A celebration of all things maple may be coming to Huntsville in the spring. The Muskoka Maple Festival \u2013 a collaboration between Muskoka Tourism, the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, and interested stakeholders \u2013 will be an extended offering of maple syrup-related activities in March and April, culminating in a weekend-long event based in Huntsville. Planning is still in early stages but those involved now are optimistic that the event will go ahead in just a few months\u2019 time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am confident that this will happen in 2016,\u201d said Jordan Mulligan, Marketing Manager for Muskoka Tourism. \u201cThe partners we have around the table now are committed and engaged and they want to see this go forward.\u201d Applications for planning committee members are still being accepted until December 1 at noon.<\/p>\n
The committee will be building on North Muskoka\u2019s strength in maple syrup production and other maple products. \u201cThere\u2019s a strong product here already \u2013 sugar bushes, farm to table products, and ample accommodations \u2013 we just need to work together to bring the operators together and create an exciting attraction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although the committee will need to determine exactly what is included in the festival, Mulligan suggested that a Muskoka Maple Trail \u2013 a self-guided tour of local maple-related attractions \u2013 would be a key component. \u201cIt may be that visitors could go and try different maple experiences throughout the harvest season in March and April and the final hurrah would be a weekend family festival in Huntsville.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tour could include activities like sampling maple cotton candy at Sugarbush Hill Farm, going to Lake of Bays Brewery for a maple syrup flavoured brew, or enjoying a maple-inspired meal at 3 Guys and a Stove. The weekend event in Huntsville could focus on the heritage of maple syrup production with spinoffs like fiddling music and antique shows.<\/p>\n
We are still bouncing ideas around but (this festival) has great potential. We take it for granted but on an international stage maple syrup is a real delicacy. Even in Toronto there are people who don\u2019t have the access to it that we do.
\nJordan Mulligan, Marketing Manager for Muskoka Tourism<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\nMulligan cites the annual Elmira Maple Syrup Festival as proof of the sweet delicacy’s attraction \u2013 that one-day event drew 68,000 people to the town in 2015.<\/p>\n
Local maple syrup producer, Tom Stehr, owner of Sugarbush Hill Maple Farm<\/a><\/span> thinks a maple syrup festival could be successful here, too. His farm is currently rated number eight of 3,212 things to do in Ontario<\/a><\/span> on the popular attraction-rating site TripAdvisor.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are other maple festivals throughout Ontario, but Muskoka has an abundance of maple trees and we already have a tremendous following in the fall for the beautiful colours of the maples,\u201d said Stehr. He sees maple production as being the main feature of the festival, but with many supporting cast members like heritage, wood carving demonstrations, antique shows and craft sales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are many things that could branch off from production and make it interesting for a wide group of people. At the end of April, people are tired of winter and if there\u2019s something to celebrate, I think it\u2019s going to be a huge success.\u201d<\/p>\n
More details are available in the vision<\/a><\/span> and stakeholder information<\/a><\/span> documents. Anyone interested in applying to be on the committee can download an application form <\/a><\/span>and submit it to Kelly Haywood at kelly@huntsvillelakeofbays.on.ca<\/a> before December 1 at noon.<\/p>\n
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