The Eastern Connecticut Maple Festival will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. outside E.O. Smith High School and will have over 120 vendors.
The festival will have a wide variety of maple-related foods and activities, according to event coordinator Diane Nadeau.
“We have been doing a festival like this for about 10 years and last year we moved to E.O. Smith High School because it was close to students, the campus and the downtown and we have a great working relationship with the town of Mansfield,” Nadeau said.
She said that the Maple Festival is one of the fall-style agricultural festivals that people look forward to.
“We are focusing on maple syrup- how to make it, the history of it and everything else that can be made with it,” Nadeau said. “We have over 120 different vendors. Some are artists and crafters and makers, but many will have food.”
Nadeau discussed the food options that will be available at the festival.
“So, there’s pretty much everything maple you can think of,” she said. “We have cotton candy, kettle corn, fudge, cupcakes, cookies, cakes, breads, cinnamon rolls, we have a donut person that makes maple glazed donuts with bacon on the top, there is maple bacon, there’s maple bacon cheeseburgers. All of our food vendors have at least one item that is maple.”
Nadeau said that there will be activities for young people and college students such as crafts and games.
The festival will also have vendors selling non-food items, such as T-shirts, tumblers, natural soaps, essential oils and cosmetics, according to Nadeau.
The UConn Woodsmen, which does axe-throwing competitions, will be doing demonstrations at the event, Nadeau said.
“This is really a community event that is meant to support and promote local businesses, organizations and students,” Nadeau said. “For students, there are so many organizations, clubs and such that are involved with both Eastern [Connecticut State University] and UConn. We are here to give them an avenue to raise funds for their club or some activity or mission that they have.”
Nadeau discussed the example of a 13-year-old who raised $1,500 selling baked goods, which he donated to buy dog food for the local shelter. She said that the festival does not charge fees for student groups.
About 1,800 people attended last year’s Maple Festival despite wind and freezing weather, according to Nadeau. She said that 3,000 to 4,000 people usually attend the event.
A different maple festival took place in Hebron, Conn., from March 15-16, which had maple treats, a tractor parade and live music, according to a city website.