MAPLE FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND!

The annual Potter-Tioga Maple Festival in downtown Coudersport returns for its 42nd running this weekend.

Vendors are set up at the courthouse square both Friday and Saturday.

Saturday is the big day, highlighted by the Maple Sweetheart Parade at 3 pm. Pancake breakfasts, featuring real maple syrup, will be served at the Coudersport Consistory from 7 am to 3 pm.

Booths at the square will open at 9 am and most will remain in operation until 7 pm. Among the main attractions is the live demonstration of a maple syrup "sugar shanty," along with display and sales of products from affiliates of the Potter-Tioga Maple Producers Association.

That organization is assisting the festival sponsor, Coudersport Area Chamber of Commerce. John Buchanan and Mike Harris are co-chairing the Maple Festival Committee.

A small kiddie carnival and games are on Third Street.

Judging of the Maple Sweetheart contest will be open to the public at the gazebo, starting at 1:30 pm.

After the parade, the fourth annual Maple Festival Idol karaoke contest will be held at the gazebo, with an estimated starting time of 5 pm.

There will be live music at the gazebo periodically from 9 am to 7 pm. An art show will be held across Third Street at the Methodist Church.

Several supplemental activities have been added to take advantage of the Maple Festival crowd.

Coudersport High School's baseball team is holding a giant yard sale on the lot behind the former Adelphia School Building, at West and Water Streets.

Potter County Historical Society on North Main Street will be open for tours from 10 am to 3 pm.

American Cancer Society will hold its Great American Duck Race, with ducks on sale at the courthouse square. They'll float from a starting line at CARP Field along the Allegheny River to the Chestnut Street Bridge finish line.

Members of the public may attend the second annual Robert Merten Circle of Fifths Music Award competition at the high school auditorium, starting at 10 am.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church Youth Group is holding a chicken barbecue on the lot across from the Potter County Jail on Saturday. Proceeds will help cover the group's trip to New Orleans in July 2009.

Cherry Springs State Park is getting in on the act by posting astronomer Stash Nawrocki at the courthouse square to provide filtered telescope viewing of the sun. On Friday and Saturday nights, the park will offer Adventures in Stargazing at its observation field.