The overwhelming scent of pancake batter that swept Elmira last Saturday could only mean one thing: the return of the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival for its 49th annual installment. Over the decades, the springtime celebration of all things sweet, sticky, and sugary has come to define Elmira to the country at large, and according to festival chair Ken Jessop, this year’s gathering saw the festival reach new heights.
“We’re pretty pleased as a committee,” said Jessop, who estimates 75,000 visitors went through 15,000 pancakes. No official word on how much syrup was consumed at the always-crowded pancake tent, but it’s safe to say there was enough to fill a pool or two.
As usual, the festival was about more than just syrup, with such attractions as the toy show and sale, Old MacDonald’s farm, log sawing, the antique and craft shows, and the Birds of Prey from the Canadian Raptor Conservatory drawing crowds throughout the day. Serious sugar connoisseurs were treated to toffee-making demonstrations and a sugarbush tour, while energetic participants competed in a pancake flipping contest.
With the festival’s fiftieth anniversary in sight, Jessop and the festival committee oversaw continued changes and improvements, including a more streamlined process to help manage the estimated 2,000 volunteers.
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“This year we had a volunteer coordinator, so she had around 400 volunteers that she scheduled,” said Jessop.
In addition, the festival finally unveiled its pancake mascot, and announced the winner in the contest to determine its name: Flap Jack. Which raises a burning question: since Flap Jack, in his current form, has succulent red lips and prominent eyelashes, should he actually be Flap Jane?
“Well, it’s debatable,” laughed Jessop. “It’s a pancake.”
Flap Jack will take centre stage next year, when the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival will celebrate 50 years. “We’re building on some of the events you saw this year – the entertainment, the family area,” said Jessop. “We have a fiftieth sub-committee put together, and we’re throwing ideas around.”
How soon do Jessop and company have to begin preparing for 2014’s outing? “We’re actually meeting tomorrow, and we’re starting just to review the festival,” he said. “We’ll likely take a bit of a break, then we’ll be at it again end of August.”
No rest for the weary at the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival – but that’s OK when the results are as strong as they’ve been.
“We just want to thank the community, the people who come back year after year,” said Jessop.
He added, “And the entire town of Elmira, who put up with 75,000 people that came into town. It is disruptive, but we’re pretty happy that the community embraces the festival.”
