Kitchener 
Step into spring with the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, which has been attracting visitors from all over the province since 1956. Indulge in mouth-watering demonstrations, tons of fun activities, and delicious pancakes served with sweet maple syrup.
Credit: Elmira Maple Syrup Festival
The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is one of the most highly anticipated annual events in the Township of Woolwich.
Like last year, attendees can expect to enjoy a range of exciting activities, including demonstrations, live music, and a variety of family-fun events.
Elmira Maple Syrup Festival holds the title of the World’s Largest Single Day Maple Syrup Festival in the Guinness Book of World Records. The festival was attended by 66,529 people in 2000 and continues to attract massive crowds.
Here are few of the highlights of the festival:
- Visitors can indulge in pancakes and sausages topped with the famous maple syrup or try other types of food made with maple syrup. Fresh pancakes and sausages will be served at Lions Hall starting on April 11 at 7 a.m. ( $5/single pancake, $2/sausage patty, $2/drink).
- The Outdoor Vendor Mall is another popular attraction, featuring over 100 vendors with unique gifts, decor items, and special treats. Visitors are encouraged to bring their appetite, as there are multiple vendors to choose from with traditional fare as well as unique tastes.
- For the younger crowd, the festival offers a range of family-friendly events at the Family Fun Area located in the parking lots behind the Shell gas station and behind Kitchen Kuttings Café in the Buggy Barn. Open from 9 am – 3 pm on Saturday, the area will feature a Farm Discovery Zone, which showcases a variety of agricultural-related attractions and samples of delicious all-Ontario food, and Kiddies Fun Trak with inflatables, a rock climbing wall, and thrilling rides. Rides and activities range from $5–$10.
- Visitors can even take a bus ride to a local sugar bush to learn about the production process of real maple syrup, a truly Canadian experience. At the farm, you will learn how maple trees are tapped to collect sap. The sap is then boiled to make delicious maple syrup. Tours run 9 am – 3 pm, and the costs are affordable, with tickets available for $6 for adults and $4 for kids aged 3-17, and free entry for children under two.
- The festival also features a range of crafts, collectibles, beautiful hand-made Mennonite quilts and more! Attendees can shop at the Toy Show and Sale, featuring around 40 vendors focused on toys and related collections, or the Craft and Collectibles Show, featuring modern crafts and historical collections.
- Gore Park and Woolwich Memorial Complex will come alive with the tunes of local bands.
- The Woolwich Memorial Complex will host diverse food trucks. You can also test your skills at the Pancake Flipping Contest.
Getting to the festival is also easy with a heritage train ride provided by Waterloo Central Railway. The railway offers several Northbound and Southbound departures and returns, ensuring attendees can arrive and depart comfortably and conveniently. (All Ages: $11.49; Family of 4: $32.09)
Trip Planning – Elmira Maple Syrup Festival 2026
What: With delicious food, family-friendly events, sugar bush tours, and a range of crafts and collectibles on offer, attendees are sure to have a memorable time. The festival is an opportunity to tap into spring, enjoy the beautiful weather, and learn about the production process of real maple syrup.
When:
Saturday, April 11, 2026 | 07:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Craft and Collectible Show:
- Saturday | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Sugar Bush Tours: Saturday | 9 am – 3 pm.
Waterloo Central Railway From St. Jacobs to Elmira.
Northbound Northfield ION: 6:00am, 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm
Northbound Market: 6:10 am, 8:10 am, 10:10 am, 12:10 pm
Arrive Elmira: 6:50 am, 8:50 am, 10:50 am, 12:50 pm
Southbound Elmira: 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, 4:00 pm
Where: 24 Church Street West, Elmira
Maple Tours: Ticket booths are near the corner of Snyder Street/Brubacher Street.
How Much: Free admission; activities vary.
Pancakes $5 each, Sausage $2 each, Beverages $2 each
Craft Market/Toy Show and Sale: $5.00/adult, 12 and under are free (with adult)
Maple Tour: $6 adults (18+), $4 kids (3-17)
