ROCKVILLE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– One of Parke County’s signature events brought hundreds of people to Rockville on Saturday to celebrate all things maple.
The Parke County Maple Fair kicked off their second weekend all around the area. The county fairgrounds hosted a pancake and sausage breakfast, while maple producers throughout Parke County also invited people for a tour of the syrup-making process. Valerie Barnett, one of the directors for the event, said she views the fair as a sign that winter is coming to an end.
“I look forward to all the people coming and visiting, and like I said, it’s the end of winter, everybody’s getting out and enjoying themselves,” she said. “There’s still a little bit of snow here and there sometimes, so it’s just a really good time to get out with other people and have a lot of fun.”
The event has a rich history– going back over 50 years, according to Barnett.
“Many years ago, back in the 1960’s, the Parke County maple producers got together and they formed the Maple Fair with Parke County Incorporated, who does the Covered Bridge Festival,” she said. “They got together and they started the Maple Fair, and ever since then, it’s been run by volunteers.”
Those volunteers helped cook the breakfast and set up dozens of vendors who were on hand for the event. Barnett said, compared to the week-long Covered Bridge Festival, this one was much more focused on celebrating the community.
“We have a lot of local organizations that come out and they help with wiping down the trays and serving the drinks. It’s just a lot of community building,” she said. “There’s so many unique and interesting arts and crafts here. Local artisans, local food. It’s just nice to support everyone and see what everyone has to offer.”
Sunday will be the final day for the fair.
