Highland County's Maple Festival makes March the sweetest month
MONTEREY — Virginia’s sweetest event of the year is right around the corner. Visitors can step back in time for a cultural and culinary adventure at the Highland County Maple Festival during the second and third weekends of March. This year marks the 63rd event, set for March 11-12 and 18-19.
Highland County is Virginia’s least populous county but has been drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the community since 1959 to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and to observe the process of making pure maple syrup.
Ten local sugar camps will be open on Saturdays and eight on Sundays this year. Free “sugar camp” tours provide a unique and educational experience to learn how the golden delicacy is made from tree to bottle, ranging from traditional to modern techniques.
Local sugar camps have expanded to include syrups infused with fruits and spices or aged in spirit barrels. Other tree syrups found at the festival include hickory, birch and black walnut.
Maple sugar facts
Pure maple syrup contains no preservatives, capsule artificial flavoring or color.
Pure maple syrup is fat free.
Maple syrup is 33.5% water and 66.5% sugar.
Store opened containers of syrup in the refrigerator or freezer.
Pure maple syrup is sold by shades of “amber.”
Light amber has a fine, delicate flavor.
Medium amber has a richer flavor and is most frequently used as table syrup.
Dark amber is used for cooking, or as a table syrup by those who prefer a strong maple flavor.
A good tree will produce 20 quarts of “sugar water” in 12 hours.
It takes approximately 40 quarts of sugar water to make one quart of maple syrup.
Sugar water collected from maple trees is made up of approximately 98% water and 2% sugar.
Unopened containers of maple syrup should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Maple syrup can also be frozen.
Maple syrup only has 40 calories per tablespoon. Honey has 45, white sugar has 55, and corn sugar has 60.
Maple syrup contains iron, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. It also has a higher calcium content than milk. It also contains small amounts of amino acids, proteins, and vitamins B2, B5 and niacin.
Correct tapping methods cause no permanent damage to the maple sugar tree.
Freezing nights and warm, sunny days make ideal weather conditions for harvesting sugar water.
Buckwheat pancakes & maple doughnuts get you ready for the day
Local civic clubs and organizations will be bringing back their food offerings, including fresh maple doughnuts, pancake and buckwheat cake meals with sausage and gravy, trout sandwiches, pork rinds, funnel cakes and just about anything maple-flavored.
The buckwheat pancakes and maple doughnuts are worth the trip alone.
Over 100 juried arts and crafts vendors will be available in Monterey and McDowell. Browse and shop with new and returning vendors along with a new Highland County Artisans’ Shop set up at The Highland Center.
Bluegrass, square dancing and clogging shows
Each day of the festival features at least two live shows at The Highland Center.
On Saturday, March 11, enjoy bluegrass band Southern Rail Express at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and the classical banjo of The John Bullard Trio at 5 p.m. On Sunday, March 12, listen to local favorites Mountain Air play their blend of acoustic Americana at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
On Saturday, March 18, enjoy square dancing at 10 a.m. with local callers Ellen and Eugene Ratcliffe, and stay for the 2 p.m. square dance when old time music band Mudhole Control. Finish up the festival with two clogging performances on Sunday, March 19, with the Hi-Horse Cloggers performing at 10 a.m. and the Little Switzerland Cloggers at 2 p.m.
Here's what Valley residents say about why they love the Maple Festival
"It’s the harbinger of spring for me. I know spring is around the corner when the Maple Festival arrives!" — Ashley Jean, Staunton
"Best reason in the world to visit extraordinary Highland County! The people, history, landscape. All of it is one of Virginia's best kept secrets but for these two weekends in March." — Cindy Corell, Augusta County
"Nothing like a beautiful drive over the mountain into Highland County with its dramatic views and quilt barns. My favorite, the maple ice cream! I always feel like I've gone on vacation after I've been there." — Cindy Connors, Staunton
"I love the events at the high school. You can eat everything from sausage, biscuits all the way to those pancakes that you love, and they have every craft imaginable in the gym; under one roof." — Steve Rudolph, Verona
Stuarts Draft resident Randall Wolf volunteered the last two years during Maple Fest at Tonoloway Farm in McDowell.
"For me it's how it brings neighbors together from all walks of life," said Wolf. "No matter the bumper sticker or color of hat nothing matters when you're talking about the joys of maple syrup and what makes the best delivery devices."
Other points of interest
While traveling the scenic roads, visitors can discover:
Exhibits at the Highland County Museum in McDowell
Award-winning cider at Big Fish Cider, Co. in Monterey
An old general store like the newly-revitalized Doe Hill Mercantile
Valley Aerospace Team Model Rocket Launch south of Monterey on Saturday, March 11.
Hours
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can get a jumpstart to the day with maple doughnuts served at 6 a.m. and pancake meals starting at 7 a.m.
Full details on all the festival happenings can be found at www.highlandcounty.org/maple-festival.
More: USDA invests $3.6 million in Shenandoah Valley Organic
Reporter Monique Calello can be reached at mcalello@newsleader.com. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com and support community news.
This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Highland County Maple Festival makes March the sweetest month
