Parke County Maple Fair

The Parke County Maple Fair takes place on two weekends in 2025: February 22-23 and March 1-2, from 8 AM to 3 PM daily, at the Parke County Fairgrounds in Rockville, Indiana. The fair celebrates the local maple syrup season kickoff, where producers tap maple trees to collect sugar water for syrup production. Visitors can enjoy a pancake meal served all day featuring whole hog sausage and golden maple syrup. The event also features local artisans and vendors selling handmade crafts, maple syrup products, and butcher shop meats and cheeses. Maple syrup camps are open for touring, giving guests the chance to see how pure maple syrup is made and sample fresh products.

The fair is located at the Parke County 4-H Fairgrounds, about a mile north of Rockville on US Highway 41. The surrounding area is known for its scenic rural country roads and world-famous covered bridges, creating a charming and authentic small-town vibe. Guests are encouraged to explore these covered bridges and drive around the county to visit the maple syrup "sugar camps" where syrup is produced. The atmosphere is family-friendly and educational, offering a taste of local tradition combined with craft and food vendors.

Typical activities and features at the Parke County Maple Fair include:

• All-day pancake and sausage meals with real maple syrup
• Tours of maple syrup camps demonstrating tapping and syrup-making processes
• Vendors selling maple syrup products such as syrup candy, cookies, jams, and jellies
• Local artisans and crafters offering handmade items and artwork
• Butcher shop meats and cheeses for sale
• Opportunity to drive scenic routes along Parke County’s famous covered bridges

A rough schedule for each fair day is:

• 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM: Fair open with pancake breakfast served continuously
• Maple camp tours available throughout the day at scattered locations in the county
• Artisan and vendor booths open during fair hours

Historically, the event emerges from Parke County’s longstanding tradition of maple syrup production at the end of winter, showcasing the agricultural heritage and community pride in natural syrup production. The county’s maple syrup industry is part of Indiana’s rich history of syrup production dating back to the 19th century, a tradition maintained and celebrated today with events like this fair.

The Parke County Maple Fair offers an engaging blend of food, local history, craft, and family activities centered around the natural maple syrup harvest season. It is fully handicapped accessible and a valued event in the region's agricultural and cultural calendar.