Tucked in opposition to the rugged fringe of Virginia’s western border on the headwaters of the Potomac, Highland County holds a small, close-knit group within the mountains, however for 2 weekends in March the world will get a bit of extra crowded, when 1000’s of vacationers flock to Highland’s nook of Virginia for a deal with higher generally known as a northern factor—maple syrup.
For folk keen to make the journey by means of the Alleghenies in early spring, the rewards of the Highland County Maple Pageant are (pun very a lot meant) candy. For 64 years, the homeowners of sugar orchards throughout the county have opened their doorways to shine a light-weight on the syrup-making course of, whereas Ruritan golf equipment and group establishments maintain vigorous occasions to match. The competition is a county-wide affair — it doesn’t matter what path you come from, you’ll be met with a feast, in addition to the pure great thing about a county that’s recognized across the state as Little Switzerland.
It might be distant, however the Maple Pageant, which this 12 months passed off on March 9-19 and 16-17, is the type of occasion that always leaves first-timers questioning why that they had by no means been earlier than. Listed here are some highlights of the competition’s most up-to-date working, in phrases and photographs.
Buckwheat or buttermilk?
Some selections you don’t overthink: on the Highland County Maple Pageant, you get pancakes. However selecting what type of pancake to pour the county’s well-known syrup over will be difficult. It’s particularly robust on the Bolar Ruritan Membership, which is used to a packed automotive lot and a line wrapping across the membership’s constructing for its all-you-can-eat helpings of buttermilk and buckwheat truffles, paired with regionally made sausage. Some native recommendation, it’s arduous to beat the buckwheat, the starter for which is prepped by bakers on the Ruritan Membership a number of days prematurely to reinforce the truffles’ wealthy, earthy taste.
Masters of the craft
Take a tour of any sugar shack in Highland County, and also you’ll discover masters at work. At Puffenbarger Sugar Orchard, you’ll discover Doug Puffenbarger, whose household has been within the sugar enterprise in Highland County for over a century. A dairy farmer along with a syrup-maker, Doug’s father Ivan revolutionized the household enterprise within the 60s through the use of the identical type of tubing system they used to exploit cows to “milk” the bushes. The experiment labored, and the Puffenbargers nonetheless use the system at this time as one of the vital prolific sugar orchards within the South.
Donuts
Whereas syrup takes the mainstage at a lot of the competition, maple donuts are a cross-county hit as effectively. Downstairs on the Highland Middle within the county seat of Monterey, cooks at Bell Backside Donuts work tirelessly to maintain up with competition goers who purchase a number of lots of of their donuts per day, whereas up the highway at Blue Grass Mercantile, a brand new recipe for smoked maple donuts takes entrance and heart.
Don’t skip the stew
The Maple Pageant makes it straightforward to have a candy tooth all day, however the county’s non-maple signatures are too scrumptious to be missed. Brunswick stew—a Virginia native—is a giant one, and festival-goers can discover hearty cups of it in group halls and nation shops all around the county, together with right here at Blue Grass Mercantile.
Sounds of the highlands
A convention of mountain music is alive and effectively in Highland. Together with competition mainstays just like the Little Switzerland Cloggers, highlighting this 12 months’s lineup of performances on the Highland Middle Auditorium in Monterey have been Alice Shumate and the Sounds of Highland. Shumate and firm delivered a satisfying set that included bluegrass requirements in addition to local-themed originals from Shumate’s album, “Sounds of Highland.”
Fish feed
With the Jackson, Bullpasture, and Potomac rivers rumbling close by, it’s no surprise Highland is a hotspot for trout. At their small-scale trout farm simply east of Blue Grass, Virginia Trout Firm brings the fish to you, and offers feed for competition goers to get the trout leaping. The farm is understood for offering trout to upscale eating places all around the area, so grabbing a sandwich on the on-site meals truck or taking a cooler of frozen filets house is a should.
Native staples
The Maple Pageant would possibly really feel like showtime for Highland County, however native enterprise round Monterey’s major drag show that Highland County is price a go to for extra than simply two weekends of the 12 months. Whereas the Curly Maple stays a favourite for contemporary lunches, native wares, and light-weight groceries, the micro cidery Large Fish Cider has been making waves and successful awards these days with its ciders constituted of Highland County apples.
Candy drives
In a state recognized for beautiful byways (suppose the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive), a few of Virginia’s most scenic roads sweep by means of the slim valleys of Highland County. By bike or by automotive, stretches like VA-640 up the Blue Grass Valley from Hightown to Blue Grass make passing by means of a vacation spot in itself. Whereas the climate above 3,000 ft could make for lower than ideally suited highway situations in early March, it will possibly additionally make for gorgeous vistas with solar, snow, and fast shifting clouds.
Group treats
In a county as close-knit as Highland, meals is usually group itself. The Maple Pageant showcases a number of group websites that flip into buffets and eating halls for the weekend, extending the soul of a neighborhood potluck to outsiders. One such website is the McDowell Volunteer Fireplace Firm constructing, the place you’ll be able to pattern freshly made trout dinners, nation ham sandwiches, and do-it-yourself sweets. You’ll be able to even seize a few of the recipes for your self—the Girls Auxiliary recipe e book compiles over forty years of group cooking in McDowel, and copies are up on the market on the firehouse annually.
All photographs by Chris Ritter
