Saturday & Sunday, March 23-24—POULTNEY— Poultney’s annual Maplefest celebration will be held Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 all around town. Local sugarhouses will be open both days, and many events will be held on Saturday, including the Maplefest Craft & Food Fair and the annual 5K Fun Run. New events were added this year by Slate Valley Trails, including a bike tour, cross country skiing (snow permitting) and a snowshoe or hiking trip to Marshall’s Maples.
The day starts with a pancake breakfast, 8-11 a.m., at the Poultney United Methodist Church. Merchants start opening at 8 a.m. with sales and specials. The Maplefest Bike Tours to area sugarhouses will leave from Green Mountain College circle at 8:30 a.m.
In-person registration for the 5K Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. behind Poultney High School, with the race starting at 10 a.m. T-shirts will be available to the first runners to register.
Maplefest Craft and Food Fair opens at Poultney High School gym at 10 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. Vendors will be on hand with handmade jewelry, horseshoe art, wood, ceramics, painted wine glasses, crocheted and embroidered items, vintage linen and antiques, doll clothes, home décor, prints, specialty foods, homemade fudge and more.
Pelletier’s Food Truck will be providing maple fried dough and other maple products, along with hamburgers, hot dogs, and other fare.
The official Tree Tapping Ceremony will start at 10 a.m. followed immediately by the crowning of the Maple Prince and Princess who are chosen through an art contest. Horse-drawn wagon rides will start from the parking lot of the historic Main Street bank building at 10 a.m.
At 11 a.m., Maple Story Time starts at the Poultney Public Library. The Poultney Rotary and Stone Valley Arts at Fox Hill’s Sap Bucket Challenge and Silent Auction is from 12-3 p.m. at J. Claire Carmody Post. The Maplefest Dinner will be held at the Poultney Young At Heart Senior Center , 4:30-7 p.m.
For a full list of events, visit poultneyareachamber.com.
