Kingdom Maple Festival |
Celebrate St. Johnsbury's history as the "Maple Center of the World" with the Kingdom Maple Festival. The festival will showcase local maple history and producers, along with delicious treats and fun activities for the whole family.
Join us on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Maple menu takeover - all weekend long
PANCAKE BREAKFAST - 8 A.M. TO 10:30 A.M.
St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels hosts the annual Pancake Breakfast by donation at the St. Johnsbury House, 1207 Main Street. The menu features Maple Grove Farms of Vermont pancake mix and maple syrup, plus hashbrowns, bacon & sausage, coffee, tea, and orange juice.
Proceeds benefit St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels' programs.
Proceeds benefit St. Johnsbury Meals on Wheels' programs.
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sweet street fair - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
50+ vendors serving local maple products, prepared foods, maple-related activities, and maple-themed arts & crafts will fill the street between 10:00am to 3:00pm.
NEW THIS YEAR: The Sweet Street Fair has expanded to include two locations! Vendors will be located on Railroad Street AND in Depot Square Park in front of the Welcome Center. Pick up a program or ask at the event information tents for help finding your favorite vendors on the day of the festival.
NEW THIS YEAR: The Sweet Street Fair has expanded to include two locations! Vendors will be located on Railroad Street AND in Depot Square Park in front of the Welcome Center. Pick up a program or ask at the event information tents for help finding your favorite vendors on the day of the festival.
Live music by The Bel-Aires (10am - noon) and The Maple Leaf Seven (1pm - 3pm)
Don't miss the announcement of the winners of The Kingdom's Maple Syrup Contest at noon!
Don't miss the announcement of the winners of The Kingdom's Maple Syrup Contest at noon!
Maple Syrup Contest - sponsored by cary & main Estate
Vermont Sugar Makers: showcase your very best syrup in our first annual Maple Syrup Contest, sponsored by Cary & Main Estate.
Categories will include an overall Grand Prize: The George Cary Award of Maple Excellence, plus four Best-in-Class prizes for each grade of maple syrup
Contest winners will be announced during the Sweet Street Fair at noon, from the band tent.
The panel of expert judges includes:
- Mark Isselhardt, UVM Extension Maple Specialist
- Henry Marckres, retired VAAFM maple specialist
Categories will include an overall Grand Prize: The George Cary Award of Maple Excellence, plus four Best-in-Class prizes for each grade of maple syrup
- Grand Prize: The George Cary Award of Maple Excellence wins a $140 cash prize and a two-night stay at the historic Cary's Maple Lodge in St. Johnsbury!
- Best-in-Class categories each win a $40 cash prize and special perks.
Contest winners will be announced during the Sweet Street Fair at noon, from the band tent.
The panel of expert judges includes:
- Mark Isselhardt, UVM Extension Maple Specialist
- Henry Marckres, retired VAAFM maple specialist
Other events around town
Vermont Folklife Sugaring-themed 'Listening Party', 11am, 1:30pm & 3pm
NEK Artisans Guild Back Room Gallery, 430 Railroad Street
Vermont Folklife "Listening Parties" bring people together to share the experience of listening deeply. A bit like a DJ set of the spoken word, they share voices, music, and sounds of the world around us drawn from the Archive at Vermont Folklife. For Kingdom Maple Festival they are tapping into a seasonal theme! You’ll hear about maple sugaring with horses, beer brewed with maple sap, songs from the sugar woods, and more. Drop by the NEK Artists Guild Back Room Gallery for one of three Listening Party “sets” during the Kingdom Maple Festival Sweet Street Fair. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Learn more: www.vtfolklife.org
Winter Farmers Market, 10am - 3pm
St. Johnsbury Welcome Center, 51 Depot Square
Prepared foods, veggies, crafts, and more at the last indoor farmers market of the season before they move to their summer home. Many vendors feature maple products. During Maple Festival, the market will stay open late, until 3pm!
Learn more: www.caledoniafarmersmarket.com
Maple & Vermont-Themed Flash Tattoo Event, 10am - 3pm
Washburn Tattoo, 542 Railroad Street
Washburn Tattoo is bringing back their popular one day flash event during maple fest. Special 2" designs featuring maple and Vermont themes are only $50, with others ranging $60 - $70. Walk-ins only, and make sure to arrive early because will be PACKED!
Check out the designs and get the full details here: www.facebook.com/tattooingthenortheastkingdomandbeyond
St. Johnsbury Distillery Tours & Tastings, 10am - 3pm
St. Johnsbury Distillery, 74 Eastern Avenue
Five of the Distillery's spirits are created with maple syrup from Stevenson's Sugarhouse (Barnet, Vermont) or Cary & Main (Danville, Vermont). Sample them at the Distillery Speakeasy in their signature cocktails, or take a guided tour during Maple Fest to learn about the process of making them from scratch. Tours depart on on the hour between 10am - 3pm. $10/person for the tour & tasting (accompanying children are free).
Learn more: www.stjohnsburydistillery.com/
Meet-the-Artist Open House, 9am - noon
Four Seasons SIR Office, 1184 Main Street
Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty will host a gallery exhibition with work by multimedia artist Richard Amori during the month of April. Join them for an open house on April 18 during Kingdom Maple Festival.
Yard Sale & Bake Sale, 8:30am - 2pm
American Legion Post #58, 12 Maple Street
The American Legion hosts their annual yard sale and bake sale, with proceeds (by donation!) benefiting local veterans.
DJ CHE55ter at Tunnel Books, 4 - 6pm
Tunnel Books, 560 Railroad Street
DJ CHE55TER will be spinning sweet, sweet bass music, including some of today's top bass, dubstep, tech house and more outside of the bookstore. This event is free and all ages.
Learn more: tunnelbooks.net/events
Mollie Jean at Sam's Listening Bar, 8pm
Sam's Listening Bar, 397 Railroad Street
Local singer-songwriter Mollie Jean will be playing music that blends country, rock, and storytelling. $10 cover.
Learn more: samslisteningbar.com
NEK Artisans Guild Back Room Gallery, 430 Railroad Street
Vermont Folklife "Listening Parties" bring people together to share the experience of listening deeply. A bit like a DJ set of the spoken word, they share voices, music, and sounds of the world around us drawn from the Archive at Vermont Folklife. For Kingdom Maple Festival they are tapping into a seasonal theme! You’ll hear about maple sugaring with horses, beer brewed with maple sap, songs from the sugar woods, and more. Drop by the NEK Artists Guild Back Room Gallery for one of three Listening Party “sets” during the Kingdom Maple Festival Sweet Street Fair. This event is FREE and open to the public.
Learn more: www.vtfolklife.org
Winter Farmers Market, 10am - 3pm
St. Johnsbury Welcome Center, 51 Depot Square
Prepared foods, veggies, crafts, and more at the last indoor farmers market of the season before they move to their summer home. Many vendors feature maple products. During Maple Festival, the market will stay open late, until 3pm!
Learn more: www.caledoniafarmersmarket.com
Maple & Vermont-Themed Flash Tattoo Event, 10am - 3pm
Washburn Tattoo, 542 Railroad Street
Washburn Tattoo is bringing back their popular one day flash event during maple fest. Special 2" designs featuring maple and Vermont themes are only $50, with others ranging $60 - $70. Walk-ins only, and make sure to arrive early because will be PACKED!
Check out the designs and get the full details here: www.facebook.com/tattooingthenortheastkingdomandbeyond
St. Johnsbury Distillery Tours & Tastings, 10am - 3pm
St. Johnsbury Distillery, 74 Eastern Avenue
Five of the Distillery's spirits are created with maple syrup from Stevenson's Sugarhouse (Barnet, Vermont) or Cary & Main (Danville, Vermont). Sample them at the Distillery Speakeasy in their signature cocktails, or take a guided tour during Maple Fest to learn about the process of making them from scratch. Tours depart on on the hour between 10am - 3pm. $10/person for the tour & tasting (accompanying children are free).
Learn more: www.stjohnsburydistillery.com/
Meet-the-Artist Open House, 9am - noon
Four Seasons SIR Office, 1184 Main Street
Four Seasons Sotheby's International Realty will host a gallery exhibition with work by multimedia artist Richard Amori during the month of April. Join them for an open house on April 18 during Kingdom Maple Festival.
Yard Sale & Bake Sale, 8:30am - 2pm
American Legion Post #58, 12 Maple Street
The American Legion hosts their annual yard sale and bake sale, with proceeds (by donation!) benefiting local veterans.
DJ CHE55ter at Tunnel Books, 4 - 6pm
Tunnel Books, 560 Railroad Street
DJ CHE55TER will be spinning sweet, sweet bass music, including some of today's top bass, dubstep, tech house and more outside of the bookstore. This event is free and all ages.
Learn more: tunnelbooks.net/events
Mollie Jean at Sam's Listening Bar, 8pm
Sam's Listening Bar, 397 Railroad Street
Local singer-songwriter Mollie Jean will be playing music that blends country, rock, and storytelling. $10 cover.
Learn more: samslisteningbar.com
Maple creemee finder
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Frozen maple treats can be found in FIVE locations during Kingdom Maple Festival, both in-stores and on the street.
Check out the map to find several locations serving the classic creemee, plus other maple ice creams and even a dairy-free maple sorbet. |
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Thank you to our 2026 event sponsors!
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Additional Sponsors Include:
Anthony's Diner
Blake Jenkins Painting
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
Ridgeline Wealth Management
Anthony's Diner
Blake Jenkins Painting
Maple Grove Farms of Vermont
Ridgeline Wealth Management
Kingdom Maple Festival's predecessor was the St. Johnsbury World Maple Festival, which was founded in 2009 by local business owners Scott Beck of Boxcar & Caboose and Fred Little of Moose River Lake & Lodge Store. Thank you for starting this tradition that we enjoy today!