Festival goers partake in the Midway Carnival at the 2023 Maple Syrup Festival in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Dan Gaken/ Epicenter) Dan Gaken/Epicenter
The annual Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival has taken place in Shepherd, Michigan since 1958. This year, the festival representing traditions and community support, was held Thursday, April 27 through Sunday, April 30. From the pancakes and syrup, to contests and carnival experiences, to parades, pageants, and performances – enjoy this photo recap of the 2023 Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival.
Friday, April 28
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Truck 3 of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Tribal Fire Department heads east on Wright Avenue during the Maple Syrup Festival Emergency Vehicle Parade in Shepherd, MI on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Sparky, the Shepherd Tri-Township Fire Department mascot, waves from a moving emergency vehicle during the Maple Syrup Festival Emergency Vehicle Parade in Shepherd, MI on Friday, April 28, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Bartender Grace pours a pint of Maple Ale for a customer at the Shepherd Bar & Restaurant in Shepherd, MI Friday, April 28, 2023. The maple beer is brewed exclusively for the bar by Four Leaf Brewing in Clare, MI as was released for the annual Maple Syrup Festival. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Saturday, April 29
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Maple Syrup Princess Bree of Shepherd, MI encourages a child playing a ball toss game at the Children’s Village in the Shepherd Elementary Gym in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Emma, age 8 of St. Louis, MI applies face paint to a guest at the Children’s Village in the Shepherd Elementary Gym in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Brothers Lincoln (age 3) and Asher (age 2) of Pinkney, MI play games at Maple Syrup Festival’s Children’s Village in the Shepherd Elementary Gym in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Kaia (age 6) of Rockford, MI has face paint applied by a vendor along Wright Avenue in Shepherd, MI during the annual Maple Syrup Festival on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Pinky Hosford of Cedar Spring, MI entered his 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air in the Classic Car & Truck Show at the Maple Syrup Festival held in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Pinky’s red Chevy coup was named one of the top 40 vehicles in the show. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Pinky Hosford of Cedar Spring, MI entered his 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air in the Classic Car & Truck Show at the Maple Syrup Festival held in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Pinky’s red Chevy coup was named one of the top 40 vehicles in the show. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Festival goers partake in the Midway Carnival at the 2023 Maple Syrup Festival in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Festival goers partake in the Midway Carnival at the 2023 Maple Syrup Festival in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Rain and forecasted thunderstorms caused the Midway Carnival at the 2023 Maple Syrup Festival in Shepherd, MI to close early on Saturday, April 29, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Band Jedi Mind Trip plays a show at the Ales for Trails Beer Tent in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Proceeds from the concert supported Friends of Mid-Michigan Community Pathways, a 501(c)(3) corporation working to establish a trail in Isabella County, Michigan. The concert is not a Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival-run event. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Band Jedi Mind Trip plays a show at the Ales for Trails Beer Tent in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Proceeds from the concert supported Friends of Mid-Michigan Community Pathways, a 501(c)(3) corporation working to establish a trail in Isabella County, Michigan. The concert is not a Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival-run event. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Band Jedi Mind Trip plays a show at the Ales for Trails Beer Tent in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Proceeds from the concert supported Friends of Mid-Michigan Community Pathways, a 501(c)(3) corporation working to establish a trail in Isabella County, Michigan. The concert is not a Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival-run event. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Band Jedi Mind Trip plays a show at the Ales for Trails Beer Tent in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Proceeds from the concert supported Friends of Mid-Michigan Community Pathways, a 501(c)(3) corporation working to establish a trail in Isabella County, Michigan. The concert is not a Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival-run event. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Band Jedi Mind Trip plays a show at the Ales for Trails Beer Tent in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Proceeds from the concert supported Friends of Mid-Michigan Community Pathways, a 501(c)(3) corporation working to establish a trail in Isabella County, Michigan. The concert is not a Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival-run event. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Band Jedi Mind Trip plays a show at the Ales for Trails Beer Tent in Shepherd, MI on Saturday, April 29, 2023. Proceeds from the concert supported Friends of Mid-Michigan Community Pathways, a 501(c)(3) corporation working to establish a trail in Isabella County, Michigan. The concert is not a Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival-run event. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)Sunday, April 30
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Wyatt (age 5) of Shepherd, MI competes in the pancake eating contest at the Maple Syrup Festival in Shepherd, MI on Sunday, April 30, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Olivia Hipkins, the 2023 Maple Syrup Queen, competes in the pancake eating contest at the Maple Syrup Festival in Shepherd, MI on Sunday, April 30, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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The Shepherd High School Marching Band members participate in the Maple Syrup Festival Parade in Shepherd, MI on Sunday, April 30, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Black Diamond Broadcasting integrated marketing consultant and on-air host Angie Evans passes out candy at the Maple Syrup Festival Parade in Shepherd, MI on Sunday, April 30, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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The Maple Syrup Princess Pageant float travels down Wright Avenue at the Maple Syrup Festival Parade in Shepherd, MI on Sunday, April 30, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Elias (age 1) of Mt. Pleasant, MI waves an American flag at the Maple Syrup Festival Parade in Shepherd, MI on Sunday, April 30, 2023. (Photo: Dan Gaken/Epicenter)
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Read more articles by Dan Gaken.
Dan Gaken is a documentary-style photographer who creates dynamic images to tell stories. Gaken has ten years of experience as a professional photographer, with image credits appearing in
Trains magazine, the
Chicago Sun Times, and the Sony Television-produced series
Battle Creek. Gaken serves as the photographer for Special Olympics Michigan’s State Games. Gaken is also the Director of the Central Michigan University Leadership Institute. He is a sought-after speaker and trainer for organizations seeking to enhance their leadership. Gaken has been invited to speak at more than 25 colleges and universities across the United States and Canada. Gaken holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, MI. Find more of Dan’s images at
www.DanGakenImages.com or on Instagram at @DGaken.