Winnipeg 
The Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival will return to McCreary on April 25 and 26, marking its 14th annual edition.
McCreary’s Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival
The two day event centres on local maple syrup production while highlighting regional culture, heritage and the Parkland landscape. Activities are spread across multiple venues, including the McCreary Community Centre, Legion Hall, downtown locations and nearby rural sites such as the McCreary Golf and Country Club and local sugar bush operations.
A mix of demonstrations, workshops and entertainment is planned across both days. A pancake breakfast hosted by Marlins Baseball will run from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the McCreary Community Centre. The Burrows Trail Arts Council will host a farmers and makers market at the same venue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Between 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., shuttle buses will depart from the McCreary Golf and Country Club parking lot, connecting visitors to horse-drawn wagons that travel to Bob’s sugar bush. At the site, maple producer Bob Gass, along with Justin and Amanda, will lead walking tours explaining sap collection and syrup production. Bannock roasting at the sugar bush fire ring will also be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Children’s programming organized by Prairie Mountain Health and the Dead Ox Trailblazers will take place at the Community Centre grounds and includes face painting, scavenger hunts, sidewalk chalk, geocaching, physical literacy play and big games. A workshop and reading by author Edna Nabess will also take place on Saturday, focusing on her book The Woman in the Polka Dot Dress. Maple taffy on snow by Desrosiers “Yummy Stuff” will be available at Pharmacy Garden from 1 pm to 3 pm.
Live entertainment at the McCreary Community Centre will feature performances by Caleb Rudkewich, Chantale Crivea, Desiree Orvis and Jody Tucker, each presenting 45 minute sets. The program also includes a performance by The Bubbleman and a square dance presentation by United Thunder.
Sunday’s schedule includes a pancake breakfast and additional programming. A beading workshop led by Brenda Wilson will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will take place at the Legion Hall. Film screenings of a 1980 National Film Board documentary on traditional sugar-making practices will be shown at the Senior Drop-In Centre. Visitors can also attend a maple syrup production tour hosted by Bob Gass at his commercial evaporator site.
Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival
Additional events include horse-drawn carriage rides from the Community Centre to Drop in Centre or Legion Hall, a community dance featuring the Campbell Band at the McCreary Community Centre, and a maple dessert contest. Entries for the contest will be accepted in the morning, with awards scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Community Centre.
Festival admission passes are available for $25 per family and $5 for individuals. Some activities are included with admission, while others require small additional fees. The farmers and makers market, running Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is accessible either through a festival pass or a $3 entry.
The festival encourages environmentally responsible practices. Attendees are asked to bring reusable mugs or water bottles. Recycling options will be available on site.
McCreary, Manitoba, is just a short drive from Wasagaming through the scenic RMNP. Check out their program schedule to plan your visit!
Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival
What: McCreary’s Manitoba Maple Syrup Festival celebrates the local producers, the culture, the heritage and the land that dominates this region.
When: April 25 – 26, 2026
Where: Various Venues, McCreary, MB (~3 hours from Winnipeg)
How Much: $5 individual; Family pass: $25
