Do you have a pancake or waffle lover in the house? My son is syrup-obsessed and would eat his favorite food for every meal—morning, noon, and night. Luckily, Indiana is home to several sugar bushes that offer tours and opportunities to immerse yourself in all there is to know about sweet maple syrup. If you have ever wondered how tree sap becomes delicious pancake topping, you’ll want to plan to attend one of these local maple syrup festival events the whole family will love!
Maple Syrup Festival Season in Indiana
Maple syrup has a short production time, and the season in Indiana typically runs from early February through mid-March. The sap starts to flow when temperatures drop below freezing during the night and warm above freezing during the day. With this short window, be sure to reserve your spots for local maple syrup festival events early, because they fill quickly.
Maple syrup season is also known as “mud season,” so be sure to dress warmly for the colder weather and also bring your boots since most of these programs take place outdoors. Now you are all ready to check out the sweet celebrations!
Maple Syrup Festivals and Activities in Indiana
Knee High Naturalist: Maple Syrup
February 2, 9, 16, & 23, from 10-11 am
Monon Community Center East, 1195 Central Park Drive West, Carmel
Little nature explorers will learn through discovery with hikes, songs, and art projects related to the theme of making maple syrup. This four-week preschool program runs from February 2-23, meeting every Friday. Classes are available for ages 1-5. Pre-registration is required and costs $30 total for the month.
Homeschool Maple Syrup
February 28, 10-11:30 am
Southeastway Park, 5624 S Carroll Road, New Palestine
In this special educational experience for homeschoolers, learn the history of maple syrup with a focus on Native American and Colonial history. Kids will also learn about tree identification and get hands-on use with a spile and drill. Students will be taken through the whole process of creating maple syrup, including sap collection, filtration, cooking, bottling, grading, and tasting.
A sweet maple candy is included with the program and pure maple syrup bottled on-site is often available to purchase. Pre-registration is required and the program is recommended for ages 3 and up. The cost to participate is $6 per person, including adults.
Sap to Syrup
March 2, 10 am-2 pm
Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis
Check out learning stations situated around the park, each with its own maple syrup facts and history. Learn how maple syrup is made, taste test some syrup, complete a craft, and try a yummy Sugar Maker’s Sundae. Stop by anytime during the time frame to enjoy activities. Pre-registration is required for participation and the cost is $10 per person ages 3 and up.
Public Maple Syrup
February 24 & 25, from 1-2:30 pm
Southeastway Park, 5624 S Carroll Road, New Palestine
Hike through the park with a resident naturalist and learn some of the history of maple syrup, focusing on Native American and Colonial history. Find out how to identify maple trees based on bark during winter months and leaf shape in other seasons. Learn about the tools needed for sap collection and get a chance to use them yourself. Explore the process of creating maple syrup from start to finish, from sap collection to tasting the final product. Pre-registration is required and the program is recommended for ages 3 and up. The cost to participate is $6 per person, including adults.
Parke County Maple Fair 2024
February 24-25, 8 am-4 pm
March 3-4, 8 am-4 pm
Parke County Fairgrounds, 1472 N. Highway 41, Rockville
This maple syrup festival includes a pancake breakfast, as well as the option to visit local vendors, featuring everything maple syrup. You also have the opportunity to check out the scenery of the covered bridges Parke County is known for, on your way to touring the county’s real maple sugar camps to see how maple syrup is made. Samples are available.
McCloud Maple Syrup Days 2024
March 2 & 9, 9 am-3 pm
McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem
Learn how to identify Sugar Maple trees, the sap collection process, and some maple syrup history at this annual maple syrup festival. The fundraiser pancake breakfast is served in the Nature Center from 8 am-12:30 pm and guests are encouraged to give a suggested donation of $10 per adult or $6 per child. Real maple syrup will be available to purchase each day. This a FREE maple syrup festival event with no registration required.
Maple Madness
February 24, 10 am-3 pm
Bray Family Homestead Park, 4528 State Road 39, Noblesville
Catch maple syrup-making demonstrations, listen to live music, visit the sugar shack, and learn the science and history behind this favorite breakfast staple. Maple syrup has been produced at the Bray Family Homestead for 150 years and park visitors are invited to join in all the fun at this free annual event for all ages. Local maple syrup will be available for purchase. No registration is necessary to attend.
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