As March greets Connecticut, a variety of outdoor springtime events are planned to be held in and around our community. It also marks a peak in the sugaring season, the time when maple trees allow their sap to be extracted and processed into tasty maple syrup. This year, the Maple Syrup Producers Association of Connecticut (MSPAC) has christened March “maple month,” and many events are being held to celebrate all things maple.
Eastern CT Maple Festival – March 9-10
Downtown Storrs, Storrs-Mansfield, Conn.
The first festival of the season is right in our neighborhood. The Eastern CT Maple Festival is hosted by the Windham Region Chamber of Commerce, and will be held primarily at E.O. Smith High School on Storrs Road (Route 195) here in Storrs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to the event’s Facebook page, over 100 vendors will be in attendance, with local food trucks providing lots of maple-flavored treats amongst other artisan foods, and other vendors offering handmade wares like candles, soap, jewelry and knits. A variety of family activities, crafts and a bouncy house will be there too. UConn students should be on the lookout for the raffles and contests these vendors often host for items and services.
Live music and maple sugaring demonstrations from local producers are also planned, alongside presentations on the history of maple syrup in Connecticut and how you can use maple products in your cooking.
For visitors, there will be limited parking in the Dog Lane garage and free parking and a shuttle from the ECSU Baseball Stadium on Mansfield City Road near the East Brook Mall. UConn students should walk down and visit to kick off their spring break festivities in maple style.
Hebron Maple Festival – March 16-17
Maple celebrations have been held in the Hebron community for over twenty years. Just a short drive from UConn, this year’s Hebron Maple Festival is presented by the Hebron Town Center Project and will be held in and around the Douglas Memorial Library and Plaza on Main Street (Route 66) in Hebron from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Highlights include activities and handcrafted wares for sale such as wooden products, baked goods, jewelry and more in the Douglas community room and treats and snacks from the Flour Girl Bakery and Café and other food vendors. In addition, an exhibition of local artisans and crafters is to be held at the nearby Gilead Congregational Church. Visitors will also be able to meet a live mermaid, see Eeyore and other animals, watch the tractor parade and visit the Hebron Historical Society in the old town hall for a quilting show.
There are plenty of opportunities to be a part of maple sugaring in Hebron during the festival, with shuttles to four different farms and sugarhouses that will be providing tours, demonstrations and maple experiences. Updates will be posted to the event’s Facebook page with exciting additions and promotions at nearby stores and restaurants.
Public parking will be available at RHAM High School on nearby Wall Street with a shuttle to and from Main Street and the other festival locations.
Other Maple Events in Connecticut
Throughout the rest of March and April, a variety of other towns in Connecticut (and throughout New England) will be hosting maple festivities and sugarhouses will be sponsoring tours, pancake breakfasts and other fun activities. Lyman Orchards in Middlefield will be offering a “pancake palace” experience, Parmelee Farms in Killingworth will be hosting live demonstrations and Sullivan Farms in New Milford will be offering tours and more fun events, to name a few.
If you are unable to visit any of these maple events or would like to learn more about the process at home, Valley Shore Community TV has produced a news segment titled “Maple Sugaring,” detailing Connecticut maple syrup from start to finish with interviews and high-definition visuals. For more information on maple syrup production in Connecticut, visit ctmaple.org.