64th Pa. Maple Festival showcases maple industry
Philip Hershberger of Meyersdale and some of his family members performed with the Wheelers-And-Dealers square dancing group at last year's Pa. Maple Festival. This year, the group is set to entertain this Sunday afternoon on the stage in Festival Park. (Photo by Sandra Lepley)
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MEYERSDALE - — This year’s 64th annual Pa. Maple Festival comes on the heels of one of the most successful sugar seasons ever.
Set to begin this Saturday and Sunday and resume March 30 and 31 through April 1-3, the Pa. Maple Festival will not only deservedly have “bragging rights” about Somerset County’s sugar season, but also be able to update travelers as to the technology of the industry.
That’s because the Sugar Shack has gotten a facelift of sorts. In the past few months, Ron Brenneman, a longtime maple producer, and Perry Yoder and Harold Nicholson spent countless hours renovating the Sugar Shack to better educate the public about the maple industry.
The Somerset County Maple Producers Association led the effort by first providing funds for a drop flue, two by six-foot Leader evaporator. Then the work crew of Brenneman, Yoder and Nicholson paneled the walls with cedar siding and afterward, shelving was installed. The windows were redone and new sliding doors were also put in.
The new Sugar Shack shows a little bit of the old along with the newer way of producing maple syrup.
“The Maple Producers not only had a good year of producing, they also made a difference in what we do at the festival by funding this major project for Festival Park,” said Matt Caton, festival president. “It’s going to be great for our tourists to see how the maple industry evolved into what it is today.”
At noon April 2, shortly before the Grand Feature Parade which starts at 3 p.m., festival officials will dedicate the renovated Sugar Shack and pay tribute to the Somerset County Maple Producers Association for their support through the years.
Caton pointed out the rich heritage of maple production along with the strong community volunteerism make this traditional event like none other.
“It’s a two-week time period where people come together and work together with community spirit and pride,” he said. “There’s nothing else like it and we are fortunate enough to have second, third and fourth generation volunteers.”
This year at the festival, some new things and some old favorites are mixed together for family entertainment.Again this year in Festival Park, the Civil War and World War II re-enactors will be back along with Terry Dively at the blacksmithing display and Todd Johnson as the Ghost in the Head Native American demonstrator.
At Festival Park, Maple Manor will once again be open as thousands of visitors pour through the historic home full of antique furnishings. Maple Manor and its grounds is the historic cornerstone of the community that once where the founder of Meyersdale, Peter Meyers, lived and worked.
And, crafts vendors of all kinds and foods of many varieties will be available inside the park, as well as stage entertainment which include singing, dancing and musical acts.
Children of all ages will be able to drill holes with augers in an area with assimilated trees and at another area, they can enjoy crafts with their parents.
Also, the maple festival office will supply visitors with a list of local maple producers opening their camps for local, out-of-town and bus tours.
As a member of PSACF (Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs), the maple festival houses a large variety of fair items, except for livestock, in one of the main buildings in Festival Park.
Even beyond the borders of the historic park, there are countless activities throughout the community.
Every year, a whole host of community members cast as characters from Maple City history and present-day times step onto the stage at Meyersdale Area High School for “Legend of the Magic Water.” The production is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, March 30, April 1 and 2.
Every year for 44 years, hundreds of members from the Meyersdale Lions Club serve up hot pancakes and sausage and plenty of maple syrup for visitors near and far. The Pancake House opens at 8 a.m. each day of the festival at the Meyersdale Community Center. There will be a community pancake dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Every year, visitors to the Pennsylvania Maple Festival are attracted to the Annual Quilt Show. Quilters from all over have their quilts on display at the Meyersdale fire department’s social room, across from the Lions Pancake House. The quilt show is open to the public throughout the festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.On Sunday the festival will once again hold its annual Street Rod and Classic Auto Show on Main and Center streets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This car show began in 1983.
On the following Sunday, April 3, the festival will welcome entries for the Antique Auto Show, also on Main and Center streets. The antique car show opened at the maple festival in 1961. It will also be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At 6 p.m. April 1, classic car lovers bring their cars to the Maple City and cruise the streets. The Classic Car Cruise is a nostalgic night for many who enjoyed the times of poodle skirts and 1950s music. Following the car cruise, the annual festival dance will be held at 9 p.m. at the American Legion.The Grand Feature Parade will be set for 3 p.m. April 2, on Center Street in Meyersdale.
The Antique Tractor and Farm Machinery Show will be held at the Caton’s Old Time Tractor Repair, 321 Grant St., across from the old BP gas station. At 10 a.m. Saturday and the following Saturday and Sunday, there will be a tractor show. And, at 1 p.m. April 3, there will be Tractor Games, which will test a driver’s ability in how he or she can handle their tractor.
Also, the Maple Race 8K run/5K walk begins at 10 a.m. April 2, at the Western Maryland Train Station. This year, the race will be held the second Saturday instead of the first Saturday as it is usually scheduled.
The community worship service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.The horse pulling contest at the Somerset County Fairgrounds will once again be held at 1 p.m. April
3.
For more information on any of the events, call the Maple Festival office at 814-634-0213 or tollfree at 866-858-0213.
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