Maple syrup festivals and events in Durham Region

As winter winds down, the longer days and rising temperatures make way for families and friends to get out and enjoy the maple syrup harvest in Durham Region.

Indigenous Peoples living in northeastern North America were the first to have produced maple syrup. Zhiiwaagamizigan is the Anishinaabe word for maple syrup, and it’s prized for both its medicinal properties and sweet taste. The earliest method of sap collection was done by cutting a ‘v’ shape into the bark of a maple tree, then placing a wedge at the bottom of the cut and letting the sap flow into a bucket at the base of the tree. You can discover this original method of processing maple syrup by visiting Harlaine Maple Products during the Sunderland Maple Festival.

Today, the collection process has changed, yet the result is that same sweet liquid gold.

Maple syrup festivals and events kick off in March and run through May. Check them out in the listings below.

Brooks Farms Maple Sugar Festival

Dates: Weekends and every day during March break (March 13 to 17 ). Tours at 10 and 11 a.m., noon, 1 and 2 p.m.

Location: Brooks Farms, 122 Ashworth Road, Uxbridge.

Price: $12.99 plus HST (children under the age of two are free). Tickets can be purchased in advance online.

Event includes:

• Train or wagon ride.
• Self-guided and guided educational tours.
• Campfire in sugar bush.
• Evaporator demonstrations.
• Marshmallows and hot chocolate.
• Maple sugar products (additional cost).
• Pancakes at the Hungry Hut (additional cost).
• Barnyard playland (weather permitting).

Learn more and purchase tickets at BrooksFarms.com/MapleSugarFestival.

Pefferlaw Creek Farms Maple Weekends

Dates: March 4 and 5, March 11 and 12, March 18 and 19, March 25 and 26, April 1 and 2, April 15 and 16, April 22 and 23.

Location: Pefferlaw Creek Farms, 12300 Concession Road 6, Uxbridge.

Price: $5 per person or $20 per family. Booking ahead is not required.

Visit Pefferlaw Creek Farms to explore the trails throughout their sugar bush and soak in the sights, sounds and smells of this beautiful farm in Uxbridge. Admission includes tours of the sugar shack and forest, access to all facilities and a maple taffy.

For more information, visit PCFarms.ca.

Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival

Dates: March 10 to 12, March 15 to 19, March 25 and 26, April 1 and 2.

Location: Purple Woods Conservation Area, 38 Coates Road East, Oshawa.

Price: $8 per person (children under the age of two are free). Tickets can be purchased online in advance. On-site entrance fee is $11 per person and availability is limited.

Take a self-guided tour to visit a modern evaporator, enjoy games, activities, horse-drawn wagon rides and pancakes with real maple syrup. A collection of maple products are available for purchase in the Heritage Store.

Learn more and purchase tickets at CLOCA.com/Maple-Syrup-Festival.

Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival

Dates: April 1 and 2.

Location: River Street along historic downtown Sunderland.

Price: Free admission and parking.

Welcome to the 2023 Sunderland Maple Syrup Festival! Now in its 26th year, the festival offers a great opportunity to discover the many things that make Sunderland special, while celebrating the time-honoured Canadian tradition of making maple syrup.

For the full schedule of events, visit MapleSyrupFestival.ca/Sunderland.

Bowmanville Maplefest

Date: May 6

Location: Historic downtown Bowmanville.

Price: Free admission and parking.

This highly anticipated festival showcases local syrup producers who offer up the best of the region. You’ll be delighted to find maple treats including doughnuts, cheese, candy, nuts, fudge and much more. Stroll along four city blocks to explore unique items from craft and food vendors, and browse the many independent shops and restaurants in historic Bowmanville.

For more information, visit Bowmanville.com.