SpringsValley.com News and information for Springs Valley, French Lick, West Baden, Patoka Lake and all Southern Indiana Recreation - 2010 National Maple Syrup Festival Announced

SpringsValley.com News
Lexington, KY USA
By Megan Adams, SpringsValley.com News Staff
Source: NationalMapleSyrupFestival.com

SOUTHERN INDIANA - "For the second straight year, the NATIONAL MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL will mark the start of spring with sweet syrup, good music, historical reenactments, celebrity guests and much more. This national event takes place in MEDORA, IND. on MARCH 6-7 and MARCH 13-14. All net proceeds from the event will benefit the Heads Up!!! Foundation, which will use the money for the Riley Hospital for Children’s “Camp About Face” at Bradford Woods, a summer camp for youths with craniofacial anomalies.

This family-friendly festival involves the entire community and attracts visitors from around the country. Staging for the festival takes place at Medora Community School. From there, visitors will embark on an entertaining and historical journey to Burton’s Maplewood Farm. They will not only learn about maple syrup, but also about some of Southern Indiana’s most famous and infamous characters and landmarks. Along with seeing how maple syrup is made, visitors can taste the goodies at Pat’s Snack Shack, visit the Mellencamp Maple House, tap their toes to the bellowing sounds of live blue grass music, meet friendly animals at Old McMaple’s Petting Zoo, and visit the largest historically accurate Native American sugar camp reenactment in the country.

Other festival highlights include:

A Corn Toss Tournament, Sponsored by the Medora High School Athletic Dept.
A 5k Walk/Run organized by the Medora High School Cross Country Team.
A 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament ran by Medora High School Basketball Team.
The King Arthur Flour “Sweet Victory Challenge” baking and cooking competition with professional and celebrity judges. www.SweetVictoryChallenge.com
Special Celebrity Guests: Amy Roloff, the mom from the TLC show “Little People, Big World” (Mar. 13-14)

Tickets are available at the event and cost $6 for youth (ages 5 to 15 years old), $10 for adults and free for children 4 years old and under. Anyone who brings a canned good item will receive a $2 discount off the ticket price. The canned goods will be donated to over seven food pantries serving over 7 Indiana counties.