14 Maple Sugaring Events to Experience in New Jersey in 2020

January 22, 2020 newjerseyisntboring

Maple Sugaring is one of the sweetest (get it?) things to do during Winter time in New Jersey. There are plenty of maple sugar demonstrations, festivals, and tapping events for all ages to enjoy! Below is a list of events that are not only fun, but educational and delicious!

14 Maple Sugaring Events to Experience in New Jersey in 2020:

Maple Sugar Demonstrations at Great Swamp OEC
January 25, 26, February 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, March 1, 7 & 8. 1-2PM, 2:30-3:30PM
The trees are tapped, and the firewood is chopped – it’s maple sugaring season at the Great Swamp OEC! Experience the fascinating process of maple sugaring from tree to pancake topping. Watch as staff identifies and taps maple trees and collects sap, and make syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Taste-test different, delicious syrups, including syrup made at the Great Swamp OEC. Rain or shine.
Great Swamp OEC, 247 Southern Blvd, Chatham Township., NJ
Cost: $4

Maple Sugaring at Tenafly Nature Center
February 2, 9, 16, 23 & March 1, 7, 8, 22 & 29
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: $5 – $15 for members, $10 – $30 for non-members

Maple Sugaring at Happy Day Farms
February 8, 9, 15 & 16
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. The Sugar Shack demonstration will take place in February 2019. This is a great outdoor winter experience where attendees will take a tractor ride of our 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: $4

Sugar Maple Celebration
February 15, 10AM – 3PM
Celebrate the Sugar Maple and the magic it brings to your table. Learn about the entire maple sugaring process with Duke Farms Executive Director Michael Catania. Participate in activities and nature hikes focused on wildlife, tree identification, best forestry practices, and climate change as it relates to the Sugar Maple and our native forests. Experience the flavor of New Jersey maple syrup, visit live demonstrations, and have fun!
Duke Farms, 1112 Dukes Pkwy W, Hillsborough, NJ
Cost: Free

Maple Sugaring at the Hermitage
February 16, 1PM – 4PM, Rain date February 17
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 own yards and instructions on boiling the sap into syrup. During the event a small concession stand featuring hot beverages and maple sugary snacks will be also be open.
The Hermitage, 335 N Franklin Tpke, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Cost: Tickets are $25 per family and $15 per individual.

Maple Sugaring at Van Vleck House and Gardens
February 22
Looking for a super sweet activity the whole family will love? Don’t miss Van Vleck House & Gardens’ annual Maple Sugaring event! Families are invited to learn how to identify a sugar maple tree and discover the steps for turning sap into syrup, focusing on a tapped sugar maple tree in Mother’s Garden. Registration required.
Van Vleck House & Gardens, 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair, NJ
Cost: $10 – $40

Maple Sugaring Weekends at the EEC
February 22, 23, 29 & March 1, 7, 8, 14, 15 10AM – 2PM
Maple sugaring is a tradition in the Northeast that began centuries ago with the Native Americans and colonists. People of all ages are invited to see this tradition brought to life at the Environmental Education Center (EEC). You will see how trees are tapped, view sap-collecting methods past and present, and see the boiling process that produces delicious New Jersey maple syrup. This 90-minute program is conducted at our Sugar Shack, a ½-mile hike from the EEC. Please arrive at the EEC 20-30 minutes before the program start time and dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Boots are recommended as the trails can be wet, muddy, and/or covered by snow.
Environmental Education Center, 190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ
Cost:$1 suggested donation

Connect with Nature: Maple Sugaring
February 23, 1:30PM – 3PM
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. 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, there will be an old-fashioned campfire burning.
Rancocas Nature Center, 794 Rancocas Rd, Westampton, NJ 08060
Cost: Preregister by calling RNC at 609-261-2495. Cost: RNC members, $7/person, $15/family (limit 5); nonmembers, $9/person, $21/family (limit 5)

Maple Sugaring Fest at Reeves-Reed Arboretum
March 1, 1PM – 4PM, Snow date is Sunday, March 3
Learn how early settlers tapped maple trees and turned the sap into delicious maple syrup! Take part in our family scavenger hunt and see whether you can successfully complete the “Maple Syrup Challenge”. Round out the day with a sampling of maple syrup made here at the Arboretum!
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 Open House
March 1, 1PM & 3PM
Come to Schiff to experience this hands-on demonstration of maple sugar production with members of Schiff’s educational staff and Board. The tradition of maple sugaring began centuries ago with the Native Americans and early settlers and continues today as homeowners learn to identify, tap, and process the sap of Maple trees. Join us at the Nature Center for this 1 1/2 hour program at 1 pm and 3 pm. The educational presentation will explain the history of maple sugaring, the seasonal life cycle of the sugar maple tree, and how 100% real maple syrup is made from finding and tapping the tree. Following the educational program, enthusiasts can view the wood-fired evaporator at work and then move on to sampling the final product. Of course the best part is tasting fresh syrup and tasty treats made from our own Schiff maple syrup. An optional two mile field walk to the working maple grove will be offered to see the tapping and collection operation.
339 Pleasant Valley Rd, Menham, NJ
Cost: Free to Schiff members. Non-member fee is $4 per person or $15 for a family of 4

Maple Sugaring – Washington Crossing State Park
March 7, 8, 14, 15
This event is a participatory demonstration in the procedures of home maple sugar production. Advanced registration required.
Washington Crossing State Park, 355 Washington Crossing Pe Rd. Titusville, NJ
Cost: Free

Maple Sugaring Living History Programs
March 14, 9AM – 2PM, Rain date: March 10
Experience first-hand the North American tradition of maple sugaring at Hunterdon County’s Maple Sugaring Program. You’ll take a trip through time to experience the art of the sugaring process. Along the way you will see an early American Frontiersman taping his trees, visit a sugar “farmer” at his evaporator, and enjoy a Native American story about the discovery of maple sap. At the end of your walk everyone will get a free taste of real maple syrup on a silver dollar pancake.
42 Lilac Drive, Flemington, NJ
Cost: $1 per person suggested donation

Maple Sugaring Open House at Lusscroft Farm
March 21 & 22, 10AM – 3PM
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
Cost: Free

Maple Sugar Sunday
March 22, 2PM – 4PM
All about maple sugaring making! This event will take place as part of Miller-Cory House Museum’s monthly events which also include museum tours and open hearth cooking.
Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Ave, Westfield, NJ
Cost: $5 age 13 & older; $3 ages 3-12; free under age of 3

Ideas of Things You Can Do this Winter!