MANCHESTER, CT (September 30, 2026) — The sights, tastes and traditions of The Big E came to iCare Health Network this September as residents and staff across the network celebrated “The Big E at the Little i,” a two-week series of recreation programs inspired by New England’s biggest fair.
The tradition began years ago at Touchpoints at Manchester, where Recreation Director Melissa Ploszaj and her team developed their own version of The Big E for residents. The program takes residents on a tour of New England through food, activities and experiences tied to each state. Its success at TAM eventually inspired recreation teams across iCare to develop their own versions.
This year at Touchpoints at Manchester, Rhode Island brought beach memories, sea glass ornament making and homemade cream puffs prepared by Food Service Director Valbona. Connecticut Day featured apple cider donuts, hot and cold cider and a historical society presentation on Manchester and Connecticut history. Maine Day included loaded baked potatoes and live music from the WDC Band, while Massachusetts inspired cranberry trivia, cranberry cake and tea tasting.
Across iCare, centers built their own celebrations around The Big E’s state days, fair food, games, music and traditions.
At Touchpoints at Chestnut in East Windsor, Connecticut Day featured a variety of pizzas, while Vermont Day included Vermont trivia followed by Vermont cheese and crackers.
Trinity Hill Care Center in Hartford kicked off its celebration with carnival memories and followed with two weeks of state-themed activities. Residents enjoyed a lobster and lighthouse concert and Pine Tree State crafts for Maine, an Ocean State beach party for Rhode Island, a Boston Tea Party for Massachusetts, an apple cider social for New Hampshire and a fall foliage sensory program for Vermont.
At Westside Care Center in Manchester, Opening Day featured popcorn, cheese bites and music, followed by blueberry muffins for Maine Day, Rhode Island coastal flavors, a Connecticut baked potato bar and a Vermont pancake social.
Elsewhere, Silver Springs Care Center in Meriden served a Big E-inspired Crazy Burger lunch, while Parkville Care Center in Hartford combined Maine Day loaded baked potatoes with crafts, a fishing race and Carnival Toss. At Fresh River Healthcare in East Windsor, residents followed Maine Day with a Connecticut Day make-your-own pizza activity.
At 60 West in Rocky Hill, residents celebrated with a 60 West Art Expo, while other September activities included a trip to the Lyman Orchards Apple Barrel store and programming for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Some residents had the opportunity to experience the real thing. MissionCare at Holyoke celebrated Holyoke Day at The Big E with an outing to the fairgrounds, where residents took in the sights, sounds and attractions, including the car show.
And at MissionCare at Bennington in Vermont, an end-of-summer carnival brought the fair spirit north with games, cotton candy, popcorn and fresh-made lemonade. Residents even had a chance to “dunk” Recreation Director Noreen.
Similar activities took place throughout iCare, including many that never made it into photographs. From a themed snack or trivia game to live entertainment and larger celebrations, recreation teams found different ways for residents to participate.
Events like these are about more than fun. Therapeutic recreation is an important part of care in skilled nursing settings, and residents who actively engage see real benefits, including improved mood, greater activity and alertness, and stronger social connections. Purposeful recreation also helps residents keep up old interests, build new ones, and connect with peers they might not otherwise get to know.
Local traditions like The Big E make that connection even easier, since many residents have walked the fairgrounds themselves, know someone who has, or have stories from the fairs in their own towns. At iCare, we see recreation as part of a holistic approach to wellness. A themed day like Maine Day or Vermont Day gives residents a chance to socialize, reminisce and engage all five senses through the taste of a blueberry muffin, the sound of live music, the feel of a craft project, the scent of apple cider and the colors of fall foliage.
For two weeks this September, there was a little bit of The Big E happening all across the “Little i.”
