Tap into the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival

Vaughan Weekly
February 26, 2014

Celebrate the sweetness of springtime at the Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival which kicks off this Saturday, March 1 and runs until April 6.

The festival takes place at two locations - the Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan and Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area in Stouffville, just east of Markham. Both locations will be open daily during March Break with activities for families looking for fun outdoor activities.

The festival attracts thousands of visitors annually to celebrate the flowing of sap and the making of pure maple syrup - a truly Canadian tradition.

Festival-goers will discover the magic of traditional and modern maple syrup production while enjoying live entertainment, maple syrup walks, samples, children’s activities, horse drawn wagon rides, a visit to the Sugarbush Shop and of course enjoy delicious pancakes with pure maple syrup.

Throughout the day both locations will have family-friendly activities and entertainers including face painting, balloon artists, and magic shows.

Kortright Centre for Conservation will host a special Maple Syrup by Lamplight evening on Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m. This special evening begins with a guided twilight tour of Kortright’s Maple sugar bush. Taste real maple syrup, visit the sugar shack and learn about old fashioned and modern methods of maple syrup production. Also enjoy a warm campfire and a fire-side treat. Advance tickets are required. The costs is $12 for adults, $10 for members, $6 for children and senior and child/senior members pay $5. Family passes are also available for $30. To purchase tickets call 416-667-6295.

Pure maple syrup is, in most cases, a great example of sustainable food. Properly tapped and well-tended trees can yield sap for more than 100 years, and many families have been producing maple syrup from the same group of trees, or sugarbush, for generations. Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA) is proud to continue to bring the festival to the public for the past 47 years. The festival supports the work of TRCA to help people understand, enjoy and look after the environment in the Greater Toronto Area.

The Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival will run from March 1 to April 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kortright Centre for Conservation is open daily, including March Break. Bruce’s Mill is open Wednesday to Sunday and March Break (daily) .

The cost is $10 for adults and $6.50 for kids, students and seniors.  Children four and under are admitted free with their family and Conservation Parks Members are free.  Parking is $4 per vehicle at Kortright Conservation Centre and free at Bruce’s Mill.

The Kortright Centre for Conservation is located at  9550 Pine Valley Dr. in Vaughan.

Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area, is located at 3291 Stouffville Rd. in Stouffville.

For a complete schedule of events, please visit www.maplesyrupfest.com.