Connecticut Building Celebrates New Flavors, Returning Favorites and Connecticut Agriculture at The Big E

HARTFORD, Conn. (Sept. 17, 2026) – New food and beverage vendors, longtime Connecticut favorites and an immersive celebration of the state’s agricultural community are among the highlights awaiting visitors to the Connecticut Building when it opens September 18 at The Big E.

This year’s lineup gives fairgoers a taste of Connecticut through local food, craft beer and cider, pure maple syrup, agriculture, culture and live entertainment – all under one roof.

New Food and Beverage Vendors

Visitors can discover new tastes this year, including:

Ani’s Table and Marketplace – Coffee, grab-and-go beverages, and made-from-scratch pastries and desserts, like Mexican habanero hot chocolate crème brûlée
Hot Monkey Nuts (9/18-9/20) – Spicy flavored nuts
Cato Corner Farms (9/27) – Award-winning cheese

Returning favorites are serving up new twists, including:

Perfect Poundcakes – “Poundcup” ice cream sandwiches
The Hop Knot – Loaded pretzel bun hot dogs topped with chili cheese, special burger sauce, or onions and sauerkraut

The Connecticut Beer Garden will feature a rotating selection of beers and ciders from more than 30 Connecticut craft breweries, including Big E newcomers Black Pond Brews (Killingly), Dead Language Beer Project (Hartford), Coastline Brewing Company (Westbrook), and Caius Farm Brewery (Branford).

Also new this year, the Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut will spotlight maple producers from across our state. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet the sugar makers behind some of Connecticut’s finest pure maple syrup products – and get a taste too.

Returning Connecticut Favorites

Visitors can also enjoy some of the Connecticut Building’s signature eats and treats including:

•     Lobster rolls from Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale
•     Award-winning barbecue at Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ
•     Pizza from Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza Shop

Explore the full list of Connecticut Building exhibitors here.

Center Court Celebrates Connecticut Agriculture

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Connecticut Grown brand, Center Court has been transformed into an immersive agricultural display highlighting the state’s farming and agricultural industries.

The display showcases several sectors of Connecticut agriculture, including greenhouse and nursery production, dairy, agritourism and aquaculture, giving visitors a closer look at the people, products and industries that help define Connecticut Grown.

Connecticut Day at The Big E

On Wednesday, September 23, The Big E will celebrate Connecticut Day with hours of live entertainment on the Connecticut Building’s front lawn stage, sponsored by Mohegan Sun.

The lineup includes Coastal Mix, Salvatore Basile, The Natural Disasters, RipChord, The Savage Brothers, School of Rock New Canaan, and Mass-Con-Fusion.

Between musical performances, visitors can experience a rotating schedule of Mohegan Tribe cultural presentations, including traditional storytelling, singing, dancing, and a flute performance, along with opportunities to learn more about the museum and its upcoming programming.

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