Central New York 53rd Annual Maple Festival – April 5 & 6
Posted by Dustin Horton // March 16, 2025 // Festivals, News
Celebrate all things maple! Join us in celebrating 53 years of the CNY Marathon Maple Festival and beginning of spring with the all-you-can-eat of pancake meal on both Saturday and Sunday in the high school cafeteria. There will be Artisans traveling from near and far to show off their extravagant creations. Stop by the civic center and the high school gymnasium to take a look at the variety of artwork and goodies. Watch live chainsaw carvings on the Village Green, enjoy hot and cold food, drinks, and maple products – delicious maple cotton candy and milkshakes too! Stop by the Sugar Shack for your free sample of maple syrup. The Maple Festival offers a wide variety of traditional and unique maple products all made from Marathon, NY Maple Farms, so stop by the Maple Museum or the Mobile Maple Shack on the green to purchase some delicious, one-of-a-kind treats! Take the bus over to the American Legion to visit more crafters and food and try your luck on the cake wheel. As you walk around Marathon, watch for this year’s Maple Queen and her court, and come see the amazing events that are only shown at the CNY Maple Festival. There is a wide variety of entertainers in the auditorium and throughout the town of Marathon for people of all ages to enjoy.
For more information and updates, visit CNY Maple Festival on Facebook, or their website at maplefestival.org.
Saturday, April 5th & Sunday, April 6th
- All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Meal (Prices subject to change) 7am – 12pm (Adults $12, Children 6-12 $8, Seniors $8, Children 1-5 Free)
- 85+ juried craft vendors
- BBQ chicken behind the Methodist Church
- Maple Mobile Races behind NBT Bank
- Airboat rides – weather depending
- Horse drawn wagon rides
- All things Maple
- Free entertainment all day both days
Saturday, April 5th Only
- Pancake eating contest at 9am in the High School Auditorium
Parking is available on Mill street, the Elementary School, and Ron’s Body & Paint Parking lot. There are buses that come to each of these locations for pick up and drop off on both days. All parking is Cash Donation!
Who is Eating Pancakes?
Pancakes and maple syrup are on the menu in Marathon, NY April 5 & 6 when the rites of spring are observed and celebrated. It is “maple” time in Central New York! The 53rd Annual CNY Maple Festival has become a family tradition for folks near and far.
One of the popular events takes place on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the High School Auditorium. The Annual Pancake Eating Contest, (now in the 27th year) will kick off the weekend events. Pancake eaters unbuckle their belt and belly up to the table, eating pancakes for a not-for-profit organization they support. So who are the pancake eaters this year?
Returning champion, Dan Cross will once again take to the stage for the Marathon Central School Trap Shooters; radio personality, Glenn Pitcher of WHWK Radio Station will be eating for The Bridge Community Center; Connie Coppola, a young lady who is a member of “Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.)” is eating for the Stratton VA Medical Center Fisher House; Camdyn Kashuba will please his MCS Classmates when he eats for The Class of 2026; Sam Carlton’s not for profit is the Seven Valley Health Coalition; Patrick Rand (also a former pancake eating champion) will be supporting the Homer Boys Varsity Wrestling Club; Dave Mahoney is supporting The Marathon Lions Club; and Myron Swartz will be eating pancakes for Southern Tier Lyme Support Group.
Pancake eaters and the not-for-profits they represent are soliciting pancake pledges now. The pancake eaters in 2024 raised over $8,000 total for their special organizations.
It is a fun time, the audience cheers, supporters bring signs to encourage and when the 15 minute contest if over, everyone is a winner! For more info check out our website maplefestival.org.
