Keeping with tradition, Powassan and area dignitaries were piped down Powassan’s Main Street Saturday morning by Legion band members, to kick off this year's Maple Syrup Festival.
The pancake toss, which officially opens the one-day event, is always a crowd pleaser.
This year mayors representing North Bay, Callander, Nipissing, Chisholm, and of course Powassan, were joined by Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli and Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota, who all good-naturedly demonstrated their pancake tossing prowess.
Each guest had three chances to “flip” their pancakes into a wooden basket placed a safe distance away from the contestants.
The pressure was on for MP Rota and Callander Mayor Robb Noon who needed a “pancake flip off” to break their tie, with Rota declared this year’s champion.
The festival was well attended with neighbours catching up on local news, as they slowly walked up and down the main street, stopping to make purchases from the vendors who lined the street.
Additional vendors could be found inside 250 Clark.
The day began with pancake breakfasts hosted by local groups.
The festival provided a wide variety of maple products, live music, buskers, a lumberjack competition, pony rides, and a petting zoo, to kept people entertained throughout the day.
Shuttle buses brought people to Matthew’s Maple Sugar Bush to get a tour of the maple syrup production facility.
The OPP, EMS, Municipal Fire Department, Crime Stoppers, along with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry kept the children busy and were available to answer questions about their line of work.
Powassan mayor Peter McIsaac sees the festival as a welcome transition out of the long winter months.
“I think our Maple Syrup Festival is a kickoff to spring, after a long winter. It is a family event; everyone is welcome and it means that spring is here. It is great to see everyone out and it is sap season,” shared McIsaac.
”We’ve seen thousands of people come from out of town. They come to Powassan every year, it is like a religious pilgrimage to come for the maple syrup and we love it and we’re thankful that they do come.”
Taking the lost years due to COVID out of the equation, Deputy Clerk Kimberly Bester believes this to be roughly the 23rd year of the festival.
“I think what makes it a success is that it is the first festival in the area, it is a huge festival in the spring. People come out of hibernation. We have been doing it for so many years, it is very well known. We have people coming from Sudbury, Huntsville, and all over. We have something to offer pretty much every demographic. We have probably about 150 vendors.”
Festival co-chair Leo Patey has watched the festival grow in the 10 years since he first came to town.
“We try to keep some of the things people expect, like the lumberjack show. We also want to bring in new things, so we have Science North’s Natural Curiosity Exhibit this year. We have a new mascot “Maple the Moose” which is going to be a big hit,” shared Patey.
“It has been a great turnout for the town, and I hope it shows we can prosper and do good things.”
Jessica Fournier and her husband felt it important to make memories with their five small children.
“I used to come as a kid, but this is our first time with all of our young people,” grinned Fournier.
“I think this is wonderful, we’re very excited to see all the things that it offers. They got to go on the pony rides which were so much fun, and there is the petty zoo. It is really great. We love taking part in our community and it is important for us to keep up that tradition.”
The forecast during the week leading up to the festival called for rain.
It was evident that people got to the festival early to stay ahead of the precipitation.
In true northern fashion, they dressed for the occasion, grabbed an umbrella, and carried on.
