Beaver County's most mouth-watering, maplelicious festival returns to Bradys Run Park

BRIGHTON TWP. ― Fluffy stacks of flapjacks soaked in sweet, sticky maple syrup with a side of sausage.

That's a taste of the good life right there.

A taste that thousands of visitors will savor at this year's Beaver County Maple Syrup & Music Festival.

Returning for a 44th year to Bradys Run Park on April 20-21, the festival presents an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, live music from local bands, costumed re-enactors and craft and food vendors.

Though the celebration centers on 100 percent pure syrup tapped from Pennsylvania maple trees.

More than 2,700 pounds of syrup are ready for the family-friendly event, where people traditionally line up outside the wooden Lodge at Bradys Run for their turn to tear into a plate of pancakes soaked in syrup. Guests can choose between buckwheat or buttermilk pancakes.

"Our gluten-free pancakes also are a popular product," festival planning chairman Regis Collins said. "Last year, we had a high demand and actually sold out, so we've increased the quantity in terms of gluten-free."

Outside, food vendors will sell maple-flavored items like popcorn, candy, cotton candy and lollipops.

Festival admission is free, with hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days.

Visitors arrive by free shuttle buses, provided by Frye Transportation, with pick-up and drop-off at the Bradys Run Ice Arena, the parking lot near Bradys Run Lake and the parking lot next to the dog park. Handicap-accessible parking and free shuttle service will be from the playground area at the western end of the park, across from the Four Seasons Lodge.

"Please do not park along Park Road as there will be 'No Parking' signs posted and law enforcement will be actively patrolling the park to ensure clear traffic conditions," Collins said.

Festival attendees also should refrain from attempting to park in restricted parking areas (where parking passes are required) such as the Horse Arena, for which festival volunteers get parking passes, and the vendors and demonstrators parking area.

Live entertainment

This year's music lineup features several popular returnees from last year including award-winning blues guitar ace Pierce Dipner who recently graduated from U.S. Army Basic Combat Training.

Dipner will open the entertainment at 8:30 a.m. April 20, followed by Stage Right at 10 a.m., bagpiper Josh Hassan at 11:15 a.m. and County Crew at noon.

Beloved Baver County rocker David Granati takes the stage at 2 p.m., orchestrating his For Those About to Rock Academy of talented young musicians, as well as his adult version of a rock school.

For April 21, bagpiper Hassan returns at 9 a.m., followed by rock bands Slap Shot at 10 a.m., and Better Think Twice at 11:15 a.m.

Country recording artist Dawn Savage takes the stage at 1 p.m. with Concrete Soul at 2:30 p.m.

A Kids Zone will host children's activities, run by Neighborhood North Museum of Play from Beaver Falls. A bounce house, petting zoo and pony rides are included.

Boy Scouts of America will have a display tent showcasing the organization's local and national history.

Fort McIntosh and Civil War re-enactors will educate and entertain with demonstrations.

Closed from 2020-2022 due to the pandemic, the maple syrup festival returned with a flourish in 2023, led by the direction of new coordinators, PUSH Beaver County.

"It was certainly well-received," Collins, a member of PUSH, the masterminds behind the Beaver County Boom! fireworks extravaganza, said. "We had nearly 10,000 people for breakfast, which is believed to have exceeded any previous attendance historically."

The cost for all-you-can-eat pancakes is $15, with senior citizens, First Responders, active military and veterans paying $12, and children (12 and younger) charged $10.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Beaver County Maple Syrup & Music Festival returns to Bradys Run Park