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Festival
of the Maples
Spring is certainly cause for celebration. Sap’s running. Snow’s melted. Temperatures are rising. Crocus are up. Folks who’ve endured a typical Canadian winter, are eager to participate in family-oriented outdoor spring events. A real crowd pleaser, Perth’s Festival of the Maples, held yearly on the last Saturday in April, attracts 20,000 people. Perth, on the River Tay, in the heart of “maple syrup country” in Eastern Ontario, presents an ideal location to hold a festival. The town’s architecturally significant heritage area provides the proper back-drop for a salute to the stately maple. Maple syrup season begins with a “Tapping Out Party” that features the ceremonial tapping of the first tree and ends with Festival of the Maples begun nearly thirty years as a grand finale to the yearly sap run.
One of the most unique festival events, “Empty Bowls”, takes place in front of Riverguild Fine Crafts on Gore Street. Soup, prepared by some of Perth’s finest restaurants, is served up in bowls that you can keep - for a fee. Five hundred bowls are donated by master potter Jackie Seaton. Proceeds from the soup sale are donated to programs run by Perth Food Bank and the Youth Centre.
While in the area, visit Wheelers Maple Heritage Museum, a half-hour north of Perth. The museum has one of the largest collections of maple syrup related artifacts in North America. Outdoor displays include a century old sugar shack, potash and boiling kettles. Say hello to “Turk” and “Lion”, a gregarious team of oxen. Wheelers tap 12,000 trees over 730 acres. Before you leave, have a feed of pancakes and syrup at the on-site Pancake House.
Visit Perth, that wee bit o’ Scotland on the Tay, once and it’s guaranteed that you will indeed “come back again”. IF YOU GO:
Perth, Ontario K7H 2J6 #1-613-264-0050 www.perthmanor.com perthmanor@bellnet.ca
#1-888-452-6275 www.ontariomaple.com
www.LanarkOntario.com
Perth, Ontario K7H 1T2 #1-613-267-3200 www.HeritagePerth.ca welcome@HeritagePerth.ca
51 Gore Street E. Perth, Ontario #1-613-267-5237 www.riverguild.com
#1-613-278-2090 www.wheelersmaple.com |
Copyright © 2005 Mestern.Net All rights reserved. |
With
so much to do, the first order of your day should be to make your way to the local
community centre for a pancake and syrup breakfast before heading downtown where the
majority of festivities take place. Streets are closed for the day and the area is
packed with booths, activities and entertainments which feature something for every
member of the family. Street entertainments have included country and bluegrass bands,
Scottish pipes and drums, steel bands, ethnic dancing, character actors, singers,
choirs. Perth & District Chamber of Commerce can provide a complete list of the
current year’s entertainments. Children aren’t forgotten. A special midway,
old-time crafts and tasks, petting zoo and child-specific entertainments are set up
just off Gore Street in the Tay Basin area for youngsters and the young at heart.
As
the day is dedicated to the king of trees, and Canada’s symbol, the maple is
well represented on the street where Lanark County producers set up informative displays
that explain maple syrup production through the years, sell maple-related items -
syrup, maple butter, fudge, toffee and compete for prestigious prizes in various maple
product categories.
Festival
of the Maples showcases community. Many local organizations get involved by operating
food concessions, craft booths and hands-on displays. It’s worth the small admission
fee to enjoy regional foods and wines that are showcased in the Crystal Palace in
the Tay Basin area. An antique & custom car show and chain saw sculpture are crowd
pleasers. Perth Museum, housed in historic Matheson House, on Gore Street in the heart
of the festivities , mounts demonstrations of pioneer cooking and crafts in an outdoor
courtyard. Tired of walking? Hitch a ride on the horse-drawn trolley.
Festival
of the Maples is only one of Perth’s many yearly events that include, Fiddling
& Step Dance competitions, Quilt Fest, Stewart Park Music Festival, Garlic Festival,
Authors in the Park, Fall Fair, Pumpkinfest and a downtown Heritage Christmas event.
As there is so much to see and do in the area, plan to stay for several days regardless
of the time of year you visit. Check “A Wee Bit o’ Perth” on www.mestern.net
for a more comprehensive overview and be sure to contact Perth & District Chamber
of Commerce for an information package complete with list of events, times and places.
Looking
for a lovely, quiet place to stay? Located in the heritage district, Perth Manor Heritage
Inn, called “Thuresson House”after it was built, is within walking distance
of festival and main street areas. The c1878 mansion with its Georgian appearance
and High-Victorian features such as, crested and palm windows, cast iron fireplace
inserts and tapestry wall coverings, represents some of the finest architecture in
Perth. One of the building’s most interesting features is an arts & crafts
fireplace and surround with built-in book cases and whimsical heart decoration. A
Victorian conservatory, off the dining room and ladies parlour, leads to grounds complete
with fountains, statuary and a sunken English garden.