It’s hands-on, educational, inspirational and celebrational – Geauga Park District’s rich collection of maple sugaring programs!
Sweet Melodies of Maple Sugaring Song Fest
Friday, March 4, 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Rookery, Great Blue Heron Lodge
Celebrate the maple sugaring season by the fireside, gathered with local songsters to hear songs both traditional and original gathered from the Great Lakes region. All ages.
Maple 101 Workshop
Saturday, March 5, 9 a.m. to noon, Swine Creek Reservation
Beginners and experienced producers wishing to hone sugaring skills will learn everything they need to know including tree biology and identification, why sap flows, tapping, collecting methods, sugar bush management, producing the finished product, canning and packaging. School age and up, please. Registration required through Geauga County OSU Extension at 440-834-4656.
Timbertots: Maple Sugar Time! (Ages 3-5 w/adult only)
Wednesday, March 9, 10 to 11 a.m. or 1 to 2 p.m.
Saturday, March 12, 1 to 2 p.m.
Swine Creek Reservation, Sugar House
Collecting sap with small buckets and visiting the sugar house are some of the fun things we’ll do to learn about how we get maple syrup! Entirely outdoors; snow boots encouraged. Registration required here.
Tree Tapper’s Ball
Saturday, March 12, 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Parkman Community House, Parkman Twp.
Celebrate the maple season with our old-fashioned square dance, popular as ever after 25 years. All dances are taught in fun fashion, with tunes provided by the Cordwood Cut-ups. Registration required beginning Feb. 23 at 440-286-9516; limit of eight per registering group.
Sap’s-a-Risin’!
Sundays, March 13 & 20, noon to 4 p.m., Swine Creek Reservation
FREE FUN! Gather sap in the sugar bush with a horse-drawn sap sled at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.; meet costumed interpreters; try tapping tools; experience gathering and boiling methods through the ages; visit the operating sugar house; get a sample of the sweet stuff; and warm up in the lodge with a toasty fireplace, live music and free maple treats. More details ca be found here. Partially wheelchair/stroller accessible.
Swine Creek Reservation’s sugar house is also a featured stop on the statewide March Maple Madness Drive-It-Yourself Tour of local maple sugaring operations on March 13 and 20; click here for a map.
This article is brought to you by Geauga Park District
