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Huge crowd at Powassan Maple Syrup Festival

"We keep our festival family friendly, We don't charge admission. You come here, you don't need to spend money, just have fun."
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Maggie Saunders, 12, enjoys a maple taffy stick Saturday at the 19th annual Powassan Maple Syrup Festival. Photos by Jeff Turl.

POWASSAN -- Great weather helped attract record crowds to the 19th annual Powassan Maple Syrup Festival Saturday to sample music, lumberjack competitions and of course, food made with maple syrup.

By 10 a.m. 5,000 people were at the event, swelling to over 10,000 by early afternoon according to organizers.

"It's a great way for us to showcase our municipality," event Chair Roger Glabb told BayToday. "It gets bigger every year. We grown all the way down Main St. into the side streets and the Sportsplex is full."

Glabb says a community festival's success begins with a hard-working committee and knowing your audience.

"We keep our festival family friendly. We don't charge admission. You come here, you don't need to spend money, just have fun."

One of the newer attractions was the Powassan and District Union Public Library butter tart contest.

Contestants were asked to enter a dozen butter tarts to be judged by celebrity judges Doug Oshell, Danny Piper (owner Castle Building Centre in Powassan), and Tom Morrow (owner Powassan Home Hardware). Although, according to the library's Facebook page, Doug Oshell had to step down from the judging at 4 p.m. and Judith Harrington took his place. 

People were keen to enter, with 50 hopefuls submitting 700 butter tarts according to organizer Kathie Hogan 

Trout Creek resident Ethel Brown took home the $50 first prize, admitting she was "surprised and shocked."

She says she doesn't know why her tarts won, but added the key is in the baking. "Leave the oven on too long and they become dry, and too runny if you take them out too soon."

Brown has never won a baking contest before, but entered after a friend said her butter tarts were "the best I've ever had".

All the butter tarts became the property of the library, which sold them for a fundraiser during the Maple Syrup Festival.


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Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
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