Sugar Maple Music Festival would like to give a special thanks to all who helped us pull off our 15th annual festival. We can’t thank everyone enough for contributing to another successful year at Sugar Maple! A big thanks goes out to our 2018 food and beverage vendors: El Grito Taqueria,  Cress Springs Bakery, Underground Butcher, Wadizzit Traveling Food, Justveggies Vegetarian and Vegan Food, Let it Ride Coffee , Tyranena Brewing Company  and Bos Meadery.

As we prepare for our 16th annual festival, we would like to thank our current sponsors:

Wisconsin Public Radio, Tyranena Brewing Company, Tack Video Production, Willy Street Co-op, Creative Tent Solutions, Wort 89.9 FM, Dane County Parks, Ward Brodt, Bos Meadery, Saris, Sooper Dooper Print & Digital Media, Boulders Climbing Gym, Stone Fence, Hampton Inn & Suites Madison Downtown, Barrymore Theatre, Spruce Tree Music & Repair, Wisconsin Union, Gandy Dancer Festival, WVMO 98.7 FM, The Harmony Bar & Grill, Celebrations Entertainment, The Rumpus Room, Big Rentz, Redfin, Madison Arts Commission and Dane Arts.

photo credit: Kent Sweitzer Photography

–written by Caroline Martin

Howdy Friends!

We are just two days away from the 13^th annual Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival.  Are you as excited as we are?!  Share this link and spread the love.  Let’s pack the big tent and show our artists just how much we appreciate their music!

Want a sneak preview of the fest?  Check out Devil in a Woodpile at the UW Union Terrace Thursday August 4 from 5-7 pm.

Schedule and ticket info is available at www.sugarmaplefest.org but here are some last minute tips:

• Get your tickets now!  Advance tickets are available through Thursday on-line and at Willy St. Co-op East and West, Whole Foods, Spruce Tree Music, and Orange Tree Imports.
• Bring the kids; ages 17 and under are free!
• Ride your bike to the fest and enter a drawing for a 3 bones bike rack from our sponsor Saris!  Drawing to be held around 4 pm on Saturday.
• We have food!  This year’s vendors include El Grito Taqueria, Underground Butcher, Toast Food Cart / Gili’s Paninis, Wadizzit Traveling Food and El Sabor de Puebla
• We have drinks!  Beer from Tyranena Brewing Company and mead from Bos Meadery.  Yum, yum!  And all beer $1 off during the Malt House Happy Hour Set at the festival with Mal-O-Dua!  Friday from 5-6:15 pm.
• Carry-ins allowed but please support our wonderful food and drink vendors!
• Bring your instruments for jamming!  This is an interactive festival and your participation is what sets the Sugar Maple fest apart from other music fests!
• We are a rain or shine event; all of our artists perform under tents or shelters.
• Bring a chair or a blanket to sit on.  We have a limited number of chairs, and yours are more comfortable anyway.
• Leave all pets at home.  Park rule.
• Bring Cash.  We will have an ATM but if you have some $ in your pocket when you come, you will be all set.
• We know you’re social (we’ve seen you on the dance floor!) so get on those internets and spread the word…
  • Like us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • And hashtag like crazy! #sugarmaplefest

See you at the big tent!
Your Sugar Maple Planning Crew

written by Jennifer Phistry

Take a minute or two to preview the brews you might be sipping at Sugar Maple Fest—read about some of the interesting ales of Tyranena Brewing Company (see the list below). We can hardly wait to raise our cups in appreciation of this great Wisconsin brewery and their longtime support of Sugar Maple Fest. Thank you, Tyranena.

Look for Tyranena beers at Sugar Maple Fest, in stores, and at Tyranena Brewing Company in Lake Mills, Wisconsin.

Three Beaches Honey Blonde – Tyranena’s version of the American Blonde Ale is like a day at the beach—light, with a sweet touch of honey and a mild citrus accent.

Bitter Woman IPA – Tyranena’s take on India Pale Ale is intensely bitter (hence the name) with mighty hop flavor and aroma.

Rocky’s Revenge – An American brown ale with a portion of each batch aged in bourbon barrels. Each oak barrel will contribute its own unique character to this rich, satisfying ale.

Chief BlackHawk Porter – This robust, black, and sharply bittersweet ale celebrates Chief Black Hawk, a courageous Sauk leader.

Wisconsin Drinking Fountain Wit – Light and lemony with a hint of spice, this Belgian-style witbier (white beer) is perfect for a summer afternoon. Get it while you can! You’ll only find it on tap at the Tyranena Brewery and at Sugar Maple Fest this weekend.

And enjoy $1 off all beer during the Malt House Happy Hour set at the festival with Mal-O-Dua, Friday August 5 from 5:00 pm – 6:15 pm!

If you’re a fan of Sugar Maple, your ears are probably twitching with anticipation for the sweet sounds of bluegrass, Western swing, and other traditional tunes, but don’t forget your taste buds should be excited, too.

A few of the thrills awaiting your appetite will be in El Grito Taqueria’s vintage food truck. It’s loaded with sassy SoCal tacos! Do yourself a favor. Take advantage of the truck’s presence at Sugar Maple. It may be the easiest way for you to experience El Grito’s slightly elusive delights. The truck’s location changes throughout the week, so visit www.elgritotaqueria.com to check the schedule.

Once you’ve found the food truck, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. What the surprise will be is tough to say. El Grito’s menu changes frequently (go to www.elgritotaqueria.com to view the menu), but you’ll probably find tantalizing tacos, such as the Roasted Chicken with Tangerine Adobo, or the Summer Succotash—sweet corn and seasonal vegetables served with epazote and cilantro. That’s right. El Grito never forgets its vegetarian friends—or it’s thirsty ones. The horchata and the agua fresca will wet your whistle south-of-the-border style.

Remember, El Grito Taqueria is just one reason to attend the festival on an empty stomach. Try to leave a little room so that you can also sample treats from our other outstanding vendors below.

Underground Butcher

Established in 2012, Underground Butcher is a full service butcher located on Williamson Street in downtown Madison. Visit the Underground Food Truck at Sugar Maple for mouth-watering gourmet sandwiches.

Tyranena Brewing Company

Tyranena has been the Sugar Maple Festivals beer sponsor since our inception – and it is safe to say that we would not be here for our 13th year without them. Please support a great Wisconsin brewery with the same enthusiasm you have for Sugar Maple!

BOS Meadery

Mead made modern! Bos Meadery of Madison seeks to bring mead into the 21st century and introduce it to craft beverage lovers in Wisconsin. Try our dry and sparkling modern meads at Sugar Maple Traditional Music Festival.