Capital Region farms take part in NYS Maple Weekend
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- With warmer weather in the forecast, maple producers have started tapping trees and preparing for New York State Maple Weekend. Across the state, on March 22, 23, 29, and 30, community members can taste the sweet syrup from local sugar makers.
Below are some of the Capital Region participants in Maple Weekend this year and the products, activities, and demonstrations they will have. For a map of all New York State Maple Weekend participants from across the state, visit the producer map on the New York State Maple Weekend website.
Maple Weekend Participants
Toad Hill Maple Farm, 137 Charles Olds Road in Athol
Toad Hill Maple Farm will offer free wagon rides through the sugarbush and sugar house tours as a history lesson of maple sugaring, the farm, and the technology behind modern sugar making. Free samples and maple products will be available, such as different grades of pure maple syrup, maple candy, cream, and sugar.
The farm also offers bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, cotton candy, popcorn, pecan granola, and maple-frosted nuts, including almonds, cashews, pecans, and walnuts.
Rathbun's Maple Sugar House, 1208 Hatch Hill Road in Whitehall
Rathbun's Maple Sugar House will be open both weekends to celebrate Maple Weekend. From 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., it will offer maple syrup, cream, granulated sugar, lollipops, and other treats.
Grottoli's Maple, 91 Ritchie Road in Middle Granville
Participating both weekends, Grottoli's Maple will be open for Maple Weekend from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Grottoli's will offer pure maple syrup, granulated maple sugar, maple cream spread, maple sugar shapes, maple candy or lollipops, maple coffee, maple tea, maple cotton, maple-coated nuts, and maple fudge in addition to their pancake breakfast.
Maple Valley Farm, 84 Harris Road in Corinth
Maple Valley Farms will host an open house on March 22 and 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering farm tours, maple products, and more. In celebration of Maple Weekend, they will have an all-day pancake breakfast, fresh maple syrup, and lunch options.
The farm has hay rides to the sugar house, pony rides, candlemaking, live music, and vendors. As the weather starts to change, the farm is usually muddy, so boots are encouraged for guests who visit.
Mapleland Farms, 525 Bunker Hill Road in Salem
From an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast to self-guided tours around the farm, Mapleland Farms will offer a unique celebration during Maple Weekend. The farm will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 22. 23, 29, and 30 offering self-guided woods walks through sugarbush, guided production tours, shopping, and tastings.
Dry Brook Sugar House, 432 Chambers Road in Salem
Dry Brook Sugar House will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the state's maple celebration weekends. Starting with a pancake and sausage breakfast, farm visitors can also expect horse-drawn wagon rides, weather permitting, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., thanks to the Washington County Draft Horse Association.
Wild Hill Maple, 366 Carney Cassidy Road in Salem
Wild Hill Maple will be open throughout Maple Weekend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both weekends will offer self-guided tours of the sugarhouse, free raffles, free samples of all Wild Hill Maple products, an all-ages coloring contest, and mini waffle samples.
Wild Hill Maple's products include maple syrup, maple cream, maple sugar candies, granulated maple sugar, maple tea, maple coffee, bourbon barrel-aged syrup, and maple hard candies and lollipops.
Wild Hogs Sugar Shack at Maplemilk Farm, 1359 Shunpike Road in Cambridge
Wild Hogs Sugar Shack at Maplemilk Farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both weekends and serve plenty of maple products. The sugar shack will offer pure and flavored maple syrup, maple cream spread, maple sugar shapes, and maple candy and lollipops.
Twin Leaf Farms, 200 Hyspot Road in Greenfield Center
Twin Leaf Farms will open March 22 and 23 for Maple Weekend from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The farm will offer a pancake breakfast, vendors, hayrides, and a sugar house tour, where attendees can learn about the machinery needed to make maple syrup.
Sugar Oak Farm, 50 Atkins Road in Ballston Spa
Sugar Oak Farm will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Participants can expect tapping demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., a sawmill demonstration at noon, and a walk through the sugarbush at 2 p.m. Tours continue throughout the day, allowing participants to learn about the sugaring process.
Hop City Maple, 340 Hop City Road in Ballston Spa
Hop City Maple will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekend of Maple Weekend. From watching the sap drip and travel through the tubes to maple syrup leaving the evaporator, both weekends will be full of sweet experiences.
Hop City Maple offers maple syrup, candies, lollipops, maple fudge, and more. Dickinson Delight's will also serve crepes, which can be paired with Hop City's maple products.
Skinner's Sugarbush, 58 Edwards Road in Wynantskill
Skinner's Sugarbush will be open for both weeks of Maple Weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From offering demonstrations of the sugaring process to tours of one of the sap collection areas, there are plenty of activities for the whole family.
Some of Skinner's Sugarbush products include maple coffee, nuts, sugar, confections, and cream.
Crosstown Maple, 533 Blodgett Hill Road in Ravena
Crosstown Maple is offering two weekends of sweetness and family tradition. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the family maple operation will have various maple products and sugar bush tours.
Maple Leaf Sugaring, 93 Dupier Road in Ghent
Participating in both weekends, Maple Leaf Sugaring will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family-owned and operated sugaring business will have several samples to try and a short walking tour of their sugaring process.
Mountain Winds Farms, 12 Williamson Road in Berne
Mountain Winds Farm is open all of Maple Weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and even provides maple syrup for four local breakfasts in Berne.
On the first weekend of Maple Weekend, breakfasts are held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Berne Reformed Church on Saturday and Boy Scout Troop 1079 on Sunday. The second weekend of breakfasts is being held at the Helderberg Lutheran Church on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Berne-Knox-Westerlo Cheer at the East Berme Firehouse from 8 a.m. to noon.
Bittersweet Maple Farm, 44 Schanz Lane in Berne
Participating each weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bittersweet Maple Farm will have tools and tapping demonstrations, tours of the sugarhouse and sugarbush, a variety of samples, and products like pure maple syrup, granulated maple sugar, maple cream spread, maple sugar shapes, and maple cotton candy. The farm also plans to offer samples of baked goods made with Bittersweet Maple Farm products.