We’re not getting stuck on the real vs. fake maple syrup debate. At this stage in our lives, we’re not changing our minds, right?
For the record, I was raised on the fake stuff and didn’t know anything different until I befriended a Geauga County woman who was appalled by my taste in syrup. I like globbing on thick, maple-flavored corn syrup when I treat myself to French toast or blueberry pancakes. She likes the runny, too-sweet (according to me) stuff. Regardless, we remain friends.
All that aside, I find the process of making maple syrup interesting, and lots of others do, too. Here’s a list of places to celebrate Northeast Ohio’s maple sugaring season. Pop in at a pancake breakfast while you’re at it.
-Marie Elium
March 8-9
Maple Madness Tour 2025. Explore various maple syrup farms during the peak maple harvest season, experience the process of sap collection, boiling and tasting fresh maple syrup products, farm tours, and more. mpneoh.com
March 2 & 9
Sap’s-a-Risin! Help gather sap, experience the tapping, gathering, the boiling method and more. Noon-4 p.m. Swine Creek Reservation, 16004 Hayes Road, Middlefield Twp, geaugaparkdistrict.org
March 8-9
Maple Mania Open House. Join a naturalist and learn the ins and outs of maple syrup production. Noon-4 p.m. Liberty Park Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Road, Twinsburg, summitmetroparks.org
Maple Sugaring in the Hills. Take a step back in time to see how maple sugar has been processed over the years. Noon-4 p.m. Hocking Hills State Park, Behind Old Man’s Cave Visitor Center, Logan, thehockinghills.org
Maple Syrup Festival: Malabar Farm. Experience a sugar camp with historic and modern syrup-making demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides and more. Noon-4 p.m. 4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, malabarfarmstatepark.com
March 8-9, 15-16 & 22-23
Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake Festival. Join the storytellers and artisans in the sugar camp, forest, farm and village as they bring the rich flavors and traditions of 19th-century spring to life. Hale Farm & Village, 2686 Oak Hill Road, Bath, wrhs.org
April 24-27
Geauga County Maple Festival. Four days of fun, food and “everything maple.” Chardon Square, 111 E. Park St., 440-286-3007, maplefestival.com
Susan Shickley
Completely agree. I grew up with Mrs. Butterworth. I love watching the process of maple sugaring, but I prefer thicker, butter flavored syrup.