
Old Sturbridge Village - Maple Days
Tracy Snyder Molina: The sap is rising and spring is on its way at Old Sturbridge Village during Maple Days. Observe maple sugaring as it was done in early 19th-century New England at their working sugar camp. Learn about the entire sugar-making process, and you'll find out why maple sugar was more commonly used than maple syrup in early New England. Costumed historians will demonstrate how period foods were made with maple products and the potter and cooper will be making maple-related items.
Massachusetts Maple Weekend
Tracy Snyder Molina: Close to 50 sugar houses will be open to the public, offering demonstrations and tastings during Mass Maple Weekend. In addition, several restaurants will feature dishes, cocktails, and desserts featuring pure Massachusetts maple syrup. Find a list of participating sugar houses here.
Chestnut Hill Farm - Maple Tree Tap-A-Thon
Tracy Snyder Molina: Come celebrate all things maple at this fun event. Ranger Tim will share the history of maple syrup tapping and help families learn how to identify maple trees on this working farm. Participants young and old will be able to set their own tap and get the farm's maple flowing! Space is limited, pre-registration required.
Natick Community Organic Farm - Maple Magic
8am-11am: Pancake Breakfast
9am-2pm: Maple Sugaring Past & Present Tours
Pancake Breakfast: $12/adult, $6/child (10 & under)
Farm admission: $8/person
Tracy Snyder Molina: At Natick Farm's Maple Magic, enjoy a pancake breakfast (gluten-free and vegan pancakes available), agricultural demonstrations, live music and raffle prizes all at the Memorial School which is right next to the farm. After breakfast, head over to the farm for Maple Sugaring Past & Present Tours, Native American and Colonial sugaring demonstrations, and a visit to the sugar shack. Lunch and snacks will be available for purchase.
Natick Community Organic Farm - Maple Sugaring Tours
Tracy Snyder Molina: It's maple sugaring season at the Natick Community Farm! Explore the history and artifacts of maple sugaring, from Native American to modern times. You'll learn about the science of sugaring, tour the tapped sugar maples, sip some sap while it drips into the bucket, and make a stop at the sugar shack where sap is boiled down into maple syrup. It's a true New England experience not to be missed. Tours run about an hour and require advanced registration.
Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary - Maple Sugaring Weekends
Tracy Snyder Molina: Observe the magic of turning sap into syrup and learn how sugaring has evolved from Native American to colonial to the current process. A 90-minute outdoor, guided tour will include historical portrayals of common daily tasks and a visit to an operational sugar house. Afterwards, enjoy hot chocolate, a children’s craft table, a sugaring quiz board, and pictures of Moose Hill’s sugaring past. Pancakes, "sap" dogs (hot dogs cooked in maple sap), maple-sugar dusted popcorn, and more will be available for purchase. Registration required.
Land's Sake - Sugaring Off
Tracy Snyder Molina: Celebrate the New England tradition of maple syrup making with educational tours of the sugar house and demonstrations of the boiling and bottling process, led by the middle school-aged participants of the After-School Maple Sugaring Program. Additional cost activities will include a pancake breakfast and the chance to purchase Land's Sake own maple syrup and other goodies.
Cost: Free admission & tours
Drumlin Farm - Sap-to-Syrup Farmer's Breakfast
Tracy Snyder Molina: Enjoy the results of the maple sugaring season at Drumlin Farm with a hearty breakfast of pancakes with maple syrup, Drumlin Farm roasted potatoes and their own sausage. Reserve your breakfast seating time which will take place at half-hour intervals. In addition, learn about Native American sugaring techniques, the history of these majestic trees and see how the sap collection process is done. Maple syrup produced at Drumlin Farm will be available for purchase. Registration required.
Habitat Education Center - Going to the Sugar Maple
Tracy Snyder Molina: Young kids can go to The Maple Tree event with their parents as they get to visit a maple tree and taste the sap. Make some maple leaf rubbings and hear a sugaring story to complete this fun program.
Habitat Education Center - Sugaring Celebration
March 7: 9:30am, 10am, 10:30am, 11am & 11:30am
March 8: 10am, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am &12pm
$20/person
Tracy Snyder Molina: At this annual event, families can learn to identify maple trees, collect sap, participate in some sugaring activities, hear stories, and tour some of the property including tapped trees. Watch a boil down of the sap and taste a sample! Make sure to dress warmly as this is an outdoor event.
Groundwork Somerville - Maple Syrup Boil Down
Tracy Snyder Molina: Join Groundwork Somerville for this annual tradition as they boil down the sap collected from their Maple Syrup Project. This community project involves tapping sugar maple trees at Tufts University. The sap is then boiled down in a wood-fired boiler built by Somerville High School students and you can watch the process! Enjoy pancakes, games and live music at this fun community event. In case of inclement weather, the rain date will be March 17.
Cost: Free
South Shore Natural Science Center - Maple Day
Tracy Snyder Molina: Come learn about maple history and the whole process which starts with a wooded walk for tapping the trees for sap and then watch how it is boiled down into the syrup. There will be lots of hands-on activities, crafts, and treats to enjoy.
Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary - Spring Flapjack Fling & Sugaring Tours
8:15am, 9:15am, 10:15am, 11:15am, 12:15pm
$20/adult, $15/child
All Ages
Tracy Snyder Molina: Celebrate the close of maple sugaring season with a yummy pancake breakfast served with maple syrup from the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Following your breakfast seating, enjoy an hour-long guided sugaring tour to learn about the whole process from sap to syrup. Advanced registration required.
Appleton Farms - Sugar Shack Saturdays
10am & 1:30pm
$40/family
Recommended for 12 & under but everyone is welcome
Tracy Snyder Molina: The sap is running at Appleton Farms! During Sugar Shack Saturdays, Appleton Farms teaches children and families how sap is turned into maple syrup. Start off with some fun maple-themed crafts and then it's outside to explore the sugar shack. Learn how the trees are tapped every spring, watch the evaporator as the sap is boiled down, and taste the freshly made syrup. After the tour, enjoy a farm snack, including Appleton Farms cheese, apple slices, and homemade maple ice cream and listen to a story about maple sugaring.
Primary photo: Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash
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