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Join Us for Sweet Fun at the

54th Annual
Maple Syrup Festival

For centuries people have tapped maple trees for their sap.

Today, Cunningham Falls State Park is on the southern edge of a vast maple syrup production area that ranges from Maritime Canada to Missouri. Enjoy learning about the historic process and tasting the modern product at the Maple Syrup Festival. 

March 8-9 and 15-16, 2025 

Celebrate the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park! Guests can watch staff demonstrate the traditional way of boiling sap into syrup, listen to live bluegrass music, and take a hayride through the Maple Grove. Try your hand in the great pancake race – trying to flip a pancake on the run ahead of other contestants – or enjoy a hot pancake breakfast with sausage and maple syrup.

Events take place each day of the event from 10AM to 2PM. A sign language interpreter will be stationed at the Sugar Shack on both Sundays. Syrup-making demonstrations and hayrides take place every hour on the hour.   Suggested donation at entrance is $5.00 per person.  Breakfast, maple syrup products, and event souvenirs are available during the festival hours at extra cost.

Proceeds from the Maple Syrup Festival benefit the nonprofit Friends of Cunningham Falls and Gambrill State Parks. The park opens at 9 a.m. and closes at sunset. Pets are permitted on a leash, outside only. This event is ADA accessible. Visitors may call 301-271-7574 for more information.

 We look forward to seeing you there! 

meet our sponsors

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Festival Activities

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Live Broadcast from WFRE/WFMD

Fredericks largest radio station:  A DJ will be on site at the Maple Syrup Festival from 10am-12noon on Saturday, 3/8/25 broadcasting your favorite music live from the festival.  Come by and visit them under the heated tent. 

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Live ‘Sap to Syrup’ Boiling Demonstrations

Conducted  outdoors at the Sugar Shack:  every hour on the hour, Park Rangers will speak about the entire process from tapping a maple tree, collecting the sap, and boiling the sap to make Maryland Maple Syrup.  You will see the actual caldron with sap boiling over the fire outside!

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Delicious Pancake Breakfast:

Enjoy hot flapjacks fresh off the griddle will be served with local sausage and Maryland Maple Syrup.

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Live Local

Bluegrass Bands

Bluegrass music will be performed by local musicians each Sunday from 10am-2pm

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Hayrides to

Maple Grove

Take a ride to see the Maple Grove all around North Beach, alongside Big Hunting Creek Lake.

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Maryland Maple Syrup Vendor

Visit the vendor to purchase delicious Maple Syrup, candies  and other products made from the syrup. 

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Smokey Bear will be at the Festival!

Smokey Bear will be at the Festival!  Educational materials will be available regarding wildfire prevention.  Everyone adores seeing Smokey Bear!

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Frederick County Library 

Frederick County Library representatives will be on hand to issue free library cards.

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Hike to

the Falls

Visit our 78-foot cascading waterfall - the tallest in the state.  The 1/2 mile (each way) self-guided trail begins near the Boiling Shed and ends at the falls.

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Visit the

Nature Center

Come inside to view fabulous displays with education about animals, birds, reptiles, plants and vegetation you may encounter while visiting your Parks in the Catoctin Mountains. 

Event Location

William Houck Area
Cunningham Falls State Park

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