Eastern States Exposition

If you could take just one photo: Eastern States Exposition

Your hand is warmed, holding a bag of kettle corn; the scent of hay rides the air. Horse hooves clop in the distance as you enter one of the arenas to watch the Budweiser Clydesdales circle the ring. Leaving the majestic beasts, you wander by Artisan booths. Touching wool. Hearing hand-crafted wind chimes. Ogling sterling silver pieces made by a jeweler from Iowa. You turn toward Statehouse Boulevard, anticipating the lobster roll you’ll buy in “Maine,” and the tap root beer you’ll snag in “New Hampshire.” You glance toward a stage that’s erected on one of the green spaces; a dance troupe is performing. Beyond the structure, children shriek from the midway. You smile and pull your sweater close.

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"I want fried Oreos!" "Can we pet the sheep?" "Let's go on the Ferris wheel!" "Oooh…tractors." Not the exhortations of a sugared-up toddler, no; these are the words of my thirtysomething companion. Welcome to the Big E, or formally, the Eastern States Exposition, America’s sixth-largest state fair and a place where even the stodgiest fogey will turn into a little kid. The Big E features all of the above, plus a daily parade, a Midway replete with carnival games and prizes, crafts, agricultural competitions, and the occasional, random, watch-where-you-step horse grenade. Spend a day (or two) at this pageant for the New England states, and expect to come away with a belly full of indulgences and an innocent, youthful glow.

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