Connecticut tourism benefits from Massachusetts fair

Bottles of cider on display at New England Cider Company. The Wallingford-based company's products are available at the Big E this year for the first time. Bottles of cider on display at New England Cider Company. The Wallingford-based company's products are available at the Big E this year for the first time. Photo: New England Cider Company Photo / | Justin Weekes / For New Englan Photo: New England Cider Company Photo / | Justin Weekes / For New Englan Image 1 of / 35 Caption Close Connecticut tourism benefits from Massachusetts fair 1 / 35 Back to Gallery

Connecticut’s head tourism official says having a presence at the Eastern States Exposition is still a valuable tool for promoting travel and businesses in the state — even in the age of social media.

Randy Fiveash, director of Connecticut's Office of Tourism, said having exhibition space at the regional fair in West Springfield, Massachusetts, delivers something that social media lacks. The 101 year-old fair, more commonly known as the Big E, began its 17-day run last weekend.

“Tourism these days is all about the experience,” Fiveash said. “By being at the Big E, people can talk to the companies that make products that are on display and in some cases smell and taste what they have to offer. They can hear details about all the wonderful places that Connecticut has to visit.”

More than 60 small businesses, associations and major companies are on display in the Connecticut Building over the course of the fair. Fiveash said not every business that applies for space each year in the Connecticut Building is selected to participate and there is a waiting list of companies that want to participate.

Wednesday is Connecticut Day at the Big E and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and other state officials are expected to make an appearance at the fair. The daylong celebration will feature a parade and 11 hours of live entertainment in the Connecticut Building, including magicians and impersonators.

The centerpiece of the Connecticut Building’s exhibit space is a craft beer garden that made its debut last year at the Big E. The Connecticut Craft Beer Garden has more than 17 Connecticut breweries and 50 beers on tap. Among the participating breweries are the Back East Brewery of Bloomfield, Beer’d Brewing Co. from Stoningtonand Kent Falls Brewing Co. from Litchfield County.

Beer, cider and select wines are available for on-site consumption in the beer garden, which is located directly behind the Connecticut Building in a large tent. The craft bear garden also includes hard cider for the first time, courtesy of the Wallingford-based New England Cider Co.

The two men who launched New England Cider four years ago are Miguel Galarraga of Hamden and Meriden resident Seth Hart. The two men were both auto mechanics with a penchant for home brewing when they opened their business in 2013.

They began peddling their hard cider to bars and restaurants and within the past year have added a tasting room on North Plains Industrial Road in Wallingford.

Selling their hard cider at the Big E will boost the company’s sales as New England Cider begins its busy season, Galarraga said.

“My expectation is that this is going to be great for us,” he said. “Everyone has apples on the mind this time of year and business stays pretty strong right through until the spring. It gets a little slow in the summer, though.”

The Connecticut Building is part of the Avenue of States at the Big E. It is open daily through Oct. 1 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com