The sweet return of popular Paris Festival

The Paris Lions Club brings Maple Syrup Festival back to downtown core next weekend!

By Casandra Turnbull

Only one more week until Paris’ sweetest festival returns to the downtown core

The 11th Annual Maple Syrup Festival, hosted by the Paris Lions Club, is returning after a two-year Covid hiatus. Organizers are busy planning behind the scenes and are very excited to present this year’s event next Saturday, April 8th from 7 am to 3 pm

“The Paris Lions Club is thrilled to once again be hosting our annual Maple Syrup Festival,” said Rod Laframboise, club President. “As usual the street will be lined with a wide variety of vendors from arts and crafts to apparel to poutine and of course maple syrup products,” he previewed. Lions Club members will be serving their secret recipe, (and did we mention delicious!) pancakes from their food booth.

“This year we have doubled our cooking capacity,” added Laframboise, in preparation for a great turnout, so long as the weather cooperates.

Did you know that 10 years ago during the 2013 festival, 68 kilograms of pancake mix and 80 litres of maple syrup were served and enjoyed? The event has more than doubled in size since its early days,

Have you tried a Lions Club of Paris pancake breakfast yet? You’ll get a chance next Saturday at the annual Maple Syrup Festival held downtown Paris from 7 am to 3 pm founded by deceased Lion Dan Moore. He attended a similar festival in Elmira and was determined to bring the successful event to Paris.

Last year the Lions Club opted to host a drive-thru pancake breakfast in lieu of the in-person celebration. A total of 117 pancake breakfasts were served in a four-hour time span, raising $1,600 for the club. And while it was deemed a successful alternative, organizers are eager to bring the original festival back to Grand River Street North next weekend

Joan Minnery and the STOMPtastic Dance Team will provide music and entertainment throughout the day. Don’t miss out on your chance to participate in a line dance challenge or to catch PDHS alumnus Deni Gauthier on stage from 1 pm to 3 pm.

Bring the whole family downtown to see what this popular tradition is all about. Don’t worry about breakfast, the Lions Club has it covered! And one more secret surprise, keep an eye out for the Easter Bunny, he won’t be missed!