A Legacy of Sweetness

Over Five Decades of
Community Spirit

It all started in 1965 in the living room of local school teacher Doug Rose. Representatives from various community groups gathered with a simple but wonderful idea: to celebrate the spring maple harvest while raising money for local causes. The very first Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival was held on April 9, 1966, yielding a modest profit that was proudly shared among the contributing groups.

Though the festival faced a crossroads in 1968, a passionate group of locals refused to let the sweetness fade. They banded together to form the Elmvale and District Maple Syrup Committee, ensuring this homegrown tradition would thrive for generations to come.

Over the decades, the festival blossomed by leaps and bounds, fueled by the tireless dedication of local leaders, countless volunteers, and cherished community traditions. Along the way, we welcomed our mysterious mascot, "Miss Amber Maple," started kicking off the weekend with a vibrant high school variety show, and established the guaranteed sell-out firefighter's dance to wrap up the festivities. What began with a small pancake breakfast and a handful of vendors on Queen Street quickly grew into a beloved annual homecoming for thousands.

Today, our little community event has transformed into a spectacular, fun-filled weekend that draws 30,000 to 40,000 visitors annually! We now proudly host over 200 vendor booths, feed thousands of hungry guests at our pancake house, and offer everything from sugarbush tours to hilarious log-sawing contests. Most importantly, our core mission remains exactly the same as it was in 1965: giving back.

Thanks to the unwavering support of our visitors and volunteers, we are now able to allocate over $20,000 annually to the grassroots groups and organizations that make Elmvale such a wonderful place to call home.