By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
FRANKLINVILLE — The 61st annual Western New York Maple Festival kicked off in Franklinville Saturday morning with scattered rain and cool temperatures.
Cooler temperatures and windy conditions weren’t enough to keep people from Cattaraugus County’s first festival of the year. It continues today under partly cloudy skies and warmer temperatures.
Hundreds made their way to the elementary school cafeteria on Saturday for the all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast. Millard Brown of Farmersville said he and his family have been coming to the Maple Festival — ever since their kids went to school. The pancakes and maple syrup are the best, he said. Servers come around asking diners if they want more pancakes or sausage.
On Sunday, there’s live music by Cadiz Junction at the pancake breakfast from 9-11 a.m.
The maple syrup for all those pancakes came from Wright’s Farm in Farmersville, which also had a booth with maple products right outside the school’s main entrance. They gave out samples of their soft serve maple ice cream.
There were more than 150 vendors set up inside and in front of the elementary school, the high school and in Park Square. They were selling everything including clothes, hats, jewelry, yard art and many other items. There was also a booth for ice cold lemonade and others for face painting, kettle corn and t-shirts, a bounce house and children’s rides.
The Maple Festival Parade began at 11 a.m. Saturday with the honor guard from Franklinville American Legion Post 526 in the lead.
The Maple King and Queen were also introduced as they rode in a golf cart in the parade. Shea Smith was named king and Elizabeth Price was named queen at competition Friday night at the high school auditorium.
The Franklinville High School Band and Hinsdale Color Guard performed as they marched. Franklinville Little League teams, the Franklinville FFA, Girl Scouts and Franklinville Alliance Church also participated. Two floats were dedicated to local plays: Beauty and the Beast and Barbie. Fire departments brought trucks from Franklinville, Farmersville, Lyndon, Machias and West Valley.
Hundreds of people — including many families — watched the parade from each side of Main Street.
On Sunday the annual SAPS Run starts at 9 a.m. Registration starts at 8 a.m. in the high school gym.
At noon, the Franklinville Fire Department will sponsor a chicken barbecue starting at noon.
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