Spring festival season arrives in the Waterloo Region this weekend, offering residents and visitors a variety of events celebrating local traditions, arts, and culinary history from April 11 to April 12, 2026.
The centerpiece of the weekend is the 62nd Annual Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, which takes place on Saturday, April 11, from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in downtown Elmira. Recognized as the world’s largest one-day maple syrup festival, organizers expect between 70,000 and 80,000 visitors to attend. The event, supported by more than 2,400 volunteers, serves as a major fundraiser for local charitable organizations, with all proceeds distributed as grants. Syrup served at the festival’s famous pancake breakfast will be provided by Maple Tap Farm in New Dundee.
For those interested in fibre arts, the WEFTFest Fibre Art Festival runs on both Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Held at the Hampton Inn at 55 Benjamin Rd. in Waterloo, the event celebrates traditional quilt and fibre arts in the region and is produced by the Three Sisters Cultural Centre.
Residents looking to learn new skills can visit the Waterloo Region Museum on Saturday morning for a Pruning Trees and Shrubs Workshop. The session runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will be led by heritage gardener Bob Wildfong, who will provide hands-on instruction on the principles and methods of pruning.
In addition to these events, the Explore Waterloo Region tourism group continues its Taste of Maple Trail. This self-guided experience highlights more than 20 maple-infused culinary creations at various restaurants and food establishments throughout the area, including options at locations like Four Fathers Brewing.
