We’ve said it once, we’ve said — more like proclaimed, loudly, from the rooftops — it again; it’s maple syrup season in Ontario!
From festivals to fun ways to use our favorite syrup, we want to show you how you can celebrate Canada’s most loved and iconic commodity.
Lanark County
Known as the Maple Capital of Ontario, Lanark County is packed with maple activities like museums, sugar bush trails, and farms for the full maple experience!
Be sure to check out Wheeler’s Maple Heritage Museum. It was named one of the Top 10 maple experiences in Canada by Canadian Geographic and contains the largest collection of maple artifacts in Ontario!
We know you want to visit some sugar bush trails and taste that delicious maple so head to Fulton’s Pancake House for some delicious breakfast and maple desserts.
Want to learn how maple syrup is made? Ennis Maple Products makes it the old fashion way using wood fire, and they even have maple products on site as well!
If you’re a history buff at heart Lanark County is full of amazing historic sites. In Mississippi Mills there lies a fictitious and imaginative creature called Maplelope that only appears during maple season. If you’re lucky, you might see foot prints of his m-shaped hooves. Check him out on twitter to learn more about our friend!
If you want to meet new people and celebrate the wonders of maple there is the Festival of Maples that happens in Downtown Heritage Perth on the last Saturday of April. You can meet producers and see demonstrations as well as participate in live entertainment.
Stratford Maple Trail
visitstratford.ca/stratford-maple-trail
This seasonal trail only happens in March and April and features culinary gurus that showcase their artisan and creative talent from Stratford and Perth County. Using the area’s celebrated maple, they create tasty treats like creamy maple fudge, soothing maple teas, cupcakes, and of course, maple syrup! There are restaurants on the Trail too, so come hungry!
St. Jacob’s Farmers Market
Just outside the Kitchener-Waterloo area, the famous St. Jacobs Farmers Markets offers sugar bush tours, horse drawn carriage style! This interactive tour starts with taking a peak of the sap run of a sugar bush where you can see the different methods in collecting sap. After, you can explore past and present techniques that make this beloved product. And finally, no maple tour would be complete without some pancakes! Maple toffee on snow, a farm petting zoo, and maple products are also included to enhance the tour. If you live in the area, it is worth checking out because after April 16, you’ll have to wait next year!
Drip. Drip, drip!
Can’t get away to a sugar bush this season? Live vicariously through the Sapsucker Sap Cam. Set up in Grey County, you can watch the sap flow at your leisure.