Arts Covid Life 

King’s Landing Celebrates “Maple: The First Taste of Spring” for the First Time in Two Years

Avery Morton , , ,

PRINCE WILLIAM, NB – The King’s Landing historical settlement was bustling with visitors this weekend for their annual “Maple: The First Taste of Spring” event. The past two weekends also mark the first year since 2020 that the celebration has been able to take place. Since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions on March 14th, New Brunswick businesses were able to reopen to full capacity, and even remove masking requirements if they so chose. 

At King’s Landing, masking was still required in-doors, while optional outside. The vast majority of visitors to the village made a strong effort to maintain masking and distancing, even while visiting outside. Actors who make up the ‘living museum’ of King’s Landing also have been wearing masks throughout the pandemic, made up from period fabrics and materials.

Highly skilled actors make up the ‘living museum’ of King’s Landing. (Avery Morton/STU)

Many families joined together for the first time in months to experience the celebration, welcoming the much awaited beginning of spring. Passers-by often stopped on the uppermost hill to take in the beautiful view of the snowy St. John River, dotted with barns and homesteads.

Many of the buildings in the village of King’s Landing were rescued from the St. John River valley to prevent their destruction with the advent of the Mactaquac dam. (Avery Morton/STU)

After receiving a map, visitors made their way through winding forest paths before finding themselves on the main road, ready to head toward the numerous attractions laid out for the day. Families new to Canada and to New Brunswick experienced many local traditions all in one fun-filled, albeit chilly March day.

Attendees lined up for Maritime-famous maple taffy, a staple of springtime cuisine. Maple syrup harvested in the village boiled in pots over carefully tended fires. Cooks brought the hot syrup over to waiting boxes of snow, equipped with small stairs for children to get a better look.

Visitors were delighted to sample the famous seasonal treat. (Avery Morton/STU)

 

Actors served food and made their way through the village, greeting visitors like old friends. (Avery Morton/STU)

Throughout the village, men and women spun wool, tended to wood stoves, and gossiped over fresh tea and scones. Visitors were invited into their stately homes all around. Each with a welcoming fire to help shake off the cold. 

Attendees could stop and simply listen to men and women in period dress as they spoke about their day, sometimes offering gossip and advice about others one may find around the village. (Avery Morton/STU)

Homes featured all sorts of staples from everyday life in the 20th century. With dining tables set with fine china, handmade quilts and furniture, each home tells a unique story of its occupants, as well as any of their particular tastes.

Visitors can see many unique furnishings and features in the homes of King’s Landing. (Avery Morton/STU)

Period cooking and crafting demonstrations took place in buildings all around the village. Scones, cornbread and dumplings were handed out fresh from the oven.

Recipes were handed out for every food one could sample for the unique opportunity to make them at home. (Avery Morton/STU)

At a fork in the road, homemade baked beans were given out. Hugely successful, by midday, the cooks had made it up to their seventh pot. 

Beans were the recipe-sharing exception, with the chosen formula being a close-guarded family secret. (Avery Morton/STU)

Visitors of all ages took part in scenic sleigh rides throughout the day. Taking patrons on a tour all around the village, the sleighs made stops at each building and event for riders to view.

Horse-drawn sleighs slid past regularly, filled with people of all ages. Their jingling bells accented the picturesque snowy scenes. (Avery Morton/STU)

Back at the main lodge of the village, the smell of fresh-baked goods floated through the smoky foyer. Families navigated the bustling anteroom to make their way downstairs. There, the Luxor Shriners of New Brunswick prepared fresh pancakes to raise money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The Luxor Shriners pancake fundraiser was a huge success. (Luxor Shriners/Facebook)

Many attendees filled the market store in the next room. Carrying items like fresh maple syrup, candy and souvenirs, the small shop had something to offer for most everyone. Many gravitated toward the locally made bottles of not only maple syrup, but various fruit syrups as well. 

Shoppers browsed through a large selection of homemade foods and goods. (Avery Morton/STU)

These two weekends of springtime celebration were a huge success for King’s Landing and the Shriners, as well as for the attendees. Smiling faces were all around as visitors left at the end of the day, eager to see what the future will hold for events at King’s Landing.

King’s Landing will reopen for the summer season June 8th, 2022.