The 15th annual Holstein Maplefest will celebrate the spirit of syrup April 4 and 5.
Members of the Egremont Optimist Club are in the final stages of preparation for this year’s annual Maplefest, at the 40 acre Love’s Sugar Bush.
In the sugar bush some new demonstrations have been added, including log rolling, wood spinning, canoe making and a poultry colony with a variety birds. Those will compliment existing demonstrations such as the biscuit house, blacksmith, bird house kits, maple syrup and ice cream making, and wood carving to name a few. The all day pancake breakfast will have a second food line up this year, as well as revised seating and some heat in the pavilion if needed.
The big tent will offer continuous family entertainment all day. The popular Canadian Raptor Conservancy returns again this year, and will alternate with the award winning Splash’ N Boots interactive kids show. At noon on both days there will be a kids’ pet show. Other activities include Potters Paradise ceramic painting, a Maplefest mural for the kids to paint, TD Friends of the Environment, Ontario Farm Association, Grey County Tourism and other displays.
There is a craft sale in the Optimist centre.
The Maplefest celebration actually begins the week before with Ribfest on March 28, Kids Night is on March 31 and there is a seniors day with a pancake lunch and entertainment by Lindsay Morgan on April 2. All of those events are in the Egremont Optimist Community Centre.
About 250 volunteers make the event possible.
Maplefest has many sponsors. The largest sponsor, TD Friends of the Environment foundation (www.fef.ca) supports community-based environmental projects. Locally it has provided more that $325,000 to support over 100 grassroots environmental projects in the communities of Mount Forest, Arthur, Elmira, Fergus, Elora and Listowel since 1990.
Be sure to check www.holsteinmaplefest.com for complete information.
