Hopkinton Maple Festival Saturday

FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013

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HOPKINTON - Pancake fans and maple lovers will unite in Hopkinton on Saturday for the town’s annual Maple Festival.

The festival will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the town hall, and while the event has shrunk in size over the years Historical Group President Dale J. Burnett said it still draws a lot of people from Hopkinton and the surrounding communities.

“They used to have sugar bush tours, but as the population has changed they just don’t happen any more,” he said.

In addition to the pancake breakfast, which is served with fresh maple syrup from this year and includes sausage, dill pickles and assorted beverages, Mr. Burnett said there will also be a display of maple artifacts and old photos related to the town’s historical connections with the maple business.

“We decided to make place mats of those photos,” he said, adding the place mats are something new for this year.

The meal will cost $6 for adults and students and $3 for children 5 and under. There is no charge for people over 90.

When asked if they usually have people that age attend the festival, he replied, “Believe it or not, we have a few.”

Mr. Burnett said the event serves as an unofficial welcome to spring, bringing people out of their homes who may have been cooped up all winter long.

“A lot of the people who do come to the festival come for the socializing,” he said. “You’ll see a lot of people who you haven’t seen in a long time. It’s a good place to catch up with old friends and enjoy a good conversation while eating your pancakes.”

Proceeds from the event, which was first held in 1975, will go toward the Historical Group’s efforts to maintain the town museum, which is in need of foundation work.

“We’re trying to save money to pay for repairs to the museum’s foundation, so we’ll have a donation jug out for that,” Mr. Burnett said.