The first week of April

Is there anything more Canadian than maple syrup? I don’t think so. And the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is the ultimate place to enjoy this liquid national treasure.

The festival has been in operation since 1965, has served well over half a million pancakes, boasts more than a hundred vendors and 2000 volunteers, and, with 70,000 visitors a year, holds a Guinness World Record for the largest single-day maple syrup festival.

The festival is typically scheduled for the first week of April when the sap flows. Visitors will get to take part in the old-fashioned process of tapping for sap and boiling that sap down to maple syrup. They can also shop at the vendors mall for a huge variety of maple-based products. And of course, you gotta eat some pancakes smothered with fresh syrup.

Joining the festivities does more than make you feel good. The festival returns all proceeds back into the community, providing financial assistance to a number of local charities and not-for-profit organizations that serve the community of Elmira all year round. In 2018, the total money allocated to the festival’s life topped $1.6 million. The festival holds awards for philanthropic achievements. So you can feel good about slurping up all the region’s syrup, knowing that your dollars will help the community all year long.

Photo: elmiramaplesyrup.com