Maple Syrup Festival
For centuries people have tapped maple trees for their sap. Today, Cunningham Falls State Park is on the southern edge of a vast maple syrup production area that ranges from Maritime Canada to Missouri. Enjoy learning about the historic process and tasting the modern product at the Maple Syrup Festival.
Celebrate the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Cunningham Falls State Park! Guests can watch staff demonstrate the traditional way of boiling sap into syrup, listen to live bluegrass music, and take a hayride through the Maple Grove. Try your hand in the great pancake race – trying to flip a pancake on the run ahead of other contestants – or enjoy a hot pancake breakfast with sausage and maple syrup.
Events take place each day of the event from 10AM to 2PM. A sign language interpreter will be stationed at the Sugar Shack on both Sundays. Syrup-making demonstrations and hayrides take place every hour on the hour. $5 donation per person is requested at the entrance. Breakfast, maple syrup products, and event souvenirs are available during the festival hours at extra cost.
Proceeds from the Maple Syrup Festival benefit the nonprofit Friends of Cunningham Falls and Gambrill State Parks. The park opens at 9 a.m. and closes at sunset. Pets are permitted on a leash, outside only. This event is ADA accessible. Visitors may call 301-271-7574 for more information.
Festival Activities
10AM-2PM
Pancake Breakfast
A piping-hot pancake and country sausage breakfast with real Maryland-made maple syrup will be available at the Lakeside Grill. Additional food and drink costs apply.
10AM-2PM Every Hour on the Hour
Sugaring Demonstration
A working demonstration of the traditional sap-to-syrup process is featured at the Boiling Shed. Interpretive talks covering the process and history are given by park rangers. Sign language interpreters available on Sundays.
11AM-2PM
Live Music
Bluegrass music will be performed by local musicians each day of the FestivaI.
Festival Merchandise
Festival hoodies, hats, shirts, mugs and stickers for sale in the Lakeside Grill while supplies last.
Maple Syrup Sales
At the Syrup Wagon, real Maryland-made maple syrup and products will be for sale. Samples available while they last.
Falls Hike
Don't forget to visit our 78-foot cascading waterfall - the tallest in the state. The 1/2 mile (each way) self-guided trail begins near the Boiling Shed and ends at the falls.
Hay Ride
Hayrides of the North Beach area, weather permitting. Take a ride to the sugar bush and see where our sap 1s collected.
Hosted by the Friends of Cunningham Falls State Park and Gambrill State Park, this event has been a staple in Frederick County for more than 50 years!
This annual event highlights the history of maple syrup in Maryland. The event includes opportunities to see maple syrup demonstrations, delicious breakfast items with locally-made maple syrup, and much, much more.
Event location:
William Houck Area
Cunningham Falls State Park
NOTE - due to detour, use -
14274 William Houck Drive, Thurmont, MD to find us.
You can also use the official SHA detour through the area or check our Facebook page for updates..
Route 77
In January 2024, two miles of Route 77 between Pryor Orchard Road and Park Central Road will be closed for repair by the Maryland Department of State Highway Administration.
The road closure is expected to remain in effect through May 2024. A detour is in effect.
Motorists will be detoured using MD 77 to US 15 (Catoctin Mountain Highway) to MD 550 (Sabillasville Road) to Foxville Deerfield Road and back to MD 77.
This will closure and detour will impact the following sites: Catoctin Mountain Park, Cunningham Falls State Park, Ole Mink Farm Recreation Resort, and Mountain Memories at ThorpeWood.
Click below for more information about the detour and the project.
