The festival is voted top Best Food or Drink Festival in the Shenandoah Valley Region for the second consecutive year.

The Highland County Maple Festival has been announced as this year’s first-place place winner for Best Food or Drink Festival of the Shenandoah Valley Region in Virginia Living’s tenth annual Best of Virginia issue, receiving the distinction for the second consecutive year. The statewide guide to all that is “best” in Virginia dining, shopping, and doing, Best of Virginia 2021 lists the more than 1,500 winners from the magazine’s Readers’ Survey conducted in January. Nearly 53,000 people voted in 111 categories covering the best in Living & Recreation, Food & Drink, Shopping, and Services across the Commonwealth. This special issue hit newsstands in May 2021.

Since 1958, visitors have been drawn to Highland County to tour real maple sugar camps for a cultural and culinary adventure during the annual Highland County Maple Festival. Tens of thousands of visitors are drawn to this unspoiled, rural, mountain community each year to celebrate the “opening” of the trees and experience arts and crafts, food, and entertainment. In 1999, The Library of Congress designated the Highland County Maple Festival a “Local Legacy.”  In 2014, the Governor of Virginia signed a bill into law designating the festival as the “official maple festival of Virginia.”

“The Highland County Chamber of Commerce is once again humbled to have the Maple Festival chosen for this distinction,” says Executive Director, Chris Swecker. “The fact is not lost on us that readers have chosen our festival even though it has been canceled the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Despite all the challenges of last year, this award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of every maple syrup producer, business, organization, vendor, and volunteer. For over sixty years, people have been positively impacted by the Maple Festival with memories and traditions. This honor provides us even more motivation as we plan for the 2022 Highland County Maple Festival and sharing pure Virginia maple syrup with visitors and residents for years to come. Thank you to everyone for your support.”

“We are proud to note that this is the biggest Best of Virginia issue in the program’s 10-year history, containing more categories, more winners, more stories about local businesses, and more colorful, informative advertisements than ever before,” says Mindy Kinsey, editor of Virginia Living.

“Each winner truly represents the highest quality products, top-notch customer service, and unforgettable experiences that locals and tourists alike have come to expect from Virginia businesses,” Kinsey says.  “Virginia Living is honored to support the state’s favorite shops, restaurants, entertainment venues, services, and healthcare providers.”

About Virginia Living

Virginia Living celebrates all things Virginia – from its people and places to its deep history and traditions. The highest quality, most widely read magazine in the state, Virginia Living’s combination of smart, engaging stories and stunning photography makes it a must-read for anyone interested in the Commonwealth.

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To learn more about Virginia Living, visit www.VirginiaLiving.com.

The Highland County Chamber of Commerce is a 501(c)(6) membership nonprofit organization with a mission to lift up local businesses and entrepreneurs, promote Highland County, and champion economic prosperity and quality of life.  For more information, please visit www.highlandcounty.org.