Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival
April 22, 2022 - April 24, 2022
The annual Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival is the “granddaddy” of them all! It is the original maple syrup festival in Michigan and came about in 1940, when local syrup producers gathered in a barber shop to discuss a way to sell their product.
Our festival is always held during the last full weekend in April. The local syrup producers place themselves throughout the village to sell syrup, candies, crème, and other treats like the ever-popular maple syrup cotton candy.
The weekend offers something for everyone — carnival rides, a talent show, arts and crafts, a flea market, two parades, a petting zoo, a princess pageant, various displays, games, free entertainment, a pancake derby, and arm wrestling.
We invite you to join us and enjoy pancakes with real maple syrup offered by the Maple Valley Band Boosters and the American Legion.
Daily Events Schedule
2022 Maple Valley Band Pancake Fundraiser
Directions:
Getting to Vermontville requires navigating some ‘backroads.’ The village lies in western Eaton County just north of the Thornapple River and just east of Nashville, which is located in Barry County. Please take note that there are many Amish families in the area who travel by horse and buggy to get around.
If you are coming from the Ionia-Grand Rapids corridor, you will want to find your way to the intersection of M-66 and M-50 in Woodbury. From there, proceed eastbound on M-50 (which will run a concurrency with M-43 until they split). Follow M-50 eastbound after it splits from M-43. About a mile down the road, turn south on Ionia Road and follow it into the village.
If you are coming from the Portland-Lansing corridor, find your way to Vermontville Highway, the eastern end of which is at M-99 south of Holt. Following Vermontville Highway westbound will take you directly into the village.
Coming from Marshall and anywhere else directly southward, take I-69 northbound to Exit 48, which is M-78. Follow M-78 westbound into Bellevue. M-78 joins Ionia Road as it curves into Bellevue, so all you will need to do is follow the road straight north out of Bellevue (go straight through the stoplight after crossing the tracks) and it will take you to Vermontville.
From Nashville, Hastings, and all other points westward, there are three options. The first is to follow State Road eastbound from Hastings and it will become Vermontville Highway once you cross into Eaton County. The second is to take Thornapple Lake Road eastbound (it will become Scipio Highway once in Eaton County). Lastly, you can follow M-79 eastbound to Nashville and then turn northbound on M-66. Proceed through town to Reed Street and turn right. Reed Street will become Nashville Highway at the county line. Turn north (left) at the four way intersection that is only a three-way stop (southbound traffic does not stop).
Traveling westbound on Vermontville Highway is an easy way to get to Vermontville, though another route exists by following M-79 westbound to Ionia Road and then turning northbound (right).
