It began a dozen years ago, when a member of the Paris Lions Club thought to use the organization’s food wagon to cook up pancakes as a fundraiser.
Article content
Now, the Maple Syrup Festival is the club’s “signature event,” attracting thousands of visitors to downtown Paris the second weekend in April each year, said Rod Laframboise, president of Paris Lions Club.
Article content
The money raised from the breakfasts served — consisting of flapjacks, sausages and real maple syrup — goes back into the community, helping to fund projects like the Paris Lions Park, located a couple blocks west of the festival, Laframboise said.
Additional food vendors, local shops and artisans will join the Lions, lining Grand River Street North between Mechanic Street and William Street.
Entertainment this year includes a line dance demonstration and challenge with Joan Minnery and the STOMPtastic dance team, a performance by Barry Hussey, and princess visits courtesy of the Glass Slipper Company.
Article content
The organizers anticipate between 3,000 and 5,000 attendees this year, and volunteers — including local high school students and Boy Scouts — are instrumental in making sure things run smoothly, Laframboise said.
Although it’s “a lot of work,” Laframboise said he loves to see everyone “congregating and celebrating our community.”
The festival runs from 7 am to 3 pm on April 13, accepting cash, credit and debit. For more information, visit lionsclubofparis.ca.
By the numbers
15: The temperature, in degrees celcius, in the long-term forecast for April 13, according to Laframboise. It’s also expected to be dry.
40: Or so full-time members make up the Paris Lions, but Laframboise said many “friends of Lions” help make this event and others possible.
200: Pounds of dry “secret Lions pancake mix” is portioned out, ready to cook.
250: Pounds of sausages will be on the grill.
800: Pancake breakfasts is what Laframboise anticipates serving this year.
Celeste Percy-Beauregard is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
Share this article in your social network