The 2022 Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival will mark the event’s 25th year on April 2 and 3. The well-loved event attracts visitors from Toronto, Durham Region and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area – and even beyond! The festival offers a great opportunity to discover the many things that make Sunderland special, while celebrating the time-honoured Canadian tradition of making maple syrup.
Note that this year, the festival will take place mostly outdoors!
Our maple syrup farmers are proud to carry on producing the “liquid gold” that has been enjoyed since the 17th and 18th centuries. Back then, sap from maple trees was boiled down in iron and copper kettles. What a difference a century or two makes! Nowadays, modern processing makes the job much more efficient. You can find out just how much processing has changed by taking a tour of Harlaine Maple Products. Hop on a bus and travel to their sugar shack, where you will see a native and pioneer display, as well as the current production methods Paul Harder and his family use for their sweet creations.
Oh, and those buses can also take visitors on a historic tour. Bus tickets will be available at Sunderland Public School. The school is also a stop for the horse-and-wagon rides that are always such a hit with families. From the school, you can ride to the arena. Right next to the Arena, the Sunderland Historical Museum has their Historical Quiz available.
On Saturday, you can attend a Stoker Biomass Heating demonstration at Northern Metalworks, just up the road from the school. Did you know that the new furnaces allow the use of grains, corn, pellets and other wood products for heating? Find out how. Also on Saturday, the festival offers bathtub races and a pizza-eating contest!
On Sunday, the 4-H Ontario’s lawn tractor pull demonstration will take place as well as another pizza eating contest. If you have never seen one of these tractor pulls, you’re in for a real treat! On both Saturday and Sunday, the Legion will be the site of pancake breakfasts from morning to early afternoon.
And shoppers, take note! On both days, River Street will also be lined with vendors selling everything from syrup to toys, hand-crafted items, clothing and other great finds. Plus, Sunderland’s local shops are taking part in sponsoring many of the events.
So, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendar to bring the kids, the grandparents, and even the dog! The people of Sunderland are excited to greet you and create sweet new memories.
