Community Blog

90th Annual Geauga County Maple Festival
​April 25-28 2019

    
**Schedule is Weather Permitting**
        Chardon Smile Center Stage
    
No Pets Allowed - Per City of Chardon Policy
        
WHEN    WHAT    WHERE
    4/25/2019        
    12:00 PM    Official Opening Of Concessions    Chardon Square
    4:00 PM    Rides Open    Chardon Square
    7:00 PM    Family Dog    Entertainment Stage
    10:00 PM    Festival Closed    
            
    4/26/2019        
    8:00 AM    Pancakes In The Park (closes at 2:00pm)    Pancake Tent on Chardon Square
    10:00 AM    Rides And Concessions Open    Chardon Square
    12:00 PM    Paul Kovac and Friends - Live Entertainment    Pancake Tent on Chardon Square
    7:00 PM    Ace Molar featuring Todd Meany    Entertainment Stage
    11:00 PM    Festival Closed    
            
    4/27/2019        
    8:00 AM    Pancakes In The Park (closes at 2:00pm)    Pancake Tent on Chardon Square
    10:00 AM    Rides And Concessions Open    Chardon Square
    10:00 AM    Arts & Crafts Show    Park Elementary School
    10:00 AM    Invitational Lumberjack Competition    North end of Chardon Square
    10:00 AM    Kiddie Tractor Pull (ages 5-11) Registration Opens Main Street
    11:00 AM    Kiddie Tractor Pull (ages 5-11)    Main Street
    11:00 AM    Jasmine Dragons - Live Entertainment    Main Street/Entertainment Stage
    12:00 PM    Pizza Eating Contest (ages 18+)    Entertainment Stage
    1:00 PM    Fandomadness Pop Culture Game Show    Entertainment Stage
    3:00 PM    Grand Parade - Sergeant Mike Shaw, Grand Marshal Chardon Square
    4:00 PM    Introduction of Queens & Dignitaries    Entertainment Stage
    5:00 PM    Pancake Eating Contest (ages 18+)    Entertainment Stage
    7:00 PM    Monica Robins and the Whiskey Kings    Entertainment Stage
    11:00 PM    Festival Closed    

    4/28/2019        
    8:00 AM    Pancakes In The Park (closes at 2:00pm)    Pancake Tent on Chardon Square
    8:00 AM    One Mile Sap Run    Chardon Square
    8:30 AM    Five Mile Sap Run    Chardon Square
    10:00 AM    Tug ‘O War    South end of Chardon Square
    10:30 AM    Sap Run Winners Announced    Entertainment Stage
    11:00 AM    Rides And Concessions Open    Chardon Square
    11:00 AM    Arts & Crafts Show    Park Elementary School
    11:00 AM    Bathtub Races    Main Street
    12:00 PM    Invitational Lumberjack Competition/Finals    North end of Chardon Square
    12:30 PM    Maple Syrup Auction    Entertainment Stage
    1:45 PM    Baking Contest Winners Announced    Entertainment Stage
    2:30 PM    Beard & Mustache Contest    Entertainment Stage
    3:00 PM    Grand Parade - Trent Magill, Grand Marshal    Chardon Square
    4:30 PM    Introduction Of Queens & Dignitaries    Entertainment Stage
    7:00 PM    Festival Ends, See You in 2020!


​The Geauga County Maple Festival was the idea of Art Carlson, a local merchant on Chardon square. Carlson wanted to increase awareness of maple syrup production as well as the price, which at that time, was sold for 50 cents a gallon. When Carlson told some friends about his idea they started planning the first Geauga County Maple Festival.
The Maple Festival was founded in 1926 in an attempt to market Ohio syrup in competition with Vermont syrup. The Geauga County News announced that Chardon was "Going to treat the general public to a good old fashioned maple sugar eat." The Even featured free dishes of maple syrup, a sugar camp, tapped trees, and ox team gathering sap, and a maple products display.
    
Festival Planners expected 5,000 vistors and worried over the April ice storm. Over 15,000 people attended, and now the festival is an annual tradition.
​
The Geauga County Maple Festival hosts the largest maple contest in the state of Ohio