Geauga County Maple Festival Seeks Bakers for Centennial Celebration Contest

CHARDON, OHIO — The Geauga County Maple Festival is preparing for a historic milestone as it reaches its centennial year in 2026. Organizers are calling on local bakers to help celebrate a century of tradition by participating in the festival’s annual baking contest, a competition that highlights the region’s deep roots in syrup production. This year is particularly significant as the festival commemorates its 1926 founding, when local merchant Art Carlson first proposed the event to boost the profile of Ohio maple syrup. The contest is open to bakers of all experience levels, but the requirements reflect the high standards of the local industry. According to the Geauga County Maple Festival guidelines, every entry must use real maple syrup as a key ingredient rather than maple extract. All recipes must be made from scratch, and any use of prepackaged mixes will result in disqualification. It is a rule that honors the authenticity Carlson and his colleagues championed when they sold syrup for 50 cents a gallon during the Great Depression era. Participants are required to submit their entries on disposable plates covered in wrap, with the recipe and entry form securely attached. There is a $5 fee per entry, and while individuals can submit multiple items, they are limited to one entry per category. Young bakers are encouraged to participate in the kids’ categories, provided the work is their own and adults only provide supervision. Because the festival lacks on-site cooling for the competition, any entries that require refrigeration will not be accepted. Bakers must drop off their submissions on Thursday, April 23, 2026, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The drop-off location is the Chardon VFW Post 6519, at 752 Water St. directly across from Sage’s Apples. The centennial celebration will span four days, from April 23 through April 26, though the season officially kicks off much earlier. Tappin’ Sunday is scheduled for March 1 at Chardon Square, where the community will gather for the ceremonial tapping of trees and a first taste of the season’s maple stirs. This tradition has grown significantly since the first festival, which drew 15,000 visitors despite a massive April ice storm. Historical footage of these early gatherings was recently uncovered in collections from former Chardon Mayor Robert Eldridge and Elmer Richards, a former Chardon vocational instructor. These videos, which include rare scenes from the inaugural 1926 festival, will be part of the historical displays during the 100th anniversary weekend. Other planned events include the invitational lumberjack competition, the annual Sap Run and the pancake-eating contest. For those interested in the full list of baking categories or to download the required entry forms, information is available at maplefestival.com. Specific questions regarding the contest or the centennial schedule can be directed to the festival office at 440-332-7055. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.