The end of winter and the transition into spring is signaled by many things beyond warmer, longer and brighter days. Robins return, high school and college basketball tourneys tip off. In rural Indiana, this time of year is heralded by the tapping of maple sugar trees and the shearing of sheep. And while festivals don’t reach full swing till May, here’s information on two events this month dedicated to these two traditional rural activities.
Medora hosts National Maple Syrup Festival
Maple Syrup Season is truly one of the first signs of spring, as temperatures warm and sap starts flowing through maple trees. What better way to celebrate the coming of spring than to attend the first and only National Maple Syrup Festival in America?
The second annual festival is March 7-8 and 14-15 at Burton’s Maplewood Farm, nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Indiana near Medora. The farm is served electrically by Jackson County REMC.
Sap collection is Indiana’s oldest agricultural venture, dating back to its discovery by Native Americans. That heritage makes sap and the maple syrup it yields more than just a tasty treat. Maple syrup is part of Indiana’s historical fabric and the festival celebrates that fact.
The variety of events and activities include live music, demonstrations, and, of course, 100 percent pure maple syrup. Maple syrup from each and every maple syrup-producing state in America will be on tap.
Also, this year’s festival features a special guest appearance by the newly-crowned Miss America, Katie Stam. The former Miss Indiana is a Jackson County resident whose home is served electrically by Jackson County REMC. She will be at the festival March 7 from 9-10:30 am.
Through the efforts of the Heads Up!!! Foundation, the festival supports Riley Hospital for Children’s “Camp About Face.” The camp allows youth dealing with craniofacial anomalies to experience activities like swimming, nature projects and campouts. The Medora-based foundation supports children with anomalies such as cleft lip and palate.
For hours, directions, and admission charge, check out the festival's Web site at: www.nationalmaplesyrupfestival.com.If you like maple syrup, be sure to check out two other maple syrup events around Indiana this month in Hoosier Happenings.Jay County fest celebrates all things fiber
Don’t put your winter woollies out of your mind just yet. The sixth annual Fiber Fest & Spin-In celebrates all things woolen and woven from not just sheared sheep but a large variety of other animals, too. This year’s dates are March 12-14.
The three-day event at the Jay County Fairgrounds, located in Portland, is devoted to the fiber arts and will include classes, entertainment and demonstrations.
Fiber arts, like maple syrup, are a long-standing part of American traditions. The Fiber Fest & Spin-In will feature fiber artists of all descriptions. There will be vendors of all kinds of fibers, from the common to the exotic, including wool, mohair, angora, flax, alpaca, cotton, silk and even buffalo.
Other related items will be for sale, including sweater yarn, homemade soap, and equipment for all fiber crafting needs. Visitors can bring raw wool or other fibers to be washed and processed by the Wooly Knob Fiber Mill, and learn about different kinds of fibers. This is an opportunity to observe fiber artists in a relaxed atmosphere.
In addition, the Fiber Fest features a strong element of supporting other local organizations. There will be a chili supper and ceramic bowl fundraiser for the Helping Hands Food Bank and fiber artists will be knitting “chemo caps” for people who have lost their hair through chemotherapy.
Events include:
• March12 — Classes, by pre-registration, 6-9 pm.
• March 13 — “Educational Day,” 9 am-2 pm, admission $1; Classes, by pre-registration, 9 am-9 pm; Benefit Chili Supper, 4-8 pm.
• March 14 — Open to public, 9 am-4 pm, free admission.
For more information or to register for the free classes, please contact Gyneth Augsburger or Jennifer Nixon at the Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, 260-726-3366, or toll-free at 877-726-4481.
You can also log on to www.visitjaycounty.com, or email info@visitjaycounty.com.