​The Geauga County Maple Festival was the idea of Art Carlson, a local merchant on Chardon square. Carlson wanted to increase awareness of maple syrup production as well as the price, which at that time, was sold for 50 cents a gallon. When Carlson told some friends about his idea they started planning the first Geauga County Maple Festival.

The Maple Festival was founded in 1926 in an attempt to market Ohio syrup in competition with Vermont syrup. The Geauga County News announced that Chardon was "Going to treat the general public to a good old fashioned maple sugar eat." The Even featured free dishes of maple syrup, a sugar camp, tapped trees, and ox team gathering sap, and a maple products display.

Festival Planners expected 5,000 vistors and worried over the April ice storm. Over 15,000 people attended, and now the festival is an annual tradition.
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The Geauga County Maple Festival hosts the largest maple contest in the state of Ohio.