Highland County Maple Festival

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Food & DrinkMonterey
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
Duration9 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forRegional food & drinkHighland County sits at high elevation in
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryFood & DrinkFestival type
The story

Highland County Maple Festival in Monterey

The Highland County Maple Festival has celebrated the region's maple syrup industry every March since 1959, spread across two weekends centered on Monterey, Virginia. Visitors watch sap turn into syrup at open sugar camps, eat maple doughnuts and pancake breakfasts, and browse handmade crafts in a county-wide event drawing tens of thousands to the mountains.

Highland County is Virginia's least populated county, tucked into the Allegheny Mountains along the West Virginia border at an elevation high enough to support a maple syrup industry more commonly associated with Vermont or Quebec.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Highland County sits at high elevation in the Allegheny Mountains, cold enough that its maple industry rivals northern New England's despite being unusually far south, and the festival's centerpiece is free tours of working sugar camps where visitors watch sap boil down into syrup

02

The mystery stays covered

That direct, working-farm access, rather than a staged reenactment, distinguishes the event from many food festivals

03

The city starts moving

The festival is also a genuine county-wide affair rather than a single-site fair: activities spread across Monterey and the surrounding countryside, with sugar camps, churches, and civic groups running their own food stands and craft booths

04

The water draws everyone in

Its long run since 1959 has made it a regional fixture, drawing visitors specifically for the maple doughnuts and buckwheat cakes that sell out each morning

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's core tradition is the free sugar camp tour

Water and renewal

Living ritual

where local producers open their operations to the public each March to demonstrate the tree-to-bottle maple syrup process

The sacred route

Living ritual

a practice maintained since the event's founding in 1959

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

For Highland County Maple Festival, plan transport around the exact Monterey venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Layered cold-weather clothing is essential; March temperatures in Highland County can range from the 30s to 50s Fahrenheit, and sturdy waterproof footwear helps with muddy sugar camp trails.

Safety

Use normal food-market caution, hydrate, and leave time between crowded stalls.

Where to stay

For Highland County Maple Festival, stay near the part of Monterey you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

Entry may be free while tastings, meals, or special tables are paid locally.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map36.60 N, 121.89 WOpen in Google Maps

Monterey, VA

Nearest airportSJC — Norman Y. Mineta San Jose
TransportFor Highland County Maple Festival, plan transport around the exact Monterey venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Highland County Maple Festival, stay near the part of Monterey you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Monterey via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Monterey, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearLayered cold-weather clothing is essential; March temperatures in Highland County can range from the 30s to 50s Fahrenheit, and sturdy waterproof footwear helps with muddy sugar camp trails.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Highland County Maple Festival?

Highland County Maple Festival is listed for Past edition: 14–22 March 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Highland County Maple Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Monterey, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

9 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Monterey, VA

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLhighlandcounty.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusOfficial source linked
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