melt)

Full list of foods and vendors:

Bakery on Brewer- Apple Fritters, Blueberry Fritters, Pumpkin Fritters, Apple Cider

Boardwok Noodles- Noodle Bowls, Rice Bowls, Teriyaki

Granville Country Store- Mac Melt (Mac & Cheese Melt)

Pioneer Valley Poppers- Kettle Corn

SoulFully- Vegan options, Spicy PB&J Burger, Hot Dogs, Loaded Fries, Milkshakes

W.A.V.E. Mocktails- Mocktails, Shrek’s Swampwater

Commonwealth Avenue at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

3. Commonwealth Avenue

If New England Avenue is the main entry point for The Big E, then Commonwealth Avenue is the main hub. This is one of the longest stretches of road at the fair and holds a huge number of vendors.

Because of that, it tends to get pretty crowded. Fortunately, there are a lot of little side roads you can take to get in and out of the thoroughfare. I recommend slipping through the Craft Common or the road behind the C Barn that leads to West Road.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Angela’s Pizza: Giant Mozzarella Stick, Pickle Pizza

• Porky’s: BBQ Sundae

• Macho Taco: Empanada Tacos

• Veggie Patch: Frozen Cheesecake on a Stick

Full list of foods and vendors:

Amy’s Sweet Treats- Ice Cream, Crazy Milkshakes, Hot Honey Sundae

Angela’s Pizza- Giant Mozzarella Stick, Pickle Pizza, Mexican Street Corn Pizza, Normal Pizza

Billie’s Baked Potato- Baked Potatoes

Butcher Boys- London Broil Sandwich, Gyros, Italian Sausage

Captain Nemo’s- Hot Diggid-E Dog, Sundae Supper Keg Tots, Pot Roast Patty Melt

Donut Family: Cinn-a-roll Donuts, Mini Donuts

Jack’s Fries- Chicken Tenders, Corn Dogs, Millennium Chips, Dough Nuggets, Funnel Cakes

Jungle Juice Smoothies- Tie-Dye Smoothie, Berry-Jalapeno Smoothie

Local Brewer Showcase (Near the Court of Honor State)- Rotating lineup of local breweries.

Millie’s Pierogi- Millie’s Masterpiece, Pierogi

Pickle Barrel- Pickles, Apple Cider

Poppie’s Belgian Waffles- Fried Cheesecake, Belgian Waffles, Corn Dogs, Fried Twinkies, Dubai Waffle

Porky- BBQ Sundae, Pulled Pork, Giant Turkey Legs, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, BBQ Split, Mac & Cheese, Hambo Sandwich

Red’s Red Apples- Gourmet Apples, Caramel Apples, Candy Apples, Caramel Corn, Cotton Candy

Roasted Corn in a Cup- Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Corn, Parmesan Corn, Mexican Style Corn

Schroder’s Cheese Curds- Cheese Curds

Tootsie’s Fried Dough- Fried Oreos, Dough Nuggets, Fried Candy Bars

Veggie Patch- Frozen Cheesecakes, Frozen Banana, Cheesesteak Eggroll, Deep-fried Pickles, Vegetable Tempura, Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Wings-N-Fries- Buffalo Chicken Eggroll, Chicken Waffle on a Stick, Poutine, Roasted Corn on the Cob

Wurst Haus- German Giant 10-inch Bratwurst, Beer Boot, The Mighty Pretzel, Porky Pretzel Bites, Gebraten Potato Pancakes

The Food Court at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

4. Food Court

The Food Court is a changeup from the rest of the fair. Instead of long roads, this is a dense cluster of wonderful food vendors that also has some nice seating and shade.

If you need a break from walking all day, this is a good destination.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• EB’s Food for Fun: Fried Shepherd’s Pie or Fried Mac & Cheese

• White Hut: Quadfather Burger

• Top of the Crust: Candy Bar Pizza

Full list of foods and vendors:

Big E Cream Puff Bakery- Big E Cream Puff, Big E-Clair, Espresso Cream Puff

Calabrese Market- Paninis, Cucumber Salads, Pasta Salads, Caprese Salads

Cannoli King- Cannoli Dip, Cannoli Donut, Cannoli Cake Bomb

The Clam Box- Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl, Fried Seafood, Shrimp Tacos, Whole Belly Clams, Clam Fritter Doughnut, Oyster Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Beer

EB’s Food For Fun- Fried Shepherd’s Pie, Fried Mac & Cheese

Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest Biergarten- Bratwurst in a Blanket, Potato Pancakes, Pork Chops, Home-Made Pretzels, Fried Spätzle with Cheese Sauce

The Indian Restaurant- Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan Bread, Mix Parathas (Sweet and savory crepes)

Las Kangris Food Truck- Yellow Rice with Pigeon Peas, Baked Pork, Baked Chicken, Green Bananas “al mojo,” Tres Leches Cake

Top The Crust- Pizza, Dessert Pizza

White Hut- Burgers, Fries, Chicken Tenders, Quadfather Burger, Two-foot Chili Cheese Dog

The Ultimate BBQ- 3 Pigs in a Bun, Choco-Baco Frenzy, Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese, Chocolate-Dipped Bacon, Ultimate Cowboy Nachos, BBQ Waffles, Mac & Cheese Waffles

The Avenue of States at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

5. Avenue of States

This is the main road through the back part of the fair — and probably the easiest road to recognize. This is the road that has buildings modeled after the state houses of all six New England states.

While the state buildings are some of The Big E’s best destinations, don’t overlook the Avenue of States itself. It has some great places to stop for food and drinks. It also has the fair’s lone sit-down restaurant, Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House , which is open year-round.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• New England Craft Beer Pub: Beer-a-Misu, Turducken Sandwich, Thanksgiving Nachos

• Storrowton Tavern: Ice Cream Cake Ball

• Sam Adams Beer Garden: Cider-Glazed Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese

Full list of foods and vendors:

New England Craft Beer Pub- Beer-a-Misu, Turducken Sandwich, Pork Belly Lollipops, Lobster Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork-stuffed Popover, Craft Beer

Sam Adams Beer Garden- Cider-Glazed Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese, Pizza, Grande Nachos, General Tsos Pizza

Storrowton Soup Shack- Soups, Chowder, Mac & Cheese, Bread Bowls

Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House- Ice Cream Cake Ball, Dessert Ball, Full Lunch/Dinner Menu

The Craft Common, a new addition to the Eater's Guide, with the three food vendors located there.(The Big E)

6. Craft Common

The Craft Common has always been a part of the fair, representing one of The Big E’s few green spaces. But it’s historically been limited to mostly shops.

This year, Steaming Tender is moving in and bringing its legendary bread pudding. It might be one of the most purely delicious foods at the fair.

Meanwhile, the Craft Common also has additional locations for Ferrindino Maple and Pioneer Valley Poppers. It also gives visitors a rare chance to take a break under some trees and touch some grass.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Steaming Tender: Bread Putting

Full list of foods and vendors:

Ferrindino Maple- Ferrindino Maple Bacon Hot Dog, Maple Creemee Sundae, Maple Creemee Latte

Pioneer Valley Poppers- Kettle Corn, Lemonade

Steaming Tender- Bread Pudding

East Road at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

7. East Road

East Road is a key connecting road that passes by the Mallory Complex (the building with the farm animals) and the Midway before passing by the Food Court. It also loops around the Young Building.

If you walk around long enough, you’ll probably find yourself on East Road. While you’re here, you might as well get something to eat.

East Road has undergone changes this year. The Deviled Egg is not at the fair, while Mr. Pickle moved to Springfield Road. Meanwhile, Macho Taco and Apple Fries are now located here.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Anna’s Fried Dough: “Doughco” (fried dough taco)

• Jim’s Deep-Fried Tacos: Deep-Fried BBQ Brisket Mac Tacos

• Macho Taco: Empanada Tacos

Full list of foods and vendors:

Anna’s Fried Dough- Fried Dough, ‘Doughco,’ Fried Dough Bites

Apple Fries- Jolly Ranchers Extreme Slush, Apple Fries, Bacon Caramel Apple Fries, Apple Fry Sundaes

Athletic Brewing- Non-alcoholic Beers

Bacon Bomb- Bacon-wrapped burger with BBQ sauce

Buni’s Cinnamon Rolls- Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls, Cinnamon Roll Sundaes

Hot & Fresh Mini Donuts- Mini Donuts

Jim’s Deep-Fried Tacos- Deep-Fried Tacos, including BBQ Brisket Mac, Pot Roast Sundae and Buffalo Chicken options

Macho Taco- Empanada Tacos, Birria Tacos, Al Pastor Tacos, Fried Stuffed Pepper

Mini Donut Express- Mini Donuts by the Bag

Sassy’s Sweet Potatoes- Loaded Potatoes, Mac & Cheese Potatoes, S’mores Potatoes

West Road at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

8. West Road

West Road is the wide-open connecting road leading to the back part of the fair. It runs between the Midway and the Coliseum before ending at The Big E Arena.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Giant Corn Dog Factory: Dilly Dilly Dog

• West Springfield Lions Club: Flatliner Burger

• Agawam Lions Club: Bacon Mac & Cheese in a Cone.

Full list of foods and vendors:

Agawam Lions Club- BBQ, Chicken Dinner, Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich, All-in-a-Cone (Bacon Mac & Cheese, Meatball, Pulled Chicken, Shepherd’s Pie)

Ann Marie’s Candies- Candies, Fudge, Nuts

Big Kahuna’s- Gyros, Dorito Gyro, Falafel, Gluten-Friendly Options

Cotton Candy Stall- Tajin Candy Apples

Fried Factory- Blooming Onion, Chicken Strips/Fries Buckets, Spiral Spuds

Giant Corn Dog Factory- Dilly Dilly Dog, Giant Corn Dogs, Korean Dog, Elote Corn Dog

Moolicious- Ice Cream, Sundaes, Floats, Moo-nut, Moo Bomb, Cornbread Sundae

Opa Opa Saloon- Local Draft Beer

Pickle Barrel Sirloin Tips- Sirloin Tips, Sirloin Pita

Pig Park BBQ- BBQ Sandwiches, Memphis Ribs, BBQ Bowls, “The Bomb” Nachos

West Springfield Lions Club- Burgers, Grilled Cheese, Reubens, Flatliner Burger, Reuben Burger

Yankee Boy/International Lobster House- Tots topped with Lobster, BBQ Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Lobster Dinners, Exotic Meat Burgers, Lobster Nachos, Lobster Volcano

Springfield Road at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

9. Springfield Road

Springfield Road can be easy to miss if you’re not looking for it. Just keep an eye out for the big yellow slide.

This road, which is the entry point for Gate 7, has some of my favorite vendors at the fair, including the main location for Moolicious.

This year, they have MooNugs, which are little handheld ice cream treats that look like chicken nuggets and come with dipping sauce. I absolutely adore them.

NOTE: There are some changes on Springfield Road. Waffulicious did not return to the fair. Meanwhile, The Broccoli Bar and Mr. Pickle have moved in. Finally, Ferrindino Maple’s main stand has moved inside the Better Living Center.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Moolicious: MooNugs, Cornbread Sundae

• Sweet & Salty: Butterbeer

• The Broccoli Bar: The Big Sexy Platter

Full list of foods and vendors:

All-American Craft Beer Bar & Grill- Specialty Sliders, The Big Mick “E” (like a Big Mac), Loaded Fries, Polish “Bomb”

The Broccoli Bar- Tempura, Dumplings, Big Sexy Platter

Dr. Vegetable- Corn Dogs, Fried Veggies, Onion Rings, Mozzarella Sticks

Moolicious- Moo-nut, Cornbread Sundae, MooNugs

Mr. Pickle- Fried Pickles, Maple Bacon Corn Ribs

Poutine Gourmet- Classic Poutine, Pulled Pork Poutine, Chicken Bacon Ranch Poutine

Rudy’s Pizza- Pizza, Flaming Hot Cheeto Pickle Pizza

Super Dog- 6-inch Dog-on-a-Stick, 12-inch Super Dog, 18-inch Mega Dog

Sweet & Salty- Flavored popcorn, Pretzel Bites, Butterbeer, Frozen Oreo

Wisconsin Hot Cheese- Monster Mozzarella, Cheddar Nuggets, Mozzarella Fingers

Yankee Boy/International Lobster House- Tots topped with Lobster, BBQ Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Lobster Dinners, Exotic Meat Burgers, Lobster Nachos

Industrial Avenue at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

10. Industrial Avenue

Industrial Avenue is tucked between the Better Living Center and the main road. It’s also home to some of the biggest tents at the fair.

For me, it’s the land of a thousand places to get a drink. There’s a stretch of about 100 yards where there seems to be about a dozen different places where you can get a drink. It’s hard to tell, because a lot of them blend together.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Top The Crust: Mac Daddy Pizza

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Anthony’s Craft Corner- Craft Beers

Big E Martini Bar- Cocktails

Deep South Food Company- Pizzas, Beer Hall, Cocktails

Dolly’s Honky Tonk- Beer Boot, Cowboy Nachos topped with Pickled Eggs and Pickled Kielbasa

Empanadas- Savory Empanadas, Nutella Empanadas

Emma’s Wine Garden- Wine

Jack Daniels- Cocktails

Mojito Bar- Giant Mojitos, Giant Margaritas, Rum Buckets

Olde Fashion Lemonade- Lemonade Refreshers, Dubai Waffle

Sangria Shack- Blueberry Lemon Sangria

Spiked Iced Coffee- Spiked Iced Coffee

Top The Crust- Gourmet Pizzas, Mac Daddy Pizza, Crab Rangoon Pizza

Wormtown Brewery- Craft Beers

Hampden Ave. at The Big E - and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

11. Hampden Avenue

Hampden Avenue runs between Gate 1 and the main plaza with the Court of Honor Stage. There aren’t as many food vendors here. Instead, you’ll find lots of shops and animal attractions.

Still, there are some quality food and drink options here — especially coffee.

Full list of foods and vendors:

Big E Bakery- Cream Puffs, Eclairs

Cinnamon Saloon- Cinnamon Rolls, Apple Crisp, Muffins, Coffee, Oreo Cookie Cinnamon Bun, Tie-Dye Smoothie

Kora’s Cookie Dough on a Stick- Deep-Fried Cookie Dough, Bacon Berry Cookie Dough, Deep-Fried Cookie Dough Sundae

Omar Gourmet Coffee- Coffee, Drinks, Brownie Sundae, Cinnamon Buns, Cookies

West Springfield Firehouse Restaurant- Full Egg Breakfast, Breakfast Sandwiches, Deli Sandwiches, Chowder, Burgers, Hot Dogs

The Young Building at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

12. Young Building

That’s it for the roads. Now it’s time to take a look at all the buildings at The Big E.

The Young Building, like most buildings at the fair, has large doors on each side that allow for easy access. Just be careful to keep track of where you come out. It’s easy to get turned around.

The Young Building (sometimes called the International Building) has a lot of commercial vendors if you’re looking to shop. It also has some nifty bar setups that have changed.

Instead of a speakeasy, the Young Building now has the Smoking Dragon Bar and a new Christmas-themed bar.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• The Mick Express: Chocolate Chip Cookie Croissant

• Crave Cafe: Strawberry Dubai Cup

• The Smoking Dragon Bar - Smoking cocktails

Full list of foods and vendors:

The Austrian Hideaway- Craft beers

Crazy Boba- Bubble Tea, Candied Strawberries on a Stick

Chocolate Moonshine- Specialty Chocolates

The Mick Express- Chocolate Chip Cookie Croissant, Polish Godfather Sandwich

The Spirited Christmas Bar- Holiday-themed Cocktails

The Smoking Dragon Bar- Smoking cocktails

Villa of Lebanon- Hummus, Meat Pies, Baklava, Kofta Kabobs

The Better Living Center at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

13. Better Living Center

Like the Young Building, the Better Living Center is a building loaded with commercial vendors. It’s also the home of The Emporium, which serves the new and improved Craz-E Burger .

Vendors/foods you should try:

• The Emporium: Craz-E Burger, Spic-E Burger

• The Cantina: Margarita topped with Cotton Candy

• The Nook: Strawberry Dubai Cup

• Ferrindino Maple: Warm Apple Maple Creemee Sundae

Full list of foods and vendors:

The Cantina- Margarita topped with Cotton Candy

Dribbles- Coffee, Mini Doughnuts with Sauces, Sweet Crepes

The Emporium- Craz-E Burger, Insanit-E Burger

Ferrindino Maple- Ferrindino Maple Bacon Hot Dog, Maple Creemee Sundae, Maple Creemee Latte

The Nook- Strawberry Dubai Cup

The Wine Loft- Charcuterie Boards, Wine Flights

The New England Center at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

14. New England Center

In terms of food, the only thing you’ll find here is the Big E Bakery. There are multiple spots at the fair where you can buy Cream Puffs. But this is the only place where you can watch them being made.

Vendors/foods you should try:

• Big E Cream Puff Bakery: Big E Cream Puff, Big E-clair, Espresso Cream Puff

Full list of foods and vendors:

Big E Cream Puff Bakery- Big E Cream Puff, Big E-clair, Espresso Cream Puff

The State Buildings at The Big E – and which foods to watch for.(The Big E)

15. State Buildings

The State Buildings are almost like mini-fairs to themselves. On the Avenue of States, you’ll see six buildings, which are all replicas of the actual state buildings in New England. Each of the six buildings houses a variety of vendors that represent their state.

The State Buildings largely consist of small businesses and associations that uproot themselves and set up shop at the fair, providing some unique foods and products. There are some amazing finds inside (and outside) each of the buildings.

The State Buildings - Vendors/foods to watch for

(Here is the order of the buildings from left to right as you face them from the Avenue of States.)

Rhode Island- The highlights here are the Del’s Lemonade and multiple seafood options. You can go for quahogs of chowder in a bread bowl. I’m a fan of the creative fries from Friskie Fries and Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches from Wright’s Dairy Farm.

Massachusetts- There are a ton of great vendors inside the building. But on the side of the building, you’ve got Macken’s Specialty Sliders, which have some of the best burger-based foods at the fair. Behind the building is Valley Malt Beer Garden, which has one of the best tap lists at the far, including a special new Dubai Chocolate Imperial Stout.

Vermont- This is one of the most crowded state buildings – and for good reason. There’s great cider, pizza and desserts – as well as a special Ben & Jerry’s location. Behind the building, you’ll find one of the fair’s hidden gems: The Vermont Marshmallow Company. It’s the little shed behind the building selling S’mores Macarons (S’Macarons)

Maine- The big attraction here is the Maine Baked Potato, which typically has a line out the side of the building. I’m more partial to the blueberry treats.

Connecticut- In terms of sheer size and vendors, the Connecticut Building towers over the competition. It certainly helps that there’s a huge tent in back that extends the space. This is home to one of the top BBQ spots at the fair (Bear’s Smokehouse).

New Hampshire- The highlight here is the Mac N’ Cheese from Zack’s Mac Attack. Meanwhile, behind the building is New Hampshire Kettle Corn, which is my favorite spot to get kettle corn at the fair.

One more note: Make sure to check out behind each state building. Here, you can find some of the quietest spots and best seating options at the fair.

Where to find our picks for the 10 must-try foods at The Big E in 2025.(The Big E)

Nick’s picks for the 10 must-try foods at The Big E for 2025.

With dozens of vendors and hundreds of food options, it can be pretty overwhelming to try and actually pick out what to eat at the fair.

With that in mind, here are my picks for what I think folks should eat at the fair. You don’t need to try all 10. But if you’re looking to narrow things down, here’s the short list.

(Note: These are not ranked. They’re just ordered by where they are on the map)

1. Fried Butter from Marion’s Fried Foods (New England Avenue)

2. DoughCo  from Anna’s Fried Dough (East Road)

3. Dilly Dilly Dog from Giant Corn Dog Factory (West Road)

4. Turducken Sandwich  from New England Craft Beer Pub (Avenue of States)

5. Bacon Waffle Burger  from Macken’s Specialty Sliders (Outside the Massachusetts Building)

6. MooNugs from Moolicious (Springfield Road and West Road)

7. The Big Sexy from The Broccoli Bar (Springfield Road)

8. BBQ Sundae from Porky’s  (Commonwealth Avenue)

9. Giant Mozzarella Stick from Angela’s Pizza (Commonwealth Avenue)

10. S’macarons  from Vermont Marshmallow Company (Vermont Building)

destinations

• The Big E’s best foods: These vendors get our stamp of approval in 2025

• Mass. Mexican restaurant lands on Yelp’s list of top Latinx-owned eateries

• New wine bar Baleine brings sophistication to Cape Cod

• 23.5 new foods I can’t wait to eat at The Big E in 2025

• Iconic New England pizza restaurant coming to The Big E, but only for a few days

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