Calling all Families, Foodies and Fun-Loving Folk for March Maple Festival!
March 4-5, 11-12, and 18-19
— at —
John R. Park Homestead and Holiday Beach
Experience this sweet-tasting tradition and a celebration of natural and cultural heritage in our community with special themes to enjoy each weekend.
March is Maple Month, and this year we’re celebrating with an expanded Maple Syrup Festival that spans three weekends and two locations, with a Maple Trail connecting the two sites at the John R. Park Homestead and Holiday Beach Conservation Areas.
*Please – only registered service animals with paper will be permitted at this special event.
Experience
The #MapleTrail
Experience special, maple-themed offerings from incredible wineries, restaurants, shops, and businesses at you travel between #MapleFest sites!
Sign Up For Your Free #MapleTrail Pass!
Book Your Stay
— at —
Holiday Beach
Stay close to it all: Spend #MapleFest weekend in Holiday Beach’s premium and private rental cottage!
Get Tickets!
Due to overwhelming response, site may be slow to load. Tickets available in person at both sites.
BEST VALUE – Buy a Seasonal Pass!
A Seasonal Pass gets you unlimited access to all three weekends of #MapleFest – and so much more! For just $80* your whole family can experience dozens of amazing events throughout the year, and visit Holiday Beach, Hillman Marsh and the John R. Park Homestead as many times as you like through the year! Hit the beach, hike or bike nearly 100 kilometres of trail, see rare bird species during the spring and fall migration celebration, and explore the beautiful and rare natural areas in the Essex Region!
Please Note – if you do not receive your pass by mail in time for the event, simply bring a copy of your receipt to show at the Festival site for entry.
- +$10 non-refundable key fob
Individual Tickets
| Admission | Cost |
|---|---|
| Single Day / Single Site | $30/family* – Homestead $20/family – Holiday Beach Note: individual admissions available at JRPH |
| One Day -Both Sites | $40 |
| Weekend Admission – Both Sites | $50 |
*Family Pass = maximum 6 people who have travelled together in the same vehicle.
Due to overwhelming response, site may be slow to load. Tickets available in person at both sites.
Please note that refunds cannot be considered within 48 hours of each weekend.
#MapleFest Activities & Schedules
Lumberjack Weekend!
Lumber jacks & jills – get your flannel ready for #YQG’s first Lumber Games, a Moustache contest and Axe throwing! Chainsaw and woodcarving demonstrations, Pioneer and Modern Maple Making, and so much more at the #MapleFest’s first weekend. Travel the #MapleTrail between Festival sites, and discover special offers along the route.
| John R. Park Homestead | Holiday Beach |
|---|---|
| Axe Throwing Demonstration – 11:00, 1:00, 2:00 | Axe Throwing With Bad Axe – Test your skills with Bad Axe – Axe Throwing to see how you measure up! Ages 12+ (Must have adult present to sign waiver) |
| Family Friendly Axe Throwing – 11:00 – 3:30 | Kids’ Corner – Crafts – 11:00 – 3:00 |
| Wood Carving Demonstration – 11:00 – 4:00 | Horse And Carriage Rides – Saturday, 12:00 – 3:00 |
| Blacksmithing Demonstrations 11:00 – 3:30; meet the master blacksmith on Sunday, all day | Lumber Games: Groups of 4 – 6 can test their lumber skills and be awarded the ‘Crown’. Sunday, 12:00 – 3:00 |
| Kids’ Corner – Crafts 11:00 – 3:00 | Maple Tree Walk – Saturday, 2:30 |
| Maple Song & Story – 11:30, 1:00, 3:45 | Best Dressed Lumberjack – Sunday, 2:00; Categories include: Best LumberKids’ Costume, Best Traditional Costume, Best Hipster Costume. Read the Contest Rules |
| Make Maple Taffy on Snow – 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 | Modern Maple Evaporator Demonstrations – all day |
| Boast-Worthy Beard & Moustache Contest – Saturday, 12:30; Categories include: Natural, Waxed, & Faux. Read the Contest Rules. | Science of Maple Exhibit – all day |
| Science of Maple Exhibit – all day | Maple Mountain Play Area – all day |
| Pioneer Games – Near the Sawmill – all day | Maple Market – Pure Maple Products – all day |
| Maple Market – Pure Maple Products – all day |
*Schedules are subject to change
Tasters’ Weekend!
It’s a Tasters’ paradise for all things Maple! Sample baked goods, maple butter, maple sugar and more. Taste various syrups and learn how they make the grade. Butter tart contest, winter hikes, crafters’ market, and the Maple Markets at both locations. Horse and carriage rides and much more. Travel the #MapleTrail between Festival sites, and discover special offers along the route.
| John R. Park Homestead | Holiday Beach |
|---|---|
| Maple Song & Story – 11:15, 1:00, 3:45 | Erie Treasures Chainsaw Carvers – Sunday, 11:00 – 4:00 |
| Best Maple Butter Tart Contest – Saturday, 3:00. Read the Contest Rules | Horse and Carriage Rides – Saturday, 12:00 – 3:00 |
| Make Taffy on Snow – 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 | Winter Birding Hike – 2:30 |
| Maple Grading – Talk & Taste: See and taste the different grades of maple syrup – 2:00 | Maple Market – Pure Maple Products – all day |
| Fox Creek Wildlife in Winter Hike – 3:30 | Ruscom Maple – Taste pure maple local syrup – all day |
| Maple Market – Pure Maple Products including maple cotton candy and maple butter tarts – all day | Tasters’ Tent – Discover the sweet secrets of incorporating maple into a variety of products! Tasting samples and products available to purchase |
| Science of Maple Exhibit – all day | Modern Maple Making – see the process used for maple making |
| Kids’ Corner – Crafts, Activities, Games – all day | Science of Maple Exhibit – all day |
| Blacksmithing Demonstrations – all day | Kids’ Corner – Maple Mountain, Crafts, Activities & Games – all day |
| Maple Sugar and Maple Butter Sampling – all day |
*Schedules are subject to change
Makers’ Weekend!
Did you know maple making is an Indigenous innovation? Learn more about its origins this weekend. Learn to tap YOUR trees at home and make maple in the snow. Awarding of the Lumber Games ‘Crown’ and the Backyard Makers Award. Meet the Makers, Winter Bird Hike and much more on this final festival weekend. Travel the #MapleTrail between Festival sites, and discover special offers along the route.
| John R. Park Homestead | Holiday Beach |
|---|---|
| Maple Song & Story – 11:15, 1:00, 3:45 | Artisan and Crafters’ Market – 11:00 – 4:00 |
| Make Taffy on Snow – 12:00, 1:30, 3:00 | Winter Tree Hike – 12:00 |
| Maple Making – An Indigenous Innovation: Learn about the discovery of ‘sweet water’ and the origins of maple syrup & sugar | Horse and Carriage Rides – 12:00 – 3:00, Saturday only |
| Making Maple at Home – Learn how to tap YOUR trees! | The Border City Barkers Dog Agility Club – Saturday, 3:00; Sunday, 12:00 and 2:00 |
| Meet the Makers – Saturday – all day | Meet Your Maple Maker Ruscom Maple – How to tap, prepare for 2024 – Sunday, 2:00 |
| Science of Maple Exhibit – all day | Winter Bird Hike – 2:30 |
| Maple Market – pure maple products to take home! – all day | Backyard Maple Contest & Award – Sunday, 3:00. Read the Contest Rules. |
| Kids’ Corner – Crafts, Activities & Games – all day | Maple Market – Pure Maple Products – all day |
| Blacksmithing Demonstrations – all day | Science of Maple Exhibit – all day |
| Local Weavers’ Guild – Textile Demonstrations in Parlour – all day | Kids’ Corner – Maple Mountain, Crafts, Activities & Games – all day |
| Kids’ Axe Throwing Center – all day |
*Schedules are subject to change
This event made possible with funding provided by:
