Lanark maple syrup producers celebrate Maple Weekend, April 7 & 8

_ (press release) _ ** Celebrate maple syrup season at a local sugarbush during Maple Weekend, April 7 and 8 ** Spring is finally here, and just in time for Maple Weekend! The Lanark & District Maple Syrup Producers’ Association (LDMSPA) invites visitors to join them April 7 and 8 to celebrate a new season of producing the ultimate Canadian sweetener, delicious maple syrup.

LDMSPA President, Harold Walker, explained the purpose of Maple Weekend is to celebrate both local maple syrup production and the advent of spring. Throughout this free, two-day event, visitors can learn more about Canada’s maple heritage, and how maple syrup is produced, from tree to table.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming visitors, especially families with children, to pass on the love for maple syrup to a whole new generation,” Walker said. “This is a Canadian tradition, and in Ontario it’s part of who we are.”

This year marks its fourth year in Ontario. In 2017, Maple Weekend was nominated as a provincial tourism event of the year, and with good reason; this sweet event offers visitors the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything spring has to offer in Ontario, including the production of fresh, sweet, maple syrup, maple taffy, and other maple treats.

This event is perfect for the whole family, and visitors won’t need to travel far to find a participating sugarbush. Maple Weekend runs at participating maple sugarbushes across Ontario, and in Lanark & District, 16 producers will be participating in the event in Almonte, Pakenham, Frankville, Elgin, Athens, Perth, Brockville, Mallorytown, Clayton, McDonald’s Corners and Lanark.

Visitors are invited to visit a participating sugarbush between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on April 7 and 8, and take part in different activities and specials offered by each independent producer. Activities taking place will vary depending on location, but will include activities like pancake breakfasts, trail adventures, sugar-making demonstrations, taffy on snow, wagon rides and more!

“Anyone who is interested in visiting a sugarbush this spring should plan their visit around Maple Weekend,” Walker said, “Whether you’re watching sap boil over an open fire, or run through high-tech processing equipment, seeing maple syrup made is something that’s hard to forget.”

For even more maple experiences, visitors are invited to attend Lanark & District’s annual tapping out party on March 3, 2018 at Horton Homestead Farm, in Lansdowne. The tapping out party will kickstart March as maple month with a traditional tapping of the first maple tree of the season. Fun for all ages will include trail tours, snowshoe demonstrations, maple vendors and more!

A full list of Maple Weekend participants from the Lanark & District region is available on the website www.mapleweekend.ca , along with specials on offer at each location. An interactive map makes it easy to find a participating sugarbush across the province.