Maple Madness Saturday, March 25 in Woodstock, Vt.
Woodstock, Vt.
Woodstock Vermont it's time to get your Maple On! Forget the NCAA March Madness it's time for Maple Madness. The Woodstock Chamber has been busy planning some very "sweet" events for everyone to celebrate Vermont's liquid gold-Maple Syrup.
In their third year hosting the event, the Chamber has recruited area artists to paint sap buckets that have been placed around town for people to bid on. There are 25 buckets (this reporter found 10 on Saturday while hunting around town.) The buckets will be in area stores and restaurants until Friday afternoon and will be moved to Suicide Ski Area (S6) for final bidding Saturday evening.
Most buckets are filled with gift certificates and products from area merchants. Buckets include a golf bucket worth over $400 and a Falcon bucket (at the Woodstock Inn and Resort Gift Shop) filled with over $300 worth of merchandise. "I feel like I've been painting sap buckets forever" said Kitty O'Hara. She came up with the painted sap buckets as a fundraising idea for the Chamber when she was appointed to the Board three years ago. Brian Warren, who many know for his musical talents, also paints and has painted a bucket on display at Bentley's. "I took up painting years ago to chill, now I paint tiny towns" he said.
During the day from 11 a.m.-1p.m., events on The Green include: maple sugar on snow, maple popcorn, and a VINS (Vermont Institute of Science) bird demonstration. The fun then moves to Suicide Six Ski area at 6 p.m. where Artistree will continue the fun for children with some crafts.
Saturday evening from 6-8 p.m. there will be a maple-themed food tasting and judging with samples from Barnard Inn, Woodstock Inn, Prince & the Pauper, Simon Pearce, Mt Creamery, Bentleys, Woodstock Farmers Market, Vermont Farmstead Cheese, Plymouth Cheese, Billings Farm & Museum, Pizza Chef, Grossbeak Gardens, AL Woods, Maple Leaf Inn, Ardmore Inn, and several others. Sara Lehman, an Advanced Sommelier and Private Chef in New York City and the Editor In Chief of Somm In The City will be judging the maple food competitors.
Saturday evening from 6-8 p.m. there will be a maple-themed food tasting and judging with samples from Barnard Inn, Woodstock Inn, Prince & the Pauper, Simon Pearce, Mt Creamery, Bentleys, Woodstock Farmers Market, Vermont Farmstead Cheese, Plymouth Cheese, Billings Farm & Museum, Pizza Chef, Grossbeak Gardens, AL Woods, Maple Leaf Inn, Ardmore Inn, and several others. Sara Lehman, an Advanced Sommelier and Private Chef in New York City and the Editor In Chief of Somm In The City will be judging the maple food competitors.
The silent auction bucket winners will be announced and four buckets will be auctioned off in the live auction. According to Beth Finlayson last year's sap buckets and Maple Madness event raised over $9000 which goes toward marketing Woodstock. In addition, two very special sap buckets painted by the Zack's Place will be auctioned with these proceeds going to Zack's Place.
Also happening at S6, the Rock The Hills VT Sap Bucket Run Saturday, March 25 8 a.m.-5 p.m. This snowmobile climb up Suicide Six will have on site registration from 8-10 a.m. Gates open at 7 a.m.. Race heats begins at 10:30 a.m. Registration-$25 stock, $30 open and $15 spectators, children under 10 free. The race has 25 classes, something for everyone, youth and adult. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded. For more information contact Josh Allen at 802-535-4170.
Snowmobiling not your thing, what about a Mud Bike Ride? Vermont Overland is hosting the Maple Adventure Ride on Sunday March 26 at 10 a.m.. Online registration is $35 or $40 the day of the event. The 25 mile loop will be on difficult terrain and could be very muddy. For more information visit: http://www.vermontoverland.com/vomar/ or call Peter at 802-457-2420.
Also happening at S6, the Rock The Hills VT Sap Bucket Run Saturday, March 25 8 a.m.-5 p.m. This snowmobile climb up Suicide Six will have on site registration from 8-10 a.m. Gates open at 7 a.m.. Race heats begins at 10:30 a.m. Registration-$25 stock, $30 open and $15 spectators, children under 10 free. The race has 25 classes, something for everyone, youth and adult. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded. For more information contact Josh Allen at 802-535-4170.
Snowmobiling not your thing, what about a Mud Bike Ride? Vermont Overland is hosting the Maple Adventure Ride on Sunday March 26 at 10 a.m.. Online registration is $35 or $40 the day of the event. The 25 mile loop will be on difficult terrain and could be very muddy. For more information visit: http://www.vermontoverland.com/vomar/ or call Peter at 802-457-2420.
Sounds like a pretty sweet weekend ahead.
