March 29. 2025
The Lions Club will present the 50th Andover Maple Festival this coming weekend, April 5 and April 6, at Andover Central School. A pancake breakfast with locally produced maple syrup is the centerpiece of an event that gives many local businesses and organizations a showcase. Vendors and exhibits entertain and supply festival goers with sweet and sticky maple products, arts and crafts, history, health testing and more.
The Andover Lions Club began the Maple Festival in 1973. The vison of the founders was to serve the community with an event that would give local organizations and businesses a venue to reach a wider audience. The many maple trees lining the streets in the Village of Andover made a convenient sugar bush that the Lions Club tapped to supply sap for their sugar shack, which produced syrup as well as an informative display to demonstrate the process.
Andover Lions have been serving the community since 1971. The Maple Festival, being the signature event, skipped a few years because of covid, but has reclaimed its place as the beginning of spring for the local community. The Maple Festival serves as a showcase not just for the Lions Club, but also for many of the other organizations and businesses of the region. The pancake breakfast, served in the school cafeteria by Andover Haunted House, begins at 7 AM both days.
In addition to the food and other vendors entertainment is offered in the auditorium. On Saturday from 10 to 11 AM Ellie the therapy dog and her handler will demonstrate nearly a hundred tricks that this talented and charming canine performs. At 11 AM till noon there will be a Kiddie Tractor Pull where children can compete with pedal tractors for prizes. At 1 PM there will be a performance of Pastor Phil’s Puppet Show. A second demonstration by Ellie the Therapy Dog will be at 2 PM.
Sunday there is a community worship service at 8:30 AM, Kiddie Tractor Pull at 11 AM and Ellie, once again, from 1 to 2 PM.
The Andover Lions Club is chartered by Lions Clubs International, one of the largest and most respected charitable service organizations in the world. The Andover Lions Club has monthly dinner meetings to foster good fellowship in service to the community. In addition to providing financial grants to multiple organizations such as the Library, 4th of July Celebration, Youth Sports and many others. Andover Lions Club assists community members with the loan of medical supplies such as hospital beds, wheel chairs, walkers and similar supplies. Grants are available for vision related services such as eye exams and eyeglasses.
