Maple Festival in Monterey

Every March the folks over in Highland County ready themselves for the thousands of tourists that invade their little town of Monterey for the annual Maple Festival. This year I was the lone member of our family to make the trek--and finally here's a post about this much anticipated excursion.

I love going to the Maple Festival! I love the drive over three mountains to get there. I love seeing sheep in the fields along the way and spotting a syrup bucket or two hanging on trees as I pass some of the Maple Tours.

Finding a parking spot is the only drawback. One tiny street is just not enough for the hundreds of cars that arrive for the pancakes and maple syrup that are in high demand. Cars are everywhere--pulled into little nooks and crannies wherever there's room. One of the vendors said that one year cars were backed up 5 miles waiting to get into town!

Two places I make sure I visit each year...the birdhouse man's booth and a local gardening shop, Morning Glories and Moonflowers. This year I needed a bird feeder and found just the perfect one. (Photo coming when it's installed.)  The garden flag shown above wasn't for sale in the shop, but you can find it here.

A new booth I hadn't seen before was one featuring walking sticks. After much walking around town, I was tempted!

I even love the little key rings you purchase for $2 for admittance to the craft booths in the local school. In the shape of a maple leaf, they are different colors each year. Oh, the many maple leaf key rings we have at our house! And what if I had missed this year? The color was PURPLE!

It was a great weekend to attend the Maple Festival--and I loved it!

~Deb

Previous Maple Festival posts:

Getting There was Half the Fun - March, 2008

Highland Maple Festival - March, 2006

The Miracle of Life - March, 2005

Comments

[Dorothy]

Okay, I want to try to go with you next year! I always love the post about this every year! :)

[Islandsparrow]

I would love to do that!

[Victoria]

What a quaint little town. Virginia is so pretty. You are very blessed to live there. I always enjoy your posts featuring your beautiful state. Thanks for sharing.

Victoria

[Nick Jesch]

Sounds like getting there is most of the problem. One time a bicycle would be downright handy. Cars backed up five miles? Just move right and keep going. Probably a LOT faster than waiting in line. Parking? No problem. Any tree or fence will do, or even just an open spot at the kerb. Probably want to take the car most of the way, though. Three mountain passes might make it an expedition to remember! (although what goes for "mountain passes" in Virginia are most likely minor hills to us out West....)