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festihttil offers lots to see and dd The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is an annual revival of the life style of our ancestors - things which few urban dwellers have ever seen - things which have been retained and are peculiar only to rural areas such as Elmira, Ontario. Provincial Highways 85 and 86 meet in the heart of Elmira, and it is here that the now famous festival all is located. Elmira is lly about 25 kilometers m Ontario's major high- way, MacDonaldnCartier Freeway (401). Exit at Guelph (Hwy. 6 North) or at Kitchener (Hwy. th. A which: this event on Sammy, Apt“ 7, will be a memorable experience, It Is the ideal loudly owing for spring and not too expen- Free admission to the fes- thai. Free parking on autho- rized parking lots and streets. Free taxi service from remote parking lots (by tractor and wagon). No set schedule. Free information booklets h: be available through ira's two newspapers - the Signet and the Indepen- dent. Special supplements will provide valuable infor- mation on the entire pro- gram as well as maps indi- cating locations of points of interest, washrooms, food distribution centres, bus tours, schedule of events, etc. A local merchant, the late Herb Ainsworth, originally conceived the idea of a Syrup Festival to raise funds for a non-subsidized school for the mentally retarded and was instrumental in organizing the first presen- tation in 1965, although his untimely death occurred six days before his dream came true. A large part of the pro- ceeds still go to the Associa- tion for the Retarded, but some other charitable orga- nizations and projects ben- efit as well. Attendance has grown each year from 10,000 in 1965 to an estimated 70,000 some recent years - a timony to the popularity f this unique attraction - the first of its kind in Ontario - The Granddaddy of Syrup Festivals. 1979 ATTRACTIONS A THREE BLOCK LONG MALL in the heart of El- mira's business section. In addition to the many and varied retail businesses lo- cated in this area, the mall features back-to-back booths the length of the mall, vending - maple syrup, home-made meats, sau- sages, baking and other foods that "schmeck" (Mennonite German word for taste or tasty) as well as nique crafts ranging from ilts and othe homey wing" to paintings, woodwork, leather work and well, you name it, and it will probably be there SUGAR BUSH TOURS vrsit a genurne "sugar shack" and see maple sap being collected, evaporated and processed into golden maple svrup OLD STEAM ENGINE and vintage tractors will be working at the festival MADE-ON-THE-SPOT PANCAKES served wrth genuine maple syrup at a number of locations along the mall. This year orders have been placed for 1 ton of pancake mix, 150. lbs. coffee, soo quarts of milk, 250 lbs. butter, 75 lbs. sugar cubes, 100 gal. maple syrup - One man will be kept busy all day just slicing butter! COUNTRYSIDE TOUR a two-hour guided bus trip into Elmira’s countryside which visits Ontario's only covered bridge, stove works, harness & saddle shop, blacksmith mstiop, a buggy works, and country general store. Every hour 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ANTRtUE SHOW ' SALE will be held in the Raceway Building adjoining the Grandstand. MUSIC - Bands of various kinds will entertain at the High School, at the Arena, etc. PONY RIDES I: BUGGY RIDES will be available near the mall. HIGH SCHOOL EXTRAVA- GANZA - On Syrup Festival Day the auditorium of the High School is turned into one of the most interesting and comprehensive craft centres to be found any- where in Ontario. Demon- strations of old time crafts will be of interest to every- one. Arts and crafts pro- duced by area artists and craftsmen as well as a great many other outstanding Ontario Craftsmen will in- clude such things as quilts, apple dolls, sewing, cro- cheting, knitting, wood products, china, paintings, woven & hooked rugs, blown glass, pottery, etc. etc. Most of the items will be offered for sale. "The Plain People" a film about the Mennonites will be shown. OLD MacDONAlD’S FARM - where the youngsters can see and become acquainted with various farm animals is in the Exhibits Building at the Fair Grounds. LOG SAWING CONTEST for both Junior and Seniors at Gore Park. SPECIAL DEMONSIIA- IIONS such as "the making of maple syrup toffee will be demonstrated by Russel and Gerald McKee in Gore Park, at the south edge"of the mall. The toffee will be FOOD - ln addition to all the food on the mall, rea- sonably priced homestyle meals will be served at the High School, at the churches, etc, Check the Festival newspaper supple- ments for location, _ menu and prices. _ The Association for the Mentally Retarded still re- ~ceives the largest percent- age of the proceeds, 51 per cent this year. Last year they received $6,500. by Kim Dodson The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival was originally or- ganized to raise money for the Association for the Mentally Retarded. Since the first organizers had es- timated a crowd of 2,500, it was a modest calculation that the proceeds could help one organiza- tion. Imagine their sur- prise when 10,000 people came to Elmira for the first Festival in 1965. for sale. Many other organizations also benefit from the Fes- tival's proceeds. Anyone re- quiring funds is asked to send an application with budget for the Festival com- mittee's consideration. . The Association is an active group in this area. Elmira boasts an ARC Indus- tries, where handicapped can find work and pay. Reid Woods is an adult residence for the mentally handi- capped annd Guiding Light School graduates aptly trained students, many of whom are capable of living on their own. Many pr, have been Association, which is ch y progressive steps 'een taken by the "ion, not the least of is changing the atti- :13; omen AWCVDNS Stays mac" - Wood- , at the (Yea-pound) burning stoves, Including " the. TH! SAP BUCKET a non- the famous fiqdlay Oval. - ck the _ profit retail craft centre tot are manufactured in Elmira. Gaye... ml supple- area craftsmen - one block Local hardware stores have high...“ I menu from the mall on Church .them on display.- _ ." Street (Hwy. 86). [ For further information, e Festival profits help many "ttMrvsPCo8E" - In this I mage a university student discovels a life style he th ht existed on in toms - bam‘uis'lyngs, haytides, At the Elmira Mennonite Church at 9 a.m., tl am. or 1 pm." - OTHER AWCHONS THE SAP BUCKET a non- profit retail craft cehtre for area craftsmen - one block from the mail on Church Street (Hwy. 86). ‘ welcoming warm people. - tudesof many people about what the handicapped ate able to do. The Woolwich Commu- nity Information Centre, which has the answer to almost any question you can come up with, will receive 11 per cent of the proceeds. The Woolwich Interfaith Counseliing'Centre receives eight per cent of the pro- ceeds. This Centre will pro- vide much needed coun- selling to individuals or The Centre is located upstairs of the Township Hall and in addition to. dealing with information about governmental agen- cies, local projects and ser- vices, the Centre is also involved with several spe- cial projects, such as the Christmas Goodwill Pro- gram. Through the efforts of the Centre's volunteers, many needy children are granted a Christmas wish come true. Sifiiiiiiill '. j tit-sm, m. MMMU 4. 't" Jan- 23 Huanv’! SALE ENDS APRIL 14, 1979 WATERLOO SQUARE " King Street WATERLOO. ONT. South V hearty Ideals rand North Star Zero, Heels score high on comfort! Children's 11 -3. Reg. $16.99 $15. Youth s 31/2-6 Reg. $18.99 $17. Women's 5-10 Reg. $19.99 $17. All in blue and brown suede. Men's 71/2-12 Reg. $21.99 $19. Blue, brown, black suede and tan or blacYleather. While quantities last. ,hopping - a mum-level complex with all shops under one root - each shop easily accessible to the other. The tthme and decor emphasize" the has! of yes- terday, but meeting the shopping needs of tomat- IIOX'S ouN TOWN Hg- families who need someone to talk to in confidence. Payment is,based on in- come. The Centre operates out of St: James Lutheran Church on the corner of Arthur and Water Streets. The Elmira and Woolwich Chamber of Commerce, which to many tourists here . In past years, special Proj- ects, such as the library expansion fund, have also on Festival Day will be recognized as the Welcome Mai to our town, receives 11 per cent of the. proceeds. The Chamber handles much of the Festival's publicity by, answering the many en- quiries from all over and the Chamber's manager "Merv Duke is directly involved with publicity on the Fes- tival committee's board. The Canadian Mental Health Association, another active group, will receive 11 per cent of the proceeds and the boy scouts will receive eight per cent. 886-381 0 MEI In MOM" HOME PARKING " There will be a limited amount of parking far these vehicles at Gibson Park where water and washroom facilities will be made available (weather permitting). Arrangements can be made for electrical hook-up as well. benefited by Festival pm- .The above percentages are calculated on 80 per cent of the Festival's pro- ceeds. After expenses are paid, and a rainy day fund set aside, the remaining 20 The Festival committee is looking at an income of $17,000 from the day’s events. The benefiting orga- nizations will do well by the Festival ifthe expected total is reached. -ddr cent' is again divided amongst the manizations. N.ot only are visitors treat- ed to a very pnique day but the money spent is helping a tot of people do a better job in their specific 0tgani- zations. The money derives from a pre-set percentage from the intake of booths in the mail and at the highschool. Ad- missions and ticket money also make money, although a day at the festival is not an expensive one for the in. dividual. _ Get your to." In - Mount. u a “may.