Celebrate maple syrup season in Ontario

Lanark County and the Ottawa Region

The knowledge and use of sweet sugar maple sap originated with the Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands who valued it for centuries. In and around Ottawa, maple syrup production continues today. So much so that Lanark County, located within an hour’s drive southwest of Ottawa, is hailed as “Ontario’s Maple Syrup Capital”.

Lanark County Maple Experience

Choose your own adventure on a self-guided tour of seasonal maple sugar bushes and camps, as well as other year-round maple-related stops at shops, restaurants and breweries.

Location: throughout Lanark County

Fulton’s Sugar Bush and Maple Shop

Nestled between the communities of Pakenham and Almonte in Mississippi Mills, Fulton’s is like the godfather of maple with over 170 years and six generations of experience.

Explore the property trails, book a horse-drawn sleigh ride, visit the maple shop and learn all about maple tapping and production.

The sugar bush season runs from mid-February to mid-April and there is an entrance fee per vehicle.

Location: 399 Sugar Bush Road, Pakenham

Sand Road Maple Farm and Sugar Camp

Just east of Ottawa, this fully operational maple farm opens its gates to visitors to witness the traditional maple syrup-making process. And of course, to enjoy a homemade pancake and maple syrup feast. The first-come-first-serve, buffet-style breakfast runs from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The syrup season typically begins in March and runs until the sap stops flowing.

Location: 17190 Sand Road, Moose Creek

Wheelers Pancake House, Sugar Camp and Maple Heritage Museum

In addition to the all-day pancake breakfast, you’ll also want to visit Wheelers Maple Heritage Museum, which holds the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Collection of Maple Syrup Artifacts.”

Wheeler maple farm and pancake house is open weekends only until the syrup season, which runs from early March until the end of April. During this time, the farm is open Tuesdays to Sundays.

Location: 1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners, Lanark Highlands

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Balderson Village Cheese Store for maple crunch chocolate and maple butter.
• Top Shelf Distillers in Perth for maple-infused Reunion French Toast Moonshine.
• Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. in Vankleek Hill for Maple Rush, a robust porter made with organic maple syrup.
• Perth Brewery for the O’Canada Maple Ale.
• SuzyQ in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood for maple bacon donuts.

Kingston and Prince Edward County

From family-friendly events to maple-themed wine and dining experiences, there are great opportunities to enjoy Ontario’s favourite sweet treat in and around Kingston.

Kingston’s Maple Madness

A seasonal highlight for families, the annual maple syrup event at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area involves demonstrations of sap boiling as well as wagon rides and trails to explore.

Location: 1641 Perth Road, Glenburnie

PEC March Maple Madness

After a brief hiatus, March Maple Madness is back to celebrate local sugar bushes, maple farms and maple treats in The County.

Create your own itinerary from the dozens of participating maple syrup producers, wineries, breweries, cideries, restaurants and accommodations.

The event takes place every Saturday and Sunday throughout March.

Location: Prince Edward County

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Black River Cheese for melt-in-your-mouth, artisanal maple cheddar with cracked pepper cheese log.

Muskoka and Haliburton Highlands

Each spring, communities across Muskoka and Haliburton Highlands turn their attention to maple in a big way.

Muskoka Maple Trail

Create your own maple adventure on a self-guided culinary tour of maple treats, gifts and attractions at over two dozen sweet stops. Discover maple drizzed waffles, smokey-maple ribs, maple infused candles and a sweet and savoury maple cocktail.

This event takes place from March 8 to April 26, 2024.

Location: throughout Muskoka

Muskoka Maple Festival

Hailed as spring’s sweetest party, this family friendly event celebrates all things maple with an entire day of fun activates, performers and entertainment and, of course, a myriad of maple syrup-inspired foods.

This event takes place on April 27, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Location: Main Street, Huntsville

Maple Weekend in Haliburton Highlands

During the first weekend in April each year, Haliburton Highlands invites you to explore all the ways this region celebrates Ontario’s favourite springtime treat from sugar bush trails and demonstrations to pancake breakfasts and maple syrup products.

Location: throughout Haliburton Highlands

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Winterdance for amber, dark and very dark maple syrup flavours.
• Sugarbush Hill just outside of Huntsville for maple syrup pie and Maple Creemee, a maple and vanilla soft ice cream.
• Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. for Muskoka Maple coffee.
• Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery in Bala for Red Maple Dessert Wine, a balance of sweet maple and tart cranberry.

Algoma Country

There are a handful of dedicated maple syrup producers in this region, specifically on St. Joseph Island, just over half an hour’s drive from Sault. Ste Marie. With its abundance of maple trees, the island produces 18% of Ontario’s total maple syrup. 

St. Joseph Island Maple Syrup Festival

Meet local maple producers and other craft vendors and fill up on pancakes, sausages and delicious, golden, local maple syrup at the annual Maple Syrup Festival held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 374.

This event takes place on select days in early April.

Location: 1534 10th Side Road, Richards Landing

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Gilbertson’s Maple Products and Pancake House, one Ontario’s largest syrup producers features a signature line of maple flavoured gourmet foods from mustard to dressings to nuts and candies.
• Garside Gardens in Hilton Beach on St. Joseph Island for premium maple and birch syrup products, including a unique blend of the two. “Birple” is great for salad dressings, baking and on pancakes.

York, Durham and Headwaters 

Within an easy day trip distance from Toronto, several highly anticipated maple syrup festivals take place across York, Durham and Headwaters.

Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience

Purchase tickets for a fun-filled maple syrup experience.

This includes all-you-can-eat pancakes with bacon and a side of bacon and sausage. Top the pancakes with award-winning maple syrup. Walk along the sugar shack trail to see how maple syrup is made.

This event opens Family Day Weekend and continues every weekend up to April 7 weekend.

Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario

Elliott Tree Farm is also the home of the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario (formerly of St. Jacobs). Visit the museum to see an extraordinary collection of early products used to make maple syrup.

The Museum remains open on weekends from April through December.

Location: 9467 Erin East Garafraxa Townline, Hillsburgh

Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival

Enjoy a variety of different family activities, demonstrations and delicious maple products during York Region’s maple syrup festival which is held in two locations at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area and at Kortright Centre for Conservation. 

This festivals takes places from March 9 to April 7, 2024.

Locations:
Bruce's Mill Conservation Area, 3291 Stouffville Road, Whitchurch-Stouffville
Kortright Centre for Conservation, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge

Maplefest at Brooks Farm

Guided and self-guided sugar bush tours, a campfire at the sugar bush, wagon rides, a barnyard playground and pancakes are some of the highlights that families love during Maplefest at Brooks Farm.

Tours take place on weekends and during March Break throughout the maple syrup season. Get your tickets online or in person.

Location: 122 Ashworth Road, Mount Albert

Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival

Enjoy daily activities like maple syrup demonstrations and self-guided hikes through the sugar bush and shop in the Heritage Store at Purple Woods Conservation Area in Durham Region.

Special events include a sugar bush lantern walk with maple syrup tastings. Festival activities take place during the weekends in March and the first weekend of April. Discounted tickets are available online. Tickets are limited by capacity so purchase in advance so you don’t miss out.

Location: 38 Coates Road East, Oshawa

Sunderland Maple Festival

Look forward to music, entertainment, local maple producers and other vendors, pancake breakfasts and even iron forging demonstrations during this outdoor event.

A special treat is the local festival recipes like maple garlic chicken wings and maple butter tarts.

This event takes place April 6 and 7, 2024 with free admission and parking.

Location: 1 River Street, Sunderland

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in Caledon for the wood-fired Maple Bacon Pizza, maple butter tart, scones and so much more.
• Crave Doughnuts in Whitby for farm maple glaze and candied bacon donuts.

Kawarthas and Northumberland

From sap to syrup, the maple syrup making process is a time honoured spring tradition that’s celebrated throughout this region.

Kawarthas Northumberland Maple Festival

A collection of farms, communities and sugar bushes host events and activities during the maple syrup season. From Maplefest at McLean Berry Farm to tree tapping at Elmhirst’s Resort, build your perfect maple themed getaway.

Location: throughout Kawarthas and Northumberland

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Sandy Flat Sugar Bush for wood-fired maple syrup, maple butter, sugar and maple-infused syrups.

Orillia and Lake Country

When winter gives way to spring across Ontario’s “snowbelt,” the annual sap-to-syrup traditions begin.

Tap into Maple

Take a self-guided maple-themed tour along the “sweetest route” to local operating sugar shacks and sugar bushes to experience the harvesting and boiling process of maple syrup production.

This event takes place from early March to early April.

Location: throughout Lake Country

Shaw's Maple Syrup

Shaw’s Pancake House is a seasonal restaurant with authentic Canadiana ambiance that serves delicious pancakes by a roaring fire.

Pick up maple goodies in the Maple Tree’t Shop and be sure to treat your kids to maple taffy on the snow.

The maple season begins in mid-February.

Location: #493 Oro-Medonte Line 14 South, Oro-Medonte

Sweetwater Harvest Weekends at Wye Marsh

For two weekends in March, you’re invited to witness how maple syrup was made a long time ago at one of Ontario’s most unique family-friendly nature preserves.

This events takes place on March 23 and 24, 2024. Tickets must be purchased at least 24 hours in advance.

Location: 16160 Highway 12 East, Midland

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Chelsea Chocolates in Craighurst for maple treats such as maple truffle and buttercream.
• Apple Annie’s Café and Shop for maple walnut fudge.

Stratford, St. Jacobs and Elmira

Explore maple goodness from the maple-infused chocolate treats in Stratford to the maple syrup farms and products in St. Jacobs, Elmira and more communities in Ontario’s Mennonite country.

Elmira Maple Syrup Festival

Elmira has been celebrating Ontario’s liquid gold since the spring of 1965 with pancakes and maple syrup. The event has grown over the years, but sweet taste of spring remains just as good as ever.

The 60^th annual maple syrup festival will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

Location: downtown Elmira

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Rocky Mtn Chocolate, along the Stratford Chocolate Trail for their decadent Maple Fudge.
• Rhéo Thompson Candies, also in Stratford is fan favourite for the Maple Nut Fudge.
• Edrene Maple Syrup in the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market for maple butter, candies and taffy cones.
• Shady Grove Maple Co. in Woolwich near Guelph for maple and birch syrup

Norfolk, Haldimand and Oxford Counties

Maple syrup production is a long-standing tradition in many of Southwestern Ontario’s agriculturally rich communities.

Richardson’s Farm and Market

Enjoy a wagon ride to the sugar bush for a self-guided tour of storyboards and display along well maintain trails to learn all about the maple syrup production. Add maple taffy on the snow to your experience and shop in the farm store for goodies to take home.

Book the Family Maple Experience for a more immersive, hands-on tour.

Location: 131 River Road, Dunnville

Find more maple-inspired highlights at:

• Chambers Pure Maple Product, just east of Waterford, is an eclectic little spot where you can stock up on jams, preserves and sweet or savoury maple BBQ sauce.
• Jakeman’s Pure Maple Syrup in Woodstock is one of the largest maple syrup packers in Ontario selling premium buttermilk pancake mix and a host of sap inspired treats like maple ice wine-syrup, cream cookies, maple sugar and popcorn.

Windsor and Essex Region

Ontario’s southernmost region celebrates maple madness with exciting local events and trails.

Maple Syrup Festival

Join the Maple Syrup Festival during three weekends in March at two locations connected with the Maple Trail.

Special events include the First Taste of Spring, the Lumberjack Weekend and the Taster’s Weekend featuring maple-inspired activities like the Maple Taffy pour.

Locations:
Holiday Beach Conservation Area, 6952 County Road 50, Amherstburg
John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, 915 Essex County Road 50, Essex

All About Maple

The Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village is hosting an exciting maple-themed event.

Enjoy engaging presentations, delicious maple treats and other culinary delights, fun crafts and more family activities.

All About Maple will take place on March 9, 2024. Tickets are $10 per person.

Location: 6155 Arner Townline, Kingsville

Greater Toronto Area (GTA)

Maple syrup celebrations are not limited to the countryside, big cities get in on the action too.

Maple Days at the Village

Black Creek Pioneer Village celebrates maple magic with informative, interactive and entertaining maple syrup stories and demonstrations from costumed educators. And of course, there will be old fashioned sweets to enjoy.

This event take place for five days in mid-March.

Location: 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, Toronto

Sugar Shack TO

The Shack is Back! Sugar Shack TO, presented by Redpath, is a free, family-friendly, winter event that celebrates all things maple on Toronto’s waterfront at Sugar Beach.

Details: Sugar Shack takes places on March 9 and 10, 2024.

Location: 11 Dockside Drive at Lower Jarvis and Queens Quay, Toronto

More syrup producers and events

And that’s not all. There’s good reason our flag proudly bears the maple leaf. We just can’t get enough of this sweet and sticky stuff!

There are so many more maple syrup festivals and producers in Ontario, including:

North of 49 Birch Syrup in Cochrane for smoked maple sausage, as well as quality maple and birch syrup.

Visit ontariomaple.com for more info on Ontario’s maple makers and events. Always check weather, reservations, dates and hours of operation in advance as some event details may change.