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Sweetest day of the year has lots going on from taffy to woodcarvings
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ELMIRA — Paige Watson, 16, has always wanted to be a princess. Saturday her wish came true.
Dressed as Snow White, she smiled big and sparkled, greeting guests and posing for photographs at the Elmira Syrup Festival.
“When I was five, I was always watching the Disney princess movies, looking up to the princesses,” she said, beaming. “Then I went to Disney World and then I saw even more of them. And it just made me really happy.”
Paige had a posse with her. That would be Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle and the Beast.
All of them were sweet as syrup, volunteering to promote the festival and Community Care Concepts, the nonprofit home-care agency that supplied their costumes.
“It was so cute seeing all the kids,” said Olivia Warner, 16, who attended as Sleeping Beauty.
Abby Spere, 15, dressed as Cinderella. Last year she was Snow White. Is it a promotion? You be the judge.
Brett Harrington, 24, was toasty warm as the Beast, underneath a full head mask.
“It’s worth it,” he said. “It gets everybody happy.”
You might not immediately connect syrup festival to Disney princesses. But here’s the thing about Elmira: There’s always so much going on. There’s food and woodcarving and pancake-flipping and crafts and sugar bush tours — and did we say food?
One guest having a good time was the mom who loves maple mustard. Yes it’s a thing. Marlene Jantzi-Bauman swears by it. Her partner, Darren Bauman, also likes the classic sausage-in-a-bun.
The Elmira couple brought children Iyla, five, and Elliot, three, who seemed pretty happy with their suckers.
“We come every year. Part of it is supporting the local community and the other part is the food,” Jantzi-Bauman said.
Saturday’s festival was the 54th version. It had the same familiar activities and treats that draw crowds by the tens of thousands.
Coltin Cudney and Nicole DiPucchio keep returning from Fergus. Cudney likes the turkey legs. DiPucchio likes the crafts and yes, the turkey legs. The couple arrived early and got right into snacking on Beavertails.
“It’s nice. The sunshine’s out,” DiPucchio said.
They looked at a map and tried to plan their day. Maybe a sugar bush tour? Or time for DiPucchio to try sawing a log. With so much going on, so much is possible.