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The 2011 St Albans Maple Festival
The 2011 St. Albans Maple Festival
April 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2011
April 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2011
The 2011 St. Albans, VT Maple Festival took place this past weekend, and if the number of folks along Main Street and just outside of Handy Toyota's front door that were braving the less than ideal weather were any indication the event pulled in hefty tax dollars, many smiles, and good times all around.
As always, the midway was in the old Federal Street Business Parking lot, just across the street from the People's Trust Company on Kingman in St. Albans, but the majority of people--at least those of us without kids or only harnessing our inner child--took part in the plethora of activities across Main Street such as musicians, magicians, and dance troupes.
Starting around noon on April 15th, there were, as always, plenty of adventures to be had by all involved. Early in the afternoon, a magician was on hand for a free show and a packed house of giggling youngsters. In the video below, the magician even took the time to teach all lookers-on how to do the old "put together a ripped napkin" gag that has puzzled many of us since we were young.
Other favorite pastimes included all sorts of treats for all sorts of people: fried dough galore; Al's French Fries, makers of the the best fried potatoes in all of Vermont; Mr. Sausage, a personal favorite and whose owner I was sad to learn passed on some time ago, may they rest in peace; the Maple Shack and the Maple Sugar Stand AND the St. Albans Maple Store, all peddling that which makes our state great (and tons of money); and so many others I could fill a book with their delicious goodies and descriptions.
On a related note, this year's pricing was super fair, and the pun isn't intended. Personally, I ate there once per day and only broke a $20 bill. Thankfully we get blessed with the "small town pricing" to some extent, because the Champlain Valley Fair seems to be sometimes doubly expensive. Anyway, I digress...
Taking a trip down the alleyway to the recently remodeled (at least in the past couple years) walkway to the Midway is a fun annual event, and I love how the City of St. Albans has used that tunnel to its fullest. I don't know about you, but the nostalgia and joy of childhood comes flooding back with fervor every time I walk down what I call the St. Albans City tunnel.
For me, each and every year walking down this tunnel reminds me of running down the walkway as a young boy, ready to go spend tons of mom's cash on the various rides (which I might add were not nearly as impressive as they are now!), and I really think that's my favorite part of the whole ordeal--Mr. Sausage excluded of course.
All the fan favorites were available for games and rides like Throwing Darts at Balloons, Basketball games, Merry Go Rounds for really young folks to preteens, the Zipper (i.e. the "big kid" favorite"), a Teacup-like dinosaur ride where you spin the Dinosaur around with a wheel on the interior (like the strawberries of years past), the Giant Slide, and my personal favorite as a child the Fun House with the spinning cylinder at the end and the mini-house of mirrors on the inside. I don't know why I always liked these, but I think it stems from my frugal nature--these fun houses are the only thing you get to "ride" at your own pace. I always took my time in them to get my three or four or five tickets worth! Also, I wanted to walk through and snap some photos, but I thought that may be crossing a pretty big taboo line and thought better of it!
On Sunday, April 17th, the annual St. Albans Maple Festival Parade made its way along Lake and Main Streets as well as mere inches from my house, giving me a front row seat. handycars.com put a red, 2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Warrior from our Handy Toyota store into the parade, showcasing one of our fan favorites and new 2011 additions alike. Other staples included the local Fire departments from St. Albans City and St. Albans Town, EMT groups (which for better or worse are privately owned now[??]), local school bands, and so much more. A good friend of Handy's, State Representative Dustin Degree and his brother St. Albans City Ward 5 Alderman Aaron O'Grady were also in the parade, making friends with the city folk who elected them.
If you missed all the rides, games, Mr. Sausages and sugar on snow and maple syrup, be sure to take a look at the pictures from below for a walk through this year's St. Albans Maple Festival. And remember: even though the weather was lousy, the real spring weather for some reason immediately follows the Festival. This is just another reason why Handy Toyota loves this time of year.
As always, the midway was in the old Federal Street Business Parking lot, just across the street from the People's Trust Company on Kingman in St. Albans, but the majority of people--at least those of us without kids or only harnessing our inner child--took part in the plethora of activities across Main Street such as musicians, magicians, and dance troupes.
Starting around noon on April 15th, there were, as always, plenty of adventures to be had by all involved. Early in the afternoon, a magician was on hand for a free show and a packed house of giggling youngsters. In the video below, the magician even took the time to teach all lookers-on how to do the old "put together a ripped napkin" gag that has puzzled many of us since we were young.
Not only was there a magician for the young and old kids alike to view and enjoy, but a local, elementary school dance troupe was on hand to show the city of St. Albans what makes them special. Truth be told, I can't dance worth a dime and I haven't the slightest idea of what "timing" could mean. Thus, to see these little buggers actually keep a queue and show some cohesive purpose to their dance was worth the raucous applause they earned.
Other favorite pastimes included all sorts of treats for all sorts of people: fried dough galore; Al's French Fries, makers of the the best fried potatoes in all of Vermont; Mr. Sausage, a personal favorite and whose owner I was sad to learn passed on some time ago, may they rest in peace; the Maple Shack and the Maple Sugar Stand AND the St. Albans Maple Store, all peddling that which makes our state great (and tons of money); and so many others I could fill a book with their delicious goodies and descriptions.
On a related note, this year's pricing was super fair, and the pun isn't intended. Personally, I ate there once per day and only broke a $20 bill. Thankfully we get blessed with the "small town pricing" to some extent, because the Champlain Valley Fair seems to be sometimes doubly expensive. Anyway, I digress...
Taking a trip down the alleyway to the recently remodeled (at least in the past couple years) walkway to the Midway is a fun annual event, and I love how the City of St. Albans has used that tunnel to its fullest. I don't know about you, but the nostalgia and joy of childhood comes flooding back with fervor every time I walk down what I call the St. Albans City tunnel.
For me, each and every year walking down this tunnel reminds me of running down the walkway as a young boy, ready to go spend tons of mom's cash on the various rides (which I might add were not nearly as impressive as they are now!), and I really think that's my favorite part of the whole ordeal--Mr. Sausage excluded of course.
All the fan favorites were available for games and rides like Throwing Darts at Balloons, Basketball games, Merry Go Rounds for really young folks to preteens, the Zipper (i.e. the "big kid" favorite"), a Teacup-like dinosaur ride where you spin the Dinosaur around with a wheel on the interior (like the strawberries of years past), the Giant Slide, and my personal favorite as a child the Fun House with the spinning cylinder at the end and the mini-house of mirrors on the inside. I don't know why I always liked these, but I think it stems from my frugal nature--these fun houses are the only thing you get to "ride" at your own pace. I always took my time in them to get my three or four or five tickets worth! Also, I wanted to walk through and snap some photos, but I thought that may be crossing a pretty big taboo line and thought better of it!
On Sunday, April 17th, the annual St. Albans Maple Festival Parade made its way along Lake and Main Streets as well as mere inches from my house, giving me a front row seat. handycars.com put a red, 2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Warrior from our Handy Toyota store into the parade, showcasing one of our fan favorites and new 2011 additions alike. Other staples included the local Fire departments from St. Albans City and St. Albans Town, EMT groups (which for better or worse are privately owned now[??]), local school bands, and so much more. A good friend of Handy's, State Representative Dustin Degree and his brother St. Albans City Ward 5 Alderman Aaron O'Grady were also in the parade, making friends with the city folk who elected them.
If you missed all the rides, games, Mr. Sausages and sugar on snow and maple syrup, be sure to take a look at the pictures from below for a walk through this year's St. Albans Maple Festival. And remember: even though the weather was lousy, the real spring weather for some reason immediately follows the Festival. This is just another reason why Handy Toyota loves this time of year.
