What do 1,450 gallons of maple syrup, 7,000 pounds of sausage, and 2,600 pounds of pancake mix have in common? It's all part of what goes into this weekend's Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival. 

Officials expect to welcome upwards of 20,000 attendees this year.

The festival features 23 events with over 200 vendors. It begins on Thursday with pony rides starting at 10am and a midway carnival beginning at 5pm. 

The Shepherd Maple Syrup Festival Board named Harold and Judy Metcalf to be grand marshals of the annual Maple Syrup Festival Parade that takes place on Sunday at 2:30pm.