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Get ready for a weekend of sweet treats, music, and history as the Sugaring Off Festival returns to St. Pierre-Jolys this weekend.
Festival preparations are going well, according to Rolly Gagne, President of the St. Pierre Museum, though there have been some challenges. One of the biggest hurdles has been the weather, which plays a crucial role in sap production.
"Mother Nature is being temperamental a bit,” Gagne says. “It's not unthawing, it's not unfreezing because we do need that thaw, we need that sun during the day, so it just warms up those tree canopies and creates that pressure to push the sugar water or the sap through.”
He says they were able to start the process two weeks ago but then it stopped.
“It started again just a couple of days ago, but now it's stopped now for another three days. So, by the weekend it should be running. It should be flowing by the weekend, we hope!”
Fortunately, even if the local sap flow is inconsistent, the festival has a long-standing supply partner in Quebec.
"We've got a 30-year relationship with Sugar Bush in Quebec," says Gagne. "That's right along the Saint Lawrence Seaway and he's got about 1000 acres that moves from the seaway to the mountains. "
While the maple syrup and taffy are major attractions, the festival also highlights culture and showcases the museum.
"Our small museum that we have here, it's all about making sure that our history continues and lives for those next generations that are coming up."
This year’s festival will feature historical displays and a special celebration of the Rat River Métis.
The event also includes traditional music, cultural performances, and plenty of family-friendly activities.
"We've got beautiful music, traditional music, we have traditional foods, then we have historical groups on site," Gagne shares.
Visitors can expect fiddlers, Métis dancers, and other performers throughout the weekend.
"It's Saturday and Sunday from 10 till 5 both days and we've got mostly everything happening in the hall. We were hoping that if the weather would have been warmer that we could have used our outdoor decks also. But we'll see what happens from here till Saturday or Sunday."
Food is another highlight, with a menu that showcases maple syrup in both sweet and savoury dishes.
"That's one thing that we're starting to do more now of now to give us that unique brand," says Gagne.
Attendees can look forward to crepes with ham and maple syrup, grilled maple chicken sandwiches, maple cinnamon buns, maple bread pudding, and more.
"This is what we do at the Festival du Voyageur, but the prices are so much cheaper here because we want to give back to the community. So, that’s why it’s affordable to come eat here as a family."
Of course, no Sugaring Off Festival would be complete without maple taffy on snow.
"We're ready to go on that part, that's for sure."
With plenty to see, do, and taste, it will be a fun-filled weekend for the whole family and Gagne says they couldn’t pull it off without help from the community.
"We want to thank all our volunteers and all our supporters, so, thank you so much!"
With files from Corny Rempel
