When I lived up in Syracuse, Indiana, the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival was big news. You always knew when the festival was coming, because the stores would begin receiving their maple flavored jelly beans.
The Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival is a big family event, and they make sure they take care of their visitors. Not only are parking and admission free, they’ve got a parade, free kettle-popped popcorn, and a free tour of the sugar camp, plus free live entertainment. Northern Indiana favorites Spike & The Bulldogs will be playing Saturday evening, from 4:30 – 7:00 pm.
There are also several contests you can enter, or just watch, including the Queen Contest, the cross-cut saw contest, Baby Olympics, and a pedal pull, to name just a few.
Wakarusa is just a few miles south of Elkhart on SR 19 in Elkhart County, and about 3 hours north of Indianapolis.