15+ New Jersey Maple Sugaring Events

Discover the sweet traditions of maple sugaring in New Jersey by exploring a variety of events across the state. From hands-on demonstrations to educational presentations, numerous venues offer engaging experiences for individuals and groups alike.

Whether you’re interested in learning about the history and science behind maple sugaring or simply savoring the delicious end product, New Jersey provides a rich array of opportunities. Check out nature centers, educational institutions, and maple farms hosting events that showcase the fascinating journey from tapping trees to enjoying fresh, locally-produced maple syrup. Immerse yourself in the unique charm of New Jersey’s maple sugaring events, where both novices and enthusiasts can indulge in this delightful seasonal tradition.

Always check the weather and the event links before you attend in case of cancellations and rescheduling.

For more New Jersey events throughout the year, check out our Event Guide.

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New Jersey Maple Sugaring Events:

Maple Sugaring Demo & Festival
Select Dates Now – March 3
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make real maple syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Finish with a syrup taste test! This program will be held entirely outdoors, so dress for the weather. Syrup will be available for purchase, while supplies last.
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, NJ
Cost: $6 per person. Preregistration is required. For more information, 973.635.6629

Maple Sugaring at Tenafly Nature Center
Sundays, Now – March 17
Learn how to identify a maple tree. Discover the history of syrup making and how technology has changed the way we gather sap over the centuries. The group will check Tenafly Nature Center’s tapped tree and boil down sap to make fresh, warm maple syrup, a sweet treat for all to taste
Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave. Tenafly, NJ
Cost: $8 for members, $12 for non-members

Tap the Sugar Maples
February 3, 11 am – 3 pm
Hundreds of sugar maple trees line the banks of Moore’s Creek and the nearby woods at the foot of Baldpate Mountain. Each year in February farmers begin the annual work of sap collection and maple syrup production. Visitors can join Howell Farm’s expert tree tappers for a lesson on how to tap a backyard maple tree and make syrup at home. Outside activities include firewood cutting, rail splitting, and if conditions permit, a continuation of ice harvesting operations.
Howell Living Farms, 70 Wooden’s Lane, Lambertville, NJ
Cost: Free admission & parking; Please reserve your space for tree-tapping

Maple Sugaring at the Environmental Education Center
February 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18. 24, & 25
Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the process of tapping trees, observe both historical and current sap-collecting methods, and witness the boiling process that results in delectable New Jersey maple syrup. The outdoor program, lasting 60 minutes, takes place at the Sugar Shack, located a ½-mile hike from the EEC. It is advised that attendees arrive at the EEC 30-40 minutes before the program’s commencement to acquire tickets and embark on the hike to the Sugar Shack, where they will meet their Naturalist. Suitable attire for prevailing weather conditions is recommended, and wearing boots is advisable, given the potential for wet, muddy, and/or snow-covered trails.
190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ
Cost: $6 per student/senior $7 per adult (Walk-in ticket sales only. Tickets for Maple Sugaring will be sold the day of the program inside the EEC building)

Nature Kids: Maple Sugaring
February 4 & 18. March 9
Collecting the sap is a crucial step of the maple sugaring process. Many methods are used on commercial farms, but the basic idea is the same, moving the sap from the maple trees to the stove. Come participate in the process at Echo Hill.
Echo Hill Park, 42 Lilac Drive, Flemington, NJ
Cost: $8 per family

Lorrimer Sanctuary’s Maple Sugaring
February 10, 16 & 17
Attendees are invited to join in a sweet and sticky adventure at Lorrimer Sanctuary. Participants can anticipate indulging in the delightful world of maple syrup as they discover the intriguing process behind its creation and gain insights into the trees responsible for producing this golden treat. This is a unique opportunity to satisfy one’s sweet tooth while enjoying a fun-filled afternoon immersed in nature.
Lorrimer Sanctuary, 790 Ewing Avenue Franklin Lakes, NJ
Cost: $10

Maple Sugaring Hike
February 10 & 24
Join Assistant Director of Education, Pat Heaney, as participants discover the history, folklore, and science of maple sugaring. Attendees will have the opportunity to visit maple trees, understand the tapping process involving drills and spiles, and sample the sweet maple sugar produced. They will also gain insights into the evaporation process, witnessing how sticky sap transforms into delicious maple syrup.
The Watershed Center, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, NJ
Cost: $10 (5 years and up). Register in advance

Maple Sugaring at the Hermitage
February 17, 1 pm – 4 pm
The Hermitage Master Gardeners will be tapping about 15 trees on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark. Families and friends are invited to learn how to tap maple trees and the importance of maple sugaring to the Lenape and early Dutch and English settlers in Northern New Jersey. Children 12 and older and adults will also be able to tap the trees with the Master Gardeners. Guests will be sent home with the equipment to tap the trees in their yards and instructions on boiling the sap into syrup. During the event, a small concession stand featuring hot beverages and maple sugary snacks will also be open.
The Hermitage, 335 N Franklin Tpke, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Cost: Tickets are $35 per family and $15 per individual.

Maple Sugaring
February 18, 12:30 pm – 4 pm
What a tasty way to spend a winter afternoon! Bring the whole family and enjoy a program about maple sugaring, the oldest continuous industry in North America. On this self-guided hike, you’ll follow a map and visit multiple interactive stations along the Rancocas trails. Learn about the Sugar Maple tree and the history of maple sugaring, observe a tapping demonstration, and enjoy a maple syrup tasting. To ward off the chills, we’ll have an old-fashioned campfire burning.
Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton, NJ
Cost: Member $9 per person, $30 per family (limit 5 people). Non-Members: $11 per person, $40 per family (limit 5 people).

Maple Sugaring Program at Van Vleck Gardens
March 2, 10 am – 3 pm. Rain Date March 3
Families seeking a delightful activity are encouraged to attend the annual Maple Sugaring event at Van Vleck House & Gardens. The event offers an opportunity for participants to learn tree identification, understand the process of turning sap into syrup, and visit a tapped sugar maple tree within the Van Vleck Gardens. The program encompasses both indoor and outdoor components, requiring attendees to dress appropriately for the weather. Each tour has an approximate duration of 1 hour, with additional time available for optional self-guided exploration, complemented by some tasty treats along the way.
Van Vleck House & Gardens, 21 Van Vleck St, Montclair, NJ
Cost: $25/family for Members; $35/Family for Non-Members.

Maple Sugaring Open House
March 2 & 3
Schiff invites the public and groups to a hands-on maple sugar production demonstration led by their educational staff and Board members. Participants will delve into the centuries-old tradition of maple sugaring, learning to identify, tap, and process Maple tree sap. The 1 1/2-hour program at 9:30 am, 11:30 am, and 1:30 pm includes an educational presentation on the history and life cycle of sugar maple trees, the process of making 100% real maple syrup, and a showcase of the wood-fired evaporator in action. Attendees can taste fresh syrup from Schiff’s own maple trees and enjoy a Maple Baked Goods Sale. An optional two-mile field walk is available to explore the working maple grove. Participants should arrive 15 minutes early, dress for the weather, and wear boots for potential trail conditions.
339 Pleasant Valley Rd, Menham, NJ
Cost: Free to Schiff members. Non-member fee is $8 per person

Maple Sugaring Fest at Reeves-Reed Arboretum
March 3, 1 pm – 4 pm
Enjoy a brisk winter afternoon learning the steps involved in turning tree sap into delicious maple syrup. The whole family will enjoy spending the day outdoors, hiking on trails, and partaking in a Maple Sugaring Challenge! Also enjoy some hot chocolate, maple vendors, and more. It’s going to be a sweet day. This event will be held rain or shine; no refunds.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Avenue, Summit, NJ
Cost: Maple Sugaring Fest is FREE for RRA Members and children under 3. The cost for Non-Members is $5 per person, $25 maximum per family.

Maple Sugaring & Bonfire Social (Adults Only Event)
March 3, 4 pm – 6 pm
Participants will embark on a brief hike led by the guide to delve into winter tree identification, sap ecology, and tree biology. The group will visit tapped trees, where they will receive hands-on instruction on tapping, collecting, and tasting the sap. A demonstration of the evaporator’s workings will follow. The experience will culminate in a blind syrup taste test conducted in the covered pavilion, complete with heaters for comfort.
The New Weis Center for Education, Arts & Recreation, 150 Snake Den Road Ringwood, NJ
Cost: $22

Maple Sugaring at Happy Day Farms
Mid-March
Freezing nights and thawing days mark the beginning of maple sugaring season, and at Happy Day Farm the work of tapping trees and boiling sap is underway. This is a great outdoor winter experience where attendees will take a tractor ride of their 130-acre farm. Visitors will see their ‘sugar bush’, find out what equipment is needed to collect sap, learn first hand how to identify maple trees, and lend Farmer Tim a hand in the tapping process. In Olivia’s Sugar Shack, visitors can see how sap is finally produced into our delicious maple syrup. The sap is boiled and evaporated in our wood-fired evaporator. They have over 600 maple trees and it takes 35 to 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup.
Happy Day Farm, 106 Iron Ore Rd, Manalapan, NJ
Cost: $18, cash only

Maple Sugaring Open House at Lusscroft Farm
March 23
Bring the family and learn how sap is converted to delicious maple syrup. Live demonstrations of how to tap the trees, collect the sap, and operate the evaporator. Fresh maple syrup will be available for purchase! Presented by the Heritage & Agriculture Assoc., the NJ Tree Farm Program, the NJ Society of American Foresters, and the NJ DEP/Division of Parks & Forestry.
50 Neilson Rd, Sussex, NJ