Did you know that Canada produces 85 per cent of the world’s maple syrup? That makes this the sweetest time of year because maple season is boiling up in the greater Kawarthas region.
Launching with an official “tapping in” ceremony this weekend, the season includes the annual Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival on March 9 and 10, and culminates in early April with the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival and Maple Weekend celebrations across the region.
Maple syrup season kicks off when maple sap begins to flow during late winter and early spring, caused by the alternating pressures from freezing temperatures between -10°C and 0°C at night, and warmer temperatures between 0°C and 10°C during the day. When the temperature is no longer fluctuating, or the warmer temperatures cause the buds to swell, the sap stops flowing.
While the date of the first sap run is unpredictable, maple syrup producers expect it to begin soon since we’ve already been experiencing above-freezing daytime temperatures. On Saturday (March 2), members of the Haliburton-Kawartha Maple Syrup Producers Association heralded the coming of the season with a ceremonial first tapping at Schalk Maple Farm just east of Fenelon Falls, home of the Schalk family and Hungry Bear Maple Syrup.
Following the official launch of maple season, producers across the region are offering everything from tours and behind-the-scenes of operations to maple tastings and pancake breakfasts. From the Maple Magic excursion offered by Haliburton’s Yours Outdoors to Wintergreen Maple Products & Pancake Barn in Minden (3325 Gelert Road, Minden), and guided tours at Millbrook’s Red Mill Maple Syrup (1232 Deyell Line, Millbrook), there are sweet family fun activities that can be booked on sugar bushes across the region right up until the end of April (or whenever the sap is no longer running).
One of the biggest maple syrup events in the Kawarthas is the annual Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival, taking place this year just before March Break on Saturday, March 9th and Sunday, March 10th. The 36th annual festival will provide a slew of fun and sweet activities sure to give you a sugar rush. Hop on a free shuttle bus to Sandy Flat Sugar Bush (500 Concession Road 3 West, Warkworth) between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for syrup-making demonstrations, maple taffy, log-sawing contests, horse-drawn sleigh rides ($3 per person), and live entertainment.
For $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under, visitors can get pancakes and sausage served with Warkworth Maple Syrup as a fundraiser for the Warkworth Community Service Club. Entry to the sugar bush costs $5 per person (free for children under two).
In the village during the weekend, Maplelicious has even more ways to celebrate the season with an artisan fair at the town hall (40 Main St., Warkworth), indoor mini golf with lunch bar at St. Paul’s United Church (60 Main St., Warkworth), a beer garden from Fogorig Brewery (30 Main St., Warkworth), an art exhibit from textile artist Sheree Rasmussen at the Arts and Heritage Centre of Warkworth (35 Church St., Warkworth), and a storybook walk and live entertainment on Main Street. For more information and a full schedule, visit warkworthmaplesyrupfestival.ca.
The delicious festivities happening at Sandy Flat Sugar Bush don’t stop there, as they have lots planned for the remainder of maple season. Every weekend in March, the sugar bush is open for wagon rides, live music, horse drawn carriage rides, maple taffy, baby goat photos, and more. Visit sandyflatsugarbush.com/24-events/ for the scheduled line-up.
Maple celebrations will continue into April with the free Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival on Saturday, April 6th and Sunday, April 7th. Returning for its 27th year, the festival is located 30 kilometres east of Lindsay in Durham Region, where families can tour Harlaine Maple Products and hop on a bus to the sugar shack. Learn all about making the sweet treats and current production methods while on a historic bus tour, or learn about past techniques from native and pioneer displays.
Other events at the bush and in town include live entertainment, petting zoos and pony rides, bathtub races, and a vendor market. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. For more information and a full schedule of events visit the Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival website at maplesyrupfestival.ca.
That same weekend, the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association is presenting Maple Weekend, when many producers offer free samples of fresh maple syrup, host pancake breakfasts, offer tours of the bush, and show the process of making fresh, quality maple syrup.
Participating maple syrup producers in the Kawarthas region include:
- Clancey & Gale’s Maple Products (542 Waite Road West, Pontypool, 705-277-9420, gclavender@outlook.com)
- Johnston’s Farm Market (10704 Northumberland County Road 28,, Bailieboro, 705-939-1737, johnfarm@nexicom.net)
- Rainbow Woods (65 Ripley’s Way, Kirkfield, 705-454-3167, paulreed@xplornet.com)
- Colour of Wood (1255 Peterson Rd, Minden, 249-993-0134, colourofwood@gmail.com)
- Sweet Maple Farm (10010 Powerline Rd, Millbrook, 705-932-2418, rjmbcripley@nexicom.net)
- Red Mill Maple Syrup (1232 Deyell Line, Millbrook, 705-927-6376, redmillmaplesyrup@gmail.com)
- Woodleigh Farms (528 Sharpe Line, Cavan, 705 -761-2063, woodleighfarms@gmail.com)
- J & K Sugar Shack (3804 Challice Line, Millbrook, 705-932-2817, jjcampfirewood@nexicom.net)
- Puddleduck Farm (476 County Rd 10, Millbrook, 705-931-5794, puddleduckfarm@nexicom.net)
- Staples Maple Syrup (403 Hwy 7A, Cavan, 705-933-8295, staplesmaplesyrup@outlook.com)
For more information and to find a maple weekend producer in your area, visit www.ontariomaple.com/maple-weekend/.
