The Chardon Maple Festival is an annual event held in Chardon, Ohio that celebrates the beginning of maple sugaring season. The festival features delicious maple syrup treats, live music and entertainment, demonstrations of the maple sugaring process, and family-friendly activities. The Chardon Maple Festival has become a beloved tradition for both residents of Geauga County and visitors from across Ohio and beyond.
What is Maple Sugaring?
Maple sugaring refers to the process of extracting sap from sugar maple trees and boiling it down to produce maple syrup. It is a traditional practice in northeastern North America that typically takes place in late winter and early spring when temperatures cause sap to start flowing in maple trees. The sap is collected through a tap and spout system inserted into the trees. It takes approximately 40 gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of maple syrup. The sap is boiled down to evaporate the water content, leaving behind the sweet, viscous maple syrup.
When and Where Does the Festival Take Place?
The Chardon Maple Festival takes place annually on the first two weekends in March in downtown Chardon, Ohio. In 2023, the festival will occur on March 4-5 and March 11-12. The main festival area stretches along Main Street, which is lined with craft vendors, food vendors, demonstrations, and live music stages during the event. Nearby Maple Highlands Park also hosts family activities like wagon rides, pancake breakfasts, and maple sugaring demonstrations.
History of the Festival
The Chardon Maple Festival has been an annual tradition for over 50 years. It was started in 1963 by Dr. James H. Snyder and his wife Phyllis as a fundraiser for the Geauga County Historical Society. The first festival was a one-day event held on the square in downtown Chardon with just a few hundred people in attendance. It grew steadily over the years, eventually expanding to fill Main Street and span two weekends. Today the Chardon Maple Festival attracts over 60,000 visitors each year.
Growth of the Festival
Some key milestones in the growth and expansion of the Chardon Maple Festival:
- 1970s – Attendance grows to a few thousand as more maple vendors and activities are added.
- 1980s – Festival expands to two days over one weekend.
- 1990s – Festival moves from the square to several blocks of Main Street to accommodate growth.
- Early 2000s – Festival extends to two full weekends to handle 60,000+ visitors.
- 2010s – More family activities and maple education programs added.
Festival Highlights and Activities
The Chardon Maple Festival has something fun for visitors of all ages. Here are some of the highlights and activities you can enjoy during the festival:
Maple Sugaring Demonstrations
Watch how maple syrup is made firsthand through demonstrations of traditional sugaring methods. See how taps and buckets collect sap from trees and view the boiling process that turns sap into sweet maple syrup.
Maple Treats
Indulge your sweet tooth with maple cotton candy, maple cream, maple taffy on snow, maple popcorn, maple doughnuts, maple BBQ, maple peanut brittle, and much more! Vendors offer just about any treat imaginable made with 100% pure Ohio maple syrup.
Pancake Breakfasts
Start your day off right with a pancake breakfast featuring fresh pancakes drowned in real maple syrup. Breakfasts are hosted by community organizations and served up piping hot.
Arts & Crafts
Browse over 300 crafters, artisans, and specialty food vendors lining Main Street. Find unique homemade items like jewelry, wreaths, candles, quilts, birdhouses, and more.
Live Music & Entertainment
Enjoy nonstop live music across multiple stages. Talented local bands provide a soundtrack to the festival ranging from jazz and blues to folk and country. Other entertainment includes wagon rides, chainsaw carving demos, magicians, jugglers, storytelling, and more.
Maple Syrup Judging
Watch expert judges select winners out of over 100 entries in the maple syrup judging contest. Syrup is judged on criteria like clarity, consistency, density, flavor, and color.
Maple Sugaring Education
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, boil sap into syrup, and make delicious maple confections through educational classes and workshops.
Kid’s Activities
Kids can enjoy wagon rides, maple candy making, crafts, games, inflatables, face painting, puppet shows, magic shows, and more! Special kids’ activities are offered in the park near Main Street.
Visiting the Festival
Hours
Festival hours are typically from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and 11 am to 4 pm on Sundays over the two weekends. Some activities may have varying hours.
Parking
Free parking is available in designated lots around downtown Chardon. Shuttle buses also run regularly from satellite parking areas during festival weekends.
Food & Drinks
Dozens of food vendors line Main Street offering everything from maple treats to pizza, elephant ears, gyro sandwiches, BBQ, Indian and Thai food, kettle corn, and more. Non-alcoholic beverages are available, but visitors cannot bring or consume alcohol at the festival.
Shopping
In addition to maple syrup and maple treats, the festival offers a huge selection of craft vendors selling homemade soaps, jewelry, decorative signs, garden ornaments, paintings, quilts, knitted goods, and more. Plenty of booths also sell maple-themed souvenirs and apparel.
Costs
Admission to the Chardon Maple Festival is free. Pricing for food, drinks, shopping, rides, and activities varies by vendor. Discounted pre-sale food tickets are available online.
Accessibility
The festival makes accommodations for individuals with disabilities including designated handicap parking, shuttle transport, and wheelchair/scooter accessibility along Main Street and in the park.
Plan Your Visit
The Chardon Maple Festival is a must-do early spring tradition in Ohio. With mouthwatering maple eats, lively entertainment, family fun, and a charming small-town atmosphere, it’s easy to see why visitors return year after year. Plan your visit to experience this one-of-a-kind festival!
Some tips to help you make the most of your time:
- Come hungry – Pace yourself and graze on tasty maple treats all day long.
- Get there early – Main Street fills up fast on weekends.
- Bring cash – Some vendors are cash only.
- Dress warmly – March weather in Ohio can be unpredictable.
- Wear comfy shoes – You’ll be on your feet exploring all day.
- Visit the park – Great spot for kids’ activities and demonstrations.
- Talk to vendors – Learn the story behind their unique products.
- Browse the shops – Chardon’s storefronts extend the festival atmosphere.
- Save time for music – Check the schedule and catch a few shows.
- Do the shuttle – Avoid parking hassles by taking the shuttle bus.
Impact on the Local Community
The Chardon Maple Festival brings significant benefits to the local economy and community. Here are some of the positive impacts:
- Generates over $5 million in revenue for Geauga County businesses and vendors annually.
- Provides exposure and sales for over 300 artisans, craft makers, specialty food producers, and local musicians.
- Boosts traffic and sales for Chardon shops, restaurants, and hotels during the festival weekends.
- Promotes Geauga County’s agricultural heritage and the local maple syrup industry.
- Educates attendees on the maple sugaring process and sustainable agriculture.
- Showcases Chardon’s charming historic downtown and small businesses.
- Creates part time jobs for locals who work at the festival.
- Attracts visitors from across Ohio and neighboring states who bring new dollars to the economy.
- Generates proceeds supporting Geauga County nonprofits and heritage organizations.
How to Get Involved
The Chardon Maple Festival relies on hundreds of volunteers to make the event a success each year. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Set up/Tear Down – Assist with setting up vendor booths, tents, tables, chairs, staging, signage etc. before and after the festival weekends.
- Shuttle Drivers – Drive shuttle buses from satellite parking lots to transport attendees during festival hours.
- Information Booths – Provide information and assistance to visitors at festival info booths.
- Ticket Sales – Sell pre-sale food and beverage tickets at ticket booth locations.
- Parking/Traffic Control – Help direct vehicles in parking lots and monitor road closures.
- Kids Activities – Manage children’s crafts, games, rides, and other activities.
- Pancake Breakfasts – Help with pancake breakfast food prep, serving, and clean up.
Volunteers receive a commemorative t-shirt and the chance to be part of this cherished community tradition. Learn more about volunteering on the Chardon Maple Festival website.
Conclusion
The Chardon Maple Festival is an iconic rite of spring that celebrates Ohio’s sweet maple sugaring heritage. For over 50 years, this wholesome community event has offered family-friendly entertainment, delicious maple treats, arts and crafts, and education on the maple sugaring process. Visitors from near and far flock to Chardon each March to enjoy live music, activities, shopping, and demonstrations at Ohio’s premier maple festival. By showcasing Geauga County’s local producers, agriculture, and small businesses, the festival provides a major boost to the regional economy. If you’re looking for an authentic taste of a maple sugaring tradition paired with small town charm, make plans to attend the Chardon Maple Festival this spring!