BRATTLEBORO — In another sign of spring, Strolling of the Heifers hosts its Maple 'n Mud Fest on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Robert H. Gibson River Garden on Main Street.
The festival celebrates the changing of the seasons with an array of participating farmers and maple product producers. This community event is free and open to the public at the new home of the Strolling of the Heifers.
This year Vermont's official grades of maple syrup are being renamed to provide the general public with greater clarity on what each grade is best suited. Visitors can see - and taste - the differences at an exhibit presented by Hidden Springs Maple of Putney.
Bascom Family Farms will provide a rich history of maple sugaring in the area with artifacts from the late 1890s and early 1900s. Then, speaking with modern maple producers such as Robb Family Farm and Harlow's Sugar House, they'll give visitors a feel for how things have changed.
The Brattleboro Food Co-op will demonstrate how to use maple as an everyday home pantry ingredient. Vendors such as Coddle & Cosset Truffles, True North Granola, and O So Fine Gluten Free will offer locally made products that use maple syrup as a sweetener. Wash it all down with a pickle from Randy at Mountain Mowing Farm.
A maple fest would be incomplete without pancakes, so Green Mountain Flour will be on hand to make that a reality.
For those with less of a sweet tooth, Varee's Thai Kitchen will cook up lunch while visitors listen to local musicians Bada Raga, who offer classical Indian music with a Vermont Twist. Later, Franz Robert and Friends will play experimental jazz.
Members of Brattleboro Time Trade will explain what they do and answer questions, and visitors can sniff scented soap offerings from One World Soap.
For the over-21 crowd, Whistle Pig Whiskey, a Vermont local spirits producer, will showcase their wares. And Jen Swanson of Studio Main will offer great Mother's Day items such as soaps, lotions, and “mud” masks.