The Shadow
Monterey, Va. (VR) – Virginia’s Sweetest Event of the Year returns! Nestled in the peaceful, rural mountains on the western border of the Commonwealth, travelers can take a step back in time for a cultural and culinary adventure at the county-wide Highland County Maple Festival during the second and third weekends of March. This year marks the 66th event, set for March 14-15 and 21-22, 2026.
Highland County is Virginia’s least populous county but has been drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the community since 1959 to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and to observe the process of making delicious, pure maple syrup. Free “sugar camp” tours provide a unique and educational experience for the entire family to learn how the golden delicacy is made from tree to bottle, ranging from traditional to modern techniques. Local sugar camps have even expanded to include syrups infused with fruits and spices or even aged in spirit barrels. Other tree syrups such as hickory can be found at the festival as well.
Ten local sugar camps will be open on Saturdays and eight on Sundays this year. Pleasant Brook Farms will be newly opened to the public in 2026 during all four days, located in the southwest corner of the county and showcasing wood-fired pans in their sugar house that has visible remnants of its decades-old original structure.
Local civic clubs and organizations will be bringing back their delicious food offerings, including those famous fresh maple doughnuts, pancake and buckwheat cake meals with country side dishes, trout, pork rinds, and just about anything maple-flavored! Local restaurants are ready to serve with special menus of savory and sweet treats. Food vendors on North Water Street in Monterey offer additional meal options.
Over 100 juried artisans and crafters will be available in Monterey and McDowell, providing one-of-a-kind treasures, tasty food, and special gifts. Browse and shop with new and returning vendors for a seemingly endless variety of handcrafted items, from old-time trades to exclusive artwork to exquisite jewelry. The festival’s only “ticket fee” is admission to access vendors in Monterey at the Highland County Public School Gyms and The Highland Center’s local Artisans’ Market that can be purchased onsite for just $5 (children 9 and under are free). That $5 payment comes with a collectible maple leaf keychain that also provides access to 2 pm entertainment at The Highland Center. This year’s keychain commemorates the celebration of America’s 250th with a red, white, and blue color scheme.
Each day of the festival in 2026 will feature a live performance of Appalachian culture at 2 pm at The Highland Center. On Saturday, March 14th, enjoy the popular bluegrass band Southern Rail Express. On Sunday, March 15th, be entertained by the homegrown, award-winning Little Switzerland Cloggers. During the following weekend on Saturday, March 21st, put on your dancing shoes for a square dance with local callers Ellen & Eugene Ratcliffe backed by the old-time music of Mudhole Control, sponsored by a CALT grant from Mid Atlantic Arts. Finish the festival with the Appalachian folk band Mill Creek Cronies on Sunday, March 22nd. All entertainment at The Highland Center is brought to you with the assistance and sponsorship of the Highland County Arts Council. For more entertainment, visitors can listen to bluegrass music at Southernmost Maple in Bolar starting at noon on Saturdays.
Stop into locally owned shops and attractions that dot the countryside and small towns to experience rural charm in a friendly atmosphere. New for 2026, Virginia’s 44th State Park, Hayfields State Park, will be open for visitors to hike, fish, and explore south of the town of McDowell. The Felix Hull House in the heart of McDowell is a historic property now owned by Durham Collective that will be hosting an open house with local goods and refreshments. Also in McDowell, Eagle Point Log Homes is a custom log home builder that will have a model house to tour, and Mountain Oasis is under new management as the Outpost to supply a deli, groceries, and treats. Bruce’s Syrup & Candies will add a new location to sell their maple syrup and baked goods inside of the Stonewall Ruritan Building in McDowell this year. In Monterey, enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner with the Highland County Eagles #4556 located near the intersection of Rt. 250 and 220. Next to Water Street in Monterey, Sky Pirate Ranch will be serving up delicious housemade sausages with customer patio seating.
Once again, a shuttle service in Monterey will be provided all four days of the festival to help reduce traffic congestion. B & L’s Mountain Safe Transportation will be providing a complimentary shuttle service from approximately 8:30 am to 5 pm on Saturdays and 8:30 am to 4 pm on Sundays. The route begins at the Monterey Stockyard and runs on a continuous loop with a stop at Rt. 220 near the Highland County Public Schools, a stop near the Mill Gap Ruritan Doughnut trailer, and a stop at The Highland Center. Complimentary parking at the Monterey Stockyard at 1367 Jackson River Road just south of Monterey off of Rt. 220 is first-come, first-served. No reservations are needed.
Visitors should note that there will be a bridge construction project north of Monterey at the intersection of Rt. 220 (Potomac River Road) and Rt. 629 (Strait Creek Road), which may cause short delays with temporary stoplights installed.
In 1999, the Library of Congress designated The Highland County Maple Festival a “Local Legacy,” and in 2014, the Governor of Virginia signed a bill into law designating the festival as the “official maple festival of Virginia.” More recently, the festival has earned several user-voted awards, including 2025’s first-place place winner for Best Festival of the Shenandoah Valley Region in Virginia Living’s annual Best of Virginia. An economic impact study in 2023 revealed that the festival generated $2.4 million in direct spending in Highland County.
The Highland County Maple Festival is coordinated by the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and made possible with the help of countless volunteers and organizations. Top sponsors include Leafguard, Renewal by Andersen, Burke & Herbert Bank, Kissito Healthcare Springs Nursing & Rehab, Malcolm Place, Pendleton Community Bank (PCB), The Blue Grass Valley Bank, The Highland Center, and the Highland County Arts Council.
Traditional hours of the festival include Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 4 pm, though visitors can get a jumpstart to the day with maple doughnuts being served at 6 am and pancake meals starting as early as 7 am. Full details on all the festival happenings can be found at www.highlandcounty.org/maple-festival, with posts highlighting the festival available at www.facebook.com/HighlandCounty and www.instagram.com/highland_county_va.
Virginia is for Maple Syrup Lovers!
