Maplefest converges on Poultney, April 2
POULTNEY — Maplefest 2016 in Poultney will be happening on Saturday, April 2. There are over 20 different things going on!
A Pancake Breakfast starts Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Methodist Church. After breakfast, stop at the Stonebridge in the center of Poultney by the traffic light for a list of events, a map showing which sugarhouses are open, entries for the scavenger hunt. Find out whether events are filled, and meet Poultney’s own Maple Sugar Bear. Also look for the blue signs, where events are being held.
Between 8 and 10 a.m., several stores open with Maplefest Bag Sales, that’s 20 to 25 percent off everything you can fit into the green recyclable bag: Williams Hardware, Original Vermont Store, Stitchy Women, and Discount Food of Poultney.
Register for the 5-K Fun Run at poultneyvt.com. The first 35 paid registrations get Maplefest t-shirt. Or, register on the day of the race at 9 a.m. at Poultney High School. The race starts at 10 a.m.
The Maplefest Craft Fair will feature crafters with loads of handmade crafts and local products, including painted sap buckets, yarn, knitted items, jewelry, greeting cards, sachet, photographs, art glass, wood and tin products, jams and pickles, quilted items, wooden bowls, goat milk soap, displays of art, and more; plus delicious baked goods and food specialties. It opens at 10 a.m. at Poultney High School.
The Maplefest Cooking and Baking Contest will sell its entries after the judging with proceeds going to the local Food Shelf.
Even though the sap is running, you can still try to guess the exact date and time it started. Get in on the Maple Sap Run Raffle, with proceeds benefitting St. Raphael’s Church, with a cash prize! See Theresa at Tot’s Diner for tickets, but go early as the contest closes at 1 p.m.
Free horse-drawn wagon rides start in front of Citizens Bank on Main Street, available all day.
Local sugarhouses will be opening at 10 a.m. for tours, tasting, and purchase of maple products. Maple fried dough will be available at 10 a.m., at Pelletier Maple Products, which is set up in front of Stitchy Women on Main Street.
The historic East Poultney Schoolhouse opens at 10 a.m. with a video showing the history of the maple sugaring process, tours, and talks with old-time Vermont sugarmakers.
The Bentley House Bed and Breakfast and the Birdhouse Inn Bed and Breakfast will be open at 10 a.m. for tours with free maple snacks.
At 10:30 a.m., Representative Patti McCoy and Vermont Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott will be holding a ceremonial Maple Tree Tapping. Bring your cameras for pictures.
The Maple Prince and Princess will also be crowned at this time, and will ride up Main Street in a horse-drawn wagon, escorted by dignitaries. All those who entered the art contest and attend the ceremony will receive a card for a maple treat at Priscilla’s Sweet Shop. The art will be displayed on the windows at Stitchy Women.
At St. Raphael’s Parish Hall, the big Maplefest Basket Party opens up at 11 a.m. Drawings start at 1 p.m. Maple Story Time at the Poultney Public Library also kicks off at 11 a.m., including songs, crafts, and a special maple snack, courtesy of the Poultney Library Snack. Drop by and see its expansion plan and find out when they break ground.
And watch for the opening of Taps Tavern, which will be holding a maple and craft beer tasting, with appetizers.
Back at Poultney High School. at 1 PM, Dave Capman and his crew will whistle up the teams to open the First Annual Maplefest Flag Football Tournament, with awards for the winners in each category. Proceeds from the games benefit the Shrine Hospitals. Enter a team by calling 802-287-5861.
At the end of the day, enjoy a delicious maple dinner at the Poultney Young At Heart Club, including maple glazed ham, maple sweet potato mash, vegetable, beverage, and a choice of desserts, including maple bread pudding. Dinner is served buffet style from 5 to 7 p.m. Adults and children over 12 for $8, kids 6 to 12 are $5, 5 and under eat for just$1. Call 802-287-9031 for more info.
