View source for Elmira Maple Syrup Festival

{{Short description|Annual festival held in Elmira, Ontario, Canada}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2018}}
[[File:Elmira Maple Syrup Festival (13643377123).jpg|thumb|right|Promotional sign for the 2014 Elmira Maple Syrup Festival]]
The '''Elmira Maple Syrup Festival''' is an annual festival held in [[Elmira, Ontario|Elmira]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]].
== History ==
The yearly festival began on April 10, 1965.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.therecord.com/events/8322147--elmira-maple-syrup-festival-2018/|title=Elmira Maple Syrup Festival 2018 on April 07,2018 {{!}} TheRecord.com|website=TheRecord.com|language=en-CA|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref> Organizers anticipated 2,500 attendees, but instead it drew a crowd of 10,000 visitors, thus ensuring its continuation. It continued to grow as an annual tradition in subsequent years, peaking in popularity with 66,529 visitors in 2000, making it the world's largest single day maple syrup festival according to the [[Guinness Book of World Records]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.canadacool.com/location/elmira-maple-syrup-festival/|title=Canada Cool I Elmira hosts the largest single day Maple Syrup Festival|work=Canada Cool|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-US}}</ref> Volunteers from the [[Canadian Automobile Association]] counted people entering Elmira by car that year. The festival regularly attracts visitors from around the world, including [[Australia]], [[Europe]], [[Mexico]], the [[United States]], and the rest of Canada.
Also in 2000, the Festival served its 500,000th pancake. [[Pancakes]], apple [[fritters]], homemade toffee (weather permitting), log sawing competitions, [[handicraft|arts and crafts]] (notably quilts made by local [[Mennonites]]),<ref name=":0" /> sugar bush tours by tractor wagon and other attractions are among the festivities. Large quantities of [[maple syrup]] is also sold. The town's main street, Arthur Street, is closed to automobile traffic for the day, where vendors set up booths to sell souvenirs and other items. It is organized by a board and run by approximately 2,000 volunteers each year.
== Charity ==
Since the very first edition, all proceeds from the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival were returned to the community, to both charitable and not-for-profit organizations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.canadianaffair.com/blog/maple-syrup-festivals-favourite-places-taste/|title=2017 maple syrup festivals & favourite places to taste it {{!}} Canadian Affair|date=2017-04-28|work=Canadian Affair|access-date=2018-11-19|language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2001, the Festival received the Outstanding Philanthropic Action award from the Foundation for Rural Living.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrxpropertygroup.com/the-elmira-maple-syrup-festival/|title=The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival - Information, History, Programming|website=www.wrxpropertygroup.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref> Traditionally, 40 percent of the profits are allocated annually to the Elmira District Community Living, a local charity that helps people with intellectual disabilities to participate in the community,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.elmiradcl.com/|title=Elmira District Community Living|website=www.elmiradcl.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref> with the remaining amounts shared among selected organizations.
== References ==
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==External links==
{{Commons category|Elmira Maple Syrup Festival}}
*{{Official website|http://www.elmiramaplesyrup.com/}}
{{coord|43.5958|N|80.5608|W|display=title}}
[[Category:Festivals in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo]]
[[Category:Woolwich, Ontario]]