Maple Festival (Highland County, Virginia)

The Highland County Maple Festival returns March 12 – 13 and 19 – 20, 2022

Mountain Momma Organics  will be setup in the Ruritan Building (old elementary school) in McDowell, right across from the fire department.  Come visit us, and arrive early so you can enjoy the buckwheat pancakes by the Ruritan Club, starting at 6;00 am.

Take a step back in time to Highland County, “Virginia’s Sweet Spot.” Travel scenic back roads and majestic mountain byways to the annual Highland County Maple Festival.  Since 1959, visitors have been drawn to Highland County to tour real maple sugar camps for a cultural and culinary adventure! In 1999, The Library of Congress designated The Highland County Maple Festival a “Local Legacy.” In 2014, the Governor of Virginia signed a bill into law designating the festival as the “official maple festival of Virginia.” Each year, tens of thousands of visitors are drawn to this unspoiled, rural region of Virginia to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and observe the process of maple syrup-making. Sugar camp tours provide a unique and educational experience that portrays a rapidly vanishing way of American life. In 2022, there will be 10 open sugar camps with unique techniques and stories for you to explore for free. In addition to pancake and buckwheat cake meals, famous Maple Doughnuts and live entertainment, over 100 high-quality juried arts and crafts vendors take part in the festival each year. We’re glad to have you share the experience!

Hours: Saturdays 9 am – 5 pm and Sundays 9 am – 4 pm for the majority of the festival, including the Arts & Crafts/Food Vendors.  Get an early start, beginning at 7:00 am for all-you-can eat pancake and buckwheat cake meals at certain areas on Saturdays and Sundays, or stay later on Saturdays for a 7:00 pm show!  The Buckwheat Pancakes start flipping at 6:00 am at the Ruritan Building in McDowell. It’s also where Mountain Momma Organics is located!!

GPS Addresses: The festival is a COUNTY-WIDE event, with each rural town having something unique to explore.  Three main areas of interest are “165 W. Main Street, Monterey,” “161 Mansion House, McDowell,” and “2558 Blue Grass Valley Road, Blue Grass.”