Thursday, March 5, 2020

Highland County Chamber of Commerce introducing Maple Syrup Trail


March is Maple Month. 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. In 2020, there will be a new sugar camp open, bringing the total to 9 open sugar camps with unique techniques and stories for you to explore. In addition to pancake dinners, doughnuts and entertainment, over 100 high-quality juried vendors take part in the festival each year. This year the 62nd Annual Highland Festival takes place on March 14-15 and March 21-22.

Normally the Maple Festival is the only time visitors get to come by the sugar camps to see how the syrup is made.
This year, though, the HIghland County Chamber of Comomerce is starting the Maple Syrup Trail, with ten sugar camps open all year for visitors to see how the trees do throughout the year and enjoy the scenery of Highland in other seasons. 
“Each one is unique. We go from modern to really traditional," said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chris Swecker. "There’s again farmers that have been doing this for generations to some first-generation producers. And there’ll actually be two sugar camps that aren’t normally open during the festival that you’ll be able to visit as well.” The trail comes with a passport, where visitors can get stamps from each camp and go into the chamber for prizes.
Bloody Mary Brunch
At any time during the year if you’re looking for a tasty Virginia food gift, visit TheVirginiaMarketplace.com to see our gift baskets and gift boxes that feature one of  Monterey, Virginia's sugar maple camps, Puffenbarger’s Sugar Orchard.