Local Ruritan Clubs Work Hard To Make The Maple Festival A Success Every Year

Bolar and Mill Gap, VA – Local Ruritan Clubs work hard to help make the Highland County Maple Festival a success every year. The hard work is worth it, because the clubs use the proceeds all year long to do good work within the community. The Mill Gap Ruritan Club makes maple donuts. President Jim Cobb says the club’s been selling donuts for close to 50 years, starting out selling a donut and a cup of coffee for $.25

In an average year the Mill Gap Ruritans sell between 4 and 6 thousand dozen. They sell out every year. He says 100% of the funds raised during the festival go right back into the community via the medical center and civic organizations.

The Mill Gap Ruritan Club donut trailer is open each day of the Maple festival from 8am until approximately 3:30, or until they run out. It’s located in Monterey behind Ernie’s Market at the intersection of Routes 250 and 220.Many volunteers are needed to assist club members in making the donuts. Volunteers are rewarded with a steak and shrimp dinner in April. Cobb is still looking for volunteers for this year’s festival. To help out call Jim cobb at 468-2942 or Caroline Smith at 499-2879.

The Bolar Ruritan Club also has a long tradition of hard work during Maple Festival. The Club feeds an average of 1000 to 1500 people per day during Maple Festival. Club president Tammy Hicklin says the batter for the Buckwheat cakes is started a week ahead of the festival. And their sausage patties are made by hand and locally grown. The Bolar Ruritan Hall is located on Route 220 in Bolar about 17 miles south of Monterey. It’s open 7am to 3pm each day of the festival.