The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association is excited to announce that after two years of cancellations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the province will once again be showcasing a new crop of maple syrup during the annual Maple Weekend, April 2 to 3, 2022. This year’s event will be a welcome opportunity to get out to a sugarbush and see how maple syrup is produced from tree to table.
“We’re thrilled to welcome visitors to sugarbushes again this year,” said Leann Thompson, Chair of the OMSPA Maple Weekend working group. “After two years of COVID restrictions we are all eager to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and celebrate the maple syrup season in a safe and COVID-friendly way.”
This year will mark the 8th year for Maple Weekend in Ontario. Each year, maple syrup producers across Ontario welcome visitors to their sugarbushes over this two day event to buy fresh maple syrup and celebrate Ontario’s maple heritage along with a new season of production.
Hosted by the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers’ Association (OMSPA), Maple Weekend is a fun, free, two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates Ontario’s maple heritage at participating sugarbushes across the province. This spring, the weather looks prime for record flows leading into April, and for the two-day event.
During Maple Weekend, visitors to participating sugarbushes can expect to experience the best of maple syrup season. Traditional maple syrup experiences will differ depending on location, but often include taffy on snow, pancake breakfasts, sugar making demonstrations, outdoor activities, and chatting one-on-one with the maple syrup producers who make this sweet liquid gold.
“Each year, many residents of Ontario look forward to their annual family trip to the sugarbush and the chance to buy fresh maple syrup and celebrate the advent of spring,” Thompson said. “On April 2 and 3, you can visit a new sugarbush, or head to an old favourite. You can stop at one location, or visit a few in one day, or over the weekend, it’s all up to you!”
Officially launched in 2015, Maple Weekend has been steadily growing each year. In 2017, Maple Weekend was nominated for Ontario Tourism Event of the Year, and in 2018 the event drew more than 15,000 visitors to maple sugar bushes across the province.
In 2022, there will be more than 60 producers taking part in Maple Weekend, with participants from the following Ontario regions: Algoma, Algonquin Area, Eastern Area, Grey-Bruce & District, Haliburton-Kawartha Area, Lanark & District, Ottawa Valley, Quinte & District, Simcoe & District, and Waterloo-Wellington.
Maple Weekend is a celebration of the Canadian tradition of maple syrup production, and features two full days of activities at participating maple syrup producers across the province. Running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, visitors can expect to enjoy tasting a new crop of maple syrup and getting an inside look on how syrup is produced.
A list of participating Maple Weekend maple syrup producers is available on the Maple Weekend website, along with further details about specials and activities for visitors at the more than 60 locations across the province. Visitors are invited to visit the Maple Weekend website at www.mapleweekend.ca for more information.
