Ottawa 
Head to downtown Perth for a sweet and exciting time at the Festival of the Maples this weekend.
Festival of Maples
This year’s free admission festival on April 25th in Perth promises to be filled with tasty treats, cool cars, and fun activities for all ages.
This festive day will showcase the richness of the ‘Sugar Season,’ featuring local maple syrup producers alongside artisans, vendors, and food services.
This year, the festival celebrates its 50th anniversary, and there will be a 3 shows of kumberjacks competition at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m at Market Square Street between Town Hall & TD Bank.
Maplefest stretches across the day with music, hands-on competitions, and activities spread throughout the town. The morning opens with Lanark County Revival, followed by opening ceremonies and maple syrup awards recognizing local and 4H producers. Live sets continue with RedFox’s indie folk sound and The Receivers’ mix of Irish and bluegrass.
You can also witness teams of two face off in sap-tapping and crosscut-sawing challenges at 1:30 p.m. With supplied tools and timed rounds, competitors race for the fastest finish, bringing grit, teamwork, and a touch of lumberjack flair.
SoulFire later brings a lively blend of rock and soul to close the main stage. A second stage features local acts, from solo performers to bluegrass and cover bands.
For kids, there’s plenty to explore. The Play Park at the Tay Basin includes inflatable amusements, games, a rock wall, and a petting zoo. Safety Square, hosted by the Perth Fire Department, brings fire trucks and kid-friendly challenges like the Fire Obstacle Races.
Over at Crystal Palace, families can take a breather with indoor activities organized by local youth groups and enjoy face painting sessions by Korny Klowns.
Car enthusiasts will want to check out the Antique and Classic Car Show on Herriott Street, where vehicles ranging from Model Ts to muscle cars will be on display.
One of the day’s highlights is the Maplefest “Wood Cookie” Challenge, where teams compete in traditional sap-tapping and sawing contests, no modern tools allowed.
Don’t worry about parking, you can park for free at the Perth Campus of Algonquin College and take the shuttle to the festival.
Trip Planning — Festival of Maples
When: Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Downtown Perth — Gore Street, Foster Street and the Tay Basin. Entrance to the Festival is on Drummond, Wilson and Craig St., Perth
FREE parking and shuttle at Algonquin College to Gore St.
How Much: Free Admission
