Perth Festival ofthe Maples Turns 50!

Ever since local businessman Vic Lemieux organized the first Perth Festival of the Maples in the early 1970s, Perth has been the gathering place for this annual celebration of local farmers and syrup producers who have made Lanark County the “Maple Syrup Capital of Ontario”. With the Festival about to mark its 50^th anniversary on Saturday, April 25, plans for this annual rite of spring are underway to salute the region’s most famous agricultural commodity — sweet, savoury maple syrup!

The free annual festival, presented by the Perth & District Chamber of Commerce, runs from 9am until 4pm along Gore Street and Foster Streets in the downtown core. Over 190 vendors will participate, including local businesses, artisans, food and farm vendors, as well as community and charity exhibitors.

Chamber Executive Director Rose Grieder says: “The popularity of the festival continues to grow each year, and we expect to attract between 15,000 and 20,000 guests for our 50^th celebration. After the long and cold winter that we’ve had, folks can’t wait to get out and enjoy the day with taffy on ice, maple butter, and the latest syrup crop straight from our area sugar bushes.”

The Chamber partners with a host of local organizations to stage the event, including the Lanark & District Maple Syrup Producers (LDMSP), the Town of Perth, the Lanark-Leeds Homebuilders Association, O.P.P., Perth Fire Services and the Perth Civitan Classic Cruisers, among others.

This year, the Hospice Hub in Perth is teaming up with the festival for a special “Plaid Party” after-hours dance with live music by Open Road. This age-of-majority fundraiser for Hospice Hub takes place right after the festival from 7pm to midnight in the Crystal Palace. Everyone is encouraged to pull on your plaid and finish off the festival’s 50^th anniversary on the dance floor! Tickets are on sale at TicketsPlease.ca.

Another special addition to this year’s event is an appearance by the Great Canadian Lumberjack Show (pictured above), made possible by a donation from the Perth & District Community Foundation (PDCF). Chair of festival’s organizing committee, Brian Perkin, says: “It’s the first time we’ve been able to offer such a big maple-related show at the festival, all thanks to PDCF. These lumberjacks are real woodcraft pros. It’ll be exciting to see the action during their axe, chainsaw and cross-cut saw races.” There will be three performances — at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm that day — on “Lumberjack Lane” between Perth Town Hall and the TD Bank.

Other festival events include the annual Maplefest Syrup Competition run by LDMSP, and the Classic & Antique Car Show on Herriot Street, organized by the Perth Civitan Classic Cruisers Car Club. Live musical entertainment continues on two stages, along with the Maplefest “Sap Tapping” and “Wood Cookie Challenge”. The Tay Basin features the Safety Square and Children’s Playpark with activities by Ry-J’s Climbing Adventures, along with a petting zoo and the Perth Firedawgs Children’s Obstacle Course. For details, please visit festivalofthemaples.com.