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By Courtney Almeida

ACFA Régionale de Grande Prairie hosts 21st annual Maple Sugar Festival

Mar 2, 2019 | 6:00 AM

ACFA Régionale de Grande Prairie is hosting the 21st annual Maple Sugar Festival at Muskoseepi Park today. Maple taffy on snow will be the staple takeaway of the event. Other featured activities include sleigh rides, live outdoor entertainment, open canteen, entry prizes and more.

“The Maple Sugar Festival is a tradition coming from Quebec,” says Anna Kouadio, Organizer for Maple Sugar Festival. “It’s a way for them to celebrate the winter, in a good way.”

Maple taffy is a sugar candy made through the boiling of maple sap, past the point of forming maple syrup. The process can be a meticulous one, as boiling sap for too long will turn it into maple sugar or maple butter.

When asked if the extreme temperatures will have any effect on planned activities, Kouadio says, “The Maple Sugar Festival is based on winter. It brings people together to enjoy the winter, that’s the beauty of the festival. So, it’s going to be cold but we’re still going to have activities.”

This year’s newest festival addition is the Francophone canteen.

“In the past years, we had an Anglophone canteen that was provided by the City,” said Kouadio. “It’s going to be typical Francophone food like poutine… dishes all coming from Quebec.”

There will be horse-drawn sleigh rides around the park and several outdoor activities including a jumping castle.

“We hope to see everyone at the festival, Francophone and Anglophone. It’s for everyone!”

Tickets will be sold at entry. The cost of admission is $10 per individual but a family rate will be offered for $30, plus children under three-years-old get in free.  

Festivities wrap up at 5 p.m.

by Courtney Almeida