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Round up the family and hit these local farms and education centers to celebrate one of the sweetest seasons in the region.
As soon as upstate New York’s maple syrup starts flowing, maple syrup-themed weekends are all the rage. Why go? To sample of the region’s best, poured over warm flapjacks, of course! Other draws: history lessons, live demonstrations, and up-close looks at the syrup-making process. Here’s our full list of syrup season’s top events this year.
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Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Cornwall
Until March 15, the museum offers maple sugar tours, during which guests venture into the forest to learn about the history of maple syrup and how it’s made. And after the hour-long tour, everyone comes back to the farmhouse for a taste test to see who can decipher the store brand from the farm brand.
Saturdays and Sundays, Through March 15, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $10, $8 children. 845.534.5506
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Buck Hill Farm, Jefferson
Buck Hill Farm serves its usual delightful breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. But, to really celebrate maple weekend, it hosts sap house tours and product demonstrations while guests try samplings.
March 21-22, 28-29; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. 607.652.7980
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Cronin’s Maple Farm, East Fishkill
Spend your maple weekend at Cronin’s Maple Farm this season and check out the maple operation, sawmill demonstrations, chainsaw carvings, and petting zoo. Indulge in a pancake and bacon breakfast (with maple syrup drizzled on top) or wait to try samples of the maple candy, maple popcorn, or maple cotton candy. Don’t end the maple madness there – stop by Horton House Scone Company on your way home to get a taste of the scone cakes filled with Cronin’s very own maple cream.
March 21-22, 28-29; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission. 845.224.4620
Corey’s Sugar Shack, Rosendale
This sugar bush farm delivers with 100-percent pure, natural maple syrup. Remember to dress warm when you see this maple syrup process first-hand. Each tour and tasting lasts approximately 30 minutes and there will be plenty of maple syrup available for purchase at the end.
March 21-22, 28-29; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. 845.943.8013
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Crown Maple, Dover Plains
This maple service distributor invites guests to its 800-acre organic family farm for two weekends of all things maple. Take a walkthrough of the sugar house, where experts will be stationed to explain how the machines make the sweet delicacy. There will be vendors onsite for those who want to grab something other than Crown Maple’s samples. Pick up some syrup from the store before you leave and appreciate the goodness at home with a new recipe.
March 21-22, 28-29. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. 845.877.5160
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Finding Home Farms, Middletown
After touring Finding Home Farms’ sugar house and learning about how the farm makes its syrup, grab a drink at the bar and listen to the live music that plays all afternoon. Stop by the unique storefront that has not just maple syrup, but soy candles and home décor as well.
March 21-22, 28-29; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. 845.355.4335
Frost Valley YMCA, Claryville
Frost Valley YMCA hosts its annual Maple Sugaring Open House, where guests can learn how the product is made, identify a sugar maple tree, see the evaporator, and try some fresh syrup straight from the sap house.
March 21-22, 28-29. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Free admission. 845.985.2291 ext. 217
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Maple Leaf Sugaring, Ghent
This family-owned maple sugaring operation opens its doors for visitors to learn about how it crafts its maple syrup. Bring your walking boots to stroll through the woods and see where the sweet sap starts. Visitors will be provided with a taste of sap, syrup, maple cream, and more.
March 21-22, 28-29; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. 518.929.0484
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Soukup Farms, Dover Plains
Take a spin around Soukup Farms’ brand-new sugar house, where guides demonstrate how to make maple syrup. Enjoy a large breakfast (served until 1 p.m.) of pancakes, waffle sticks, scrambled eggs, maple baked beans, and more.
March 21-22, 28-29. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $13.75, $6.95 children 6 and under. 845.264.3137
Sugar Oak Farms, Malta
The farm hosts its annual open house for the last two weekends in March. Guests can embark on a tour of the farm’s sugar house, gain some knowledge about the history of maple sugaring, and sip on sweet maple coffee.
March 21-22, 28-29. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. 518.288.8653
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Ashokan Center’s Maple Fest, Olivebridge
Become a maple syrup expert and tap trees for sap at the Ashokan Sugar Shack. Enjoy several other activities, such as blacksmithing and hiking. Plus, the center will be flipping flapjacks all day long, so help yourself to some sweet stacks.
March 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $5, Free admission children 12 and under. 845.657.8333
Sharpe Reservation at Camp Hidden Valley, Fishkill
The Fresh Air Fund’s Sharpe Reservation hosts not only maple sugaring demonstrations but a live animal show, a planetarium show, and a local crafts and food market. Although the sweet to-do is only one day, there is still time to enjoy all of the maple sugar fun on this 2,000-acre reservation. Make sure to stick around for the annual maple syrup judging contest.
March 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. 845.897.4320