Joanne Williams
Editor
(Photo provided- The 2026 Vermontville Syrup Festival Court (from left): Queen McKenzie Soper, Kiylee Kirby, and Aubree Roth. The court was crowned at a February 11 ceremony.)
The taps are open. The syrup is running. Good news for the 85th Annual Vermontville Maple Syrup Festival.
Planning is continuous, and parts of the event are set in place weeks before the actual weekend.
For example, the Maple Syrup Festival queen and her court were crowned just last week. This year’s queen is 16-year-old McKenzie Soper. The Maple Valley High School student wants to be a third-grade teacher and loves to draw, sing, and is a member of the choir. She is the oldest of five children.
Soper writes, “I would say my favorite part about the festival is seeing how many people go. It really brings our community together.” Organizers have estimated more than 20,000 in festivals past.
Joining Soper are Kiylee Kirby and Aubree Roth.
Kirby, 17, also attends Maple Valley High School, where she participates in volleyball and soccer. Kirby loves to write and take photographs. She wants to major in nursing. Kirby is the middle child of six in her family. Kirby writes, “I enjoy and am thankful for the ones who made this a thing where towns around us come and celebrate and enjoy.”
Sixteen-year-old Roth, also attending Maple Valley, wants to pursue a career in law enforcement. At the high school, she is active in volleyball and basketball and would like to continue basketball in college. She is also a great supporter of 4-H.
Roth writes, “I also enjoy seeing how everyone is out and enjoying themselves (at the festival) and it really shows how close our community is.”
The court has a number of responsibilities, including attending parades to represent Vermontville and experience collecting maple syrup.
The February 11 crowning event was held at the First Congregational Church in Vermontville and was hosted by the Maple Syrup Festival Corporation and the Vermontville Lions Club.
Last year’s court was also represented by queen Madison Trowbridge, who shared a scrapbook of the year’s activities.
The April 24-26 festival includes activities from parades to pancake breakfasts, entertainment and vendor booths. This year, drones will fill the skies in place of fireworks.
