Parke County Maple Syrup Festival -- Weekend 1 February 26, 2010

The folks of Parke County Incorporated, who bring you the Covered Bridge Festival, have another treat in store for you. At winter’s end, Parke County’s Maple Syrup Producers begin tapping the maple trees that provide sugar water for making maple syrup. Join in on the two weekends of fun at the Parke County Maple Fair, Feb 27 & 28, March 6 & 7. Travel country roads with world famous covered bridges and tour maple syrup camps throughout the county. See how maple syrup is made down at the "sugar camp" and sample its wonderful flavor.

The festival headquarters is located one mile north of Rockville, Indiana on Highway 41 at the county 4-H Fairgrounds. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Maps and information will be provided for all the places you’ll want to visit in Parke County. Everyone from 4-H Junior Leaders to Senior Citizens get in on the act when its pancake flippin’ time, pancakes are served all day with whole hog sausage and golden maple syrup.

At the headquarters, maple syrup displays offer products such as pure maple syrup, maple sugar candy and maple syrup cookies. In addition to maple syrup products, you will find the works of Parke County artisans, handmade crafts, home baked goodies, and jams and jellies. An annual highlight of the Maple Syrup Festival is the Covered Bridge Art Association art display. Local artists will demonstrate their talents and have works of art for sale.

The Butcher Shop offers smoked ham, bacon, country pork sausage and cheese so that you can take home some of that great country flavor. Parke County Collectibles is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There you can shop for handmade and homegrown products, including hand made dolls and appliquéd clothing to woodcrafts and oil paintings.

Visitors tour maple sugar camps of Foxworthy, Williams & Teague, Smiley’s Camp, Sweetwater Farms, and Baird’s Sugar Shack, where sixty gallons of sugar water are reduced to make one gallon of golden maple syrup. A map and information may be picked up at the headquarters that will lead you to the camps in Parke County.

Tour all of Parke County’s Maple Syrup Camps by taking a map and striking out on your own. Rockville’s Historic Town Square welcomes you to browse in shops, antique malls and the Covered Bridge Art Gallery.

At the old opera house, now the Ritz Theatre, the Parke Players will offer a play on Feb 26 & 27: Mar 5 & 6 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6.00 and can be purchased at the Headquarters or at the door.

Plan on spending more than just a day to enjoy maple syrup making, those world famous Covered Bridges and the scenic beauty of Parke County, from the frosty mornings to the crispy clear winter nights - there are lots of things to see and do.

Official Website: http://www.parkecounty.com/events/annualEvents.asp?id=2