Welcome to the 2026 Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival! Now in its 29th year, this well-loved event attracts visitors from Toronto, Durham Region and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area – and even beyond! The festival offers a great opportunity to...
Welcome to the 2026 Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival! Now in its 29th year, this well-loved event attracts visitors from Toronto, Durham Region and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area – and even beyond! The festival offers a great opportunity to discover the many things that make Sunderland special, while celebrating the time-honoured Canadian tradition of making maple syrup.
Our maple syrup farmers are proud to carry on producing the “liquid gold” that has been enjoyed since the 17th and 18th centuries. Back then, sap from maple trees was boiled down in iron and copper kettles. What a difference a century or two makes! Nowadays, modern processing makes the job much more efficient. Hop on a bus and travel to their sugar shack, where you will see a native and pioneer display, as well as the current production methods Paul Harder and his family use for their sweet creations. Bus tickets will be available at Sunderland Public School.
By the arena see a Petting Zoo & Pony Rides, Draft Horse display, Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue and Fallen Willow Forge demonstrations.
Live stage entertainment including Lexy the Rap Dad.
On Saturday, the festival offers bathtub races. On Sunday, the lawn tractor pull demonstration will take place. If you have never seen one of these tractor pulls, you’re in for a real treat! On both Saturday and Sunday, the Legion will be the site of pancake breakfasts from morning to early afternoon.
And shoppers, take note! On both days, River and Church Streets, Townhall and the Sunderland Public School will also be lined with vendors selling everything from syrup to toys, hand-crafted items, clothing and other great finds. Plus, Sunderland’s local shops are taking part in sponsoring many of the events.
So, what are you waiting for? Mark your calendar to bring the kids, the grandparents, and even the dog! The people of Sunderland are excited to greet you and create sweet new memories.
