Highland County Maple Festivasl (weekend 2)

The Highland County Maple Festival returns March 14 – 15 and 21 – 22, 2026

Mountain Momma Organics  will be setup in the Ruritan Building (old elementary school) in McDowell, right across from the fire department.  Come visit us, and arrive early so you can enjoy the buckwheat pancakes by the Ruritan Club, starting at 6;00 am.

Take a step back in time to Highland County, “Virginia’s Sweet Spot.” Travel scenic back roads and majestic mountain byways to the annual Highland County Maple Festival.  Since 1959, visitors have been drawn to Highland County to tour real maple sugar camps for a cultural and culinary adventure! In 1999, The Library of Congress designated the Highland County Maple Festival a “Local Legacy.” In 2014, the Governor of Virginia signed a bill into law designating the festival as the “official maple festival of Virginia.” Each year, tens of thousands of visitors explore this unspoiled, rural region of Virginia to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and observe the process of maple syrup-making. Sugar camp tours provide a unique and educational experience that portrays a rapidly vanishing way of American life. In 2026, there will be 10 open sugar camps with unique techniques and stories for you to explore for free. In addition to pancake and buckwheat cake meals, famous maple doughnuts and live entertainment, over 100 high-quality juried arts and crafts vendors take part in the festival each year. We’re glad to have you share the experience!

Hours: Saturdays 9 am – 5 pm and Sundays 9 am – 4 pm generally for the majority of the festival, including the Arts & Crafts/Food Vendors.  Get an early start, beginning at 6 am for Mill Gap Ruritan Club maple doughnuts or 7 am for all-you-can eat pancake and buckwheat cake meals at certain locations on Saturdays and Sundays (see “Food” section below for specifics).

Fees:  Almost everything at the county-wide festival has free entry!  There is a $5 admission charge for entrance to the arts & crafts in the school gyms and The Highland Center (Ages 9 and under are FREE)!  $5 gets you a collectible keychain that also allows entrance to daytime entertainment at The Highland Center in Monterey.  Keychains are available for purchase with cash at entry to school gyms and The Highland Center upper level.  CASH is highly recommended for many areas of the festival.  Mobile ATMs will be available at the Highland County Public Schools in Monterey and Stonewall Ruritan Building in McDowell courtesy the Blue Grass Valley Bank.  Other ATMs are available at businesses as designated on the map.

Weather: Regardless of snow or rain or cold temperatures, Highland County welcomes visitors to enjoy the festival!  March weather can be unpredictable, with snow on one day and sunshine the next.  Highland County’s mountain elevation means the temperature is often several degrees cooler than in the surrounding areas, so layers of warm clothing are recommended.  Much of the festival activities and sugar camp experiences are outdoors, so boots or comfortable shoes are highly recommended.

GPS Addresses: The festival is a COUNTY-WIDE event, with each rural town having something unique to explore.  Three main areas of interest are “165 W. Main Street, Monterey,” “161 Mansion House, McDowell,” and “2558 Blue Grass Valley Road, Blue Grass.”