Sunderland Public School (10 am-3 pm) outside

Performing at the School in the Gym stage. Take a picture of your kid with the mermaid.

In 1909 when the Vroomanton United Church brick building was built a time capsule was placed in the cornerstone. In 2026 after the sale of the church the capsule was removed and it’s contents will be on display at the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival April 11 and 12 in the Sunderland Museum.

2026 Winners

I would like to start this post with the Winners of the People’s Choice selection for the 2026 Paint a Leaf Contest at the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival.

• • Stephanie Hall took first place with her stack of pancakes beside a bottle of Sunderland Maple Syrup.
  • 2nd place went to Sue Gionet who painted a beautiful picture of a pond on her property in White, blue and black.
  • 3rd place went to Sarah Damtsis Barron for her serene painting of the moon reflecting on a still lake in northern Ontario from a photo a friend gave her to paint.

Lore Grant

2026 Entries

Hometown Heart Store in Cannington – Grant House Bed & Breakfast are donating the design and materials for 2026.

It is that time of year again to get creative with our 2026 Maple Leaf Challenge at the Sunderland MapleSyrup Festival and this year, we also have a limited quantity of little leaves for the 12 and under Artist in your home.

Attention Local Artists!!!

This event was such an overwhelming success last year with the creativity and materials that went into each entry, we look forward to seeing what the artists have in store for us.

As the leafs come back to us, we will number them and apply UV preservant to them for display purposes and the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite as was done last year.

We already have 7 participants and if you are interested in designing a leaf for the challenge, just private message me and we will take your information so we can deliver yours to your door.

We may even have a “Kid’s Maple Leaf Challenge” for children 12 and under depending on the interest, with the few little leaves we have left over from last year so let us know as there is a limited supply.

Please email leaf@maplesyrupfestival.ca to register and to request your Leaf  to enter the Challenge this year while quantities last.

We thank you for your interest in this exciting event at the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival and we wish you luck and look forward to exhibiting your work of Art!

The leaves will be displayed in the front window of The Haven Beauty Studio.

The 2025 Leafs that were sold to support the festival.

Meet the 2025 artists

Durham Region’s ONLY Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital

MOVED to School due to the Arena Construction

Welcome to Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue, Durham Region’s ONLY Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital; we are licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry and Canadian Wildlife Services to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured, abandoned, and orphaned wildlife. Our goal is to release our patients back into the wild.

Events:

• • Learning how to bandage teddy bears
  • How to feed a baby animals station
  • Nutrition Matching Games
  • Skulls, Pelts, and other various animal artifacts
  • Flip & Match Games Associated with wildlife rehabilitation
  • How to help wildlife in your own backyard.

Schedule:

• • Saturday/Sunday: 10:30 am,  1 pm and 3 pm each show is approximately 30-45 minutes
    – Contributing Sponsor GTA Hardware Inc

Warming Centre, Baby Change Station, coffee, tea, mac n cheese, church ladies egg salad sandwiches, chips, and cookies.

We have people that have their food handlers course and our kitchen is inspected and passed annually by the Durham Region Health Department. We will open the Sanctuary to the public on both days of the SMSF and have many items on display from the 1925’s and provide a tour of the Sanctuary. There will be music played on the Pipe Organ and Grand Piano and hymns through the ages will be streamed over the sound system. When the Organ is being played, the music from the pipes of the organ will be heard on the street. The accessible lower hall with tables and chairs will be available as a warming station. An accessible washroom and baby changing area will also be provided.

an Exciting Annual Event

The 4-H Club’s Lawn Tractor Pull is one of the favourite annual events at the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival.

This year the action gets underway at 11:30 on Sunday,  at the corner of Albert St. near River St.

The lawn tractors are modified by the 4-H members themselves, and designed to pull weighted sleds. The SMSF event will be a demonstration only, but it’s good practice for the 4-H kids who will be entering competitions later in the year.

This attraction is lots of fun for visitors to watch, and even more fun for the competitors!

Jeff Taylor
j-k.taylor@sympatico.ca

Sunderland Tractor Pull 2013

We do things a bit different in the north. This is the 4H tractor pull from the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival on April 7, 2013.

Welcome to the new age in Petting Zoos, where the world’s animals come together in an interactive and educational environment. The young and the young at heart will enjoy petting, feeding & learning about the animals that most have only read about or seen on TV.

Watch the children’s faces light up as they ride a live pony for the first time. Don’t forget your camera as you will want to keep this proud moment for all to see.

The Tiger Paw Exotics petting zoo and pony rides are located beside the arena. While the petting zoo is free, pony rides are $5 per ride.