It’s hands-on, educational, inspirational and celebrational – it’s Geauga Park District’s rich collection of Free maple sugaring events at Swine Creek Reservation in Middlefield!
Fun in the park doesn’t get much more family friendly than our Free Sap’s-a-Risin’! Sundays, now in their 32nd year! Festivities on three Sundays this year – March 4th, 11th and 18th, all from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – include sap-gathering in the sugarbush with a horse-drawn sap sled, sugar house tours, stations about historical maple sugaring with costumed interpreters, samples of fresh syrup and, in the toasty lodge, free maple treats, a large crackling fireplace and live music by the Oak Island Skunk Jumpers on March 4th, The Mr. Haney String Band on March 11th, and The Real Deal String Band on March 18th.
For seniors wanting a more personal experience, Geauga Park District also presents the Elderberries: A Sweet Treat from the Trees on Thursday, March 15th from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Participants will enjoy hands-on activities at the sugarbush and sugar house discovering the secrets of pure Geauga gold (maple syrup, of course!), and also get a taste of the sweet stuff just made. Plus, a free lunch will be provided upon arrival by the Geauga County Department on Aging and University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, who co-present Elderberries each month.
For those youngest Nature lovers in your life, ages 3 to 5, we’ll present Timbertots: Maple Sugar Time! on Thursday, March 8th, both 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., as well as Saturday, March 10th, 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Collecting sap with smaller-sized buckets and checking out why the sugarhouse is steaming are just a couple fun things we’ll do to learn how maple syrup gets from tree to table!
And when you think of that sweet maple syrup, doesn’t it just make you want to dance? Well we’ve got just the event – our Tree Tapper’s Ball on Saturday, March 10th, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at Parkman Community House! Now in its 30th year, this Free old-fashioned square dance includes instruction in fun fashion and rip-snortin’, old-time string band music by the very talented Sap Run Revelers. Dress casually and be ready for a really good time with other couples and families equally excited for spring.
Registration is required for Timbertots, Elderberries and the Tree Tapper’s Ball at Geauga Park District or 440-286-9516; registration for the Tree Tapper’s Ball opens February 26th. With questions you may also call the number above. Swine Creek Reservation is located at 16004 Hayes Road in Middlefield.
Swine Creek is also a featured stop on two drive-it-yourself tours on March 4th and 11th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: the Ohio Maple Producers’ Northeast Ohio Maple Madness Tour and the Maple Producers of Northeast Ohio’s Maple Tour of Northeast Ohio. Tour maps with complete lists of participating sugar houses are available at Ohio Maple Producers and Facebook Maple Syrup Producers of NE Ohio.
For more on Geauga Park District offerings, please call 440-286-9516 or visit Geauga Park District online at Geauga Park District, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.
