Press Release and Calendar of Events Listing

Contacts

Co-Chair: Carolyn Perley, Chair, (802) 933-8932  
email: perleygates@surfglobal.net

Co-Chair and Sponsorship Coordinator: Cecil Branon, (802) 933-8932 
email: info@branonmaple.com

Photos and Media: Betty Ann and Don Lockhart P:(802) 425-2783 F:(802) 425-3628 C:(802)343-2288 perceptivt@aol.com   

The excitement of the Quadricentennial  is coming to the 43^rd Annual Vermont Maple Festival, St. Albans, April 24 – 26, 2009.  Chosen as an Official Vermont Quadricentennial Event,  the Festival will celebrate the arrival in 1609 of Samuel de Champlain to the lake that bears his name.  “If Samuel  Came to St. Albans in Sugarin’ Time” is the theme for this year’s event, which will feature activities exploring Vermont’s first crop, maple sugar, from the 1600s through 2009, including the roles of Native Peoples, French Fur Traders, Settlers, and Sugarmakers of today.  All the usual delights of the Festival will happen  -  Antiques, Crafts, Fiddlers and Talent Shows, the Exhibit Hall, Cooking Demonstrations, Pancake Breakfast, Historic Museum, Entertainment Stage, Sugarhouse Tours, Face Painting, Sap Run, Carnival, Dinner Dance, Maple Supper, Grand Parade, Great Food – Maple Creemees, Maple Glazed Doughnuts, Maple Cotton Candy and more, AND City Hall and Taylor Park will come alive with special Quad experiences for children and adults.

Sugarmakers work hard during the six to eight weeks of the maple sugaring season.  At the end of April we celebrate the new crop!  It’s the Grand Finale of the Maple Season, and it’s time to party - have good maple fun with family, friends and guests.  An estimated 50,000 people visit during the three day Festival.  Then, just as in nature, the cycle begins again - we are all volunteers who make this event happen, so planning for next year’s Maple Festival starts as soon as this year’s is over!

(Please note:  the bold text is an expanded version, should you wish to consider a longer piece about the Maple Festival.  The contacts above can provide additional information, and Tif photos.)   

Thank you,

Betty Ann Lockhart