It’s maple syrup season in New Hampshire. That means sugaring-off parties, sap house tours, sugar on snow, maple candy and gallons and gallons of syrupy goodness.
The New Hampshire Maple Producers’ Association is expecting a great season, despite the warmer than usual weather. Apparently summer rainfall – which was plentiful last year – matters as much as springtime temps. The big weekend is March 27-28 with more than 65 sugar houses offering tours and other activities.
Can’t make it that weekend? Don’t worry. There are plenty of maple-themed activities all month long. Check out these activities happening in counties all over the state.
North Woodstock is the hub of the New Hampshire Maple Festival, a multi-day family frolic that involves a dinner dance, a parade and the coronation of this year’s maple king and queen. The fun begins on March 27. nhmaplefest.com.
The Rocks Estate, a 1,400-acre conservation center in Bethlehem, is teaching visitors all about the art and science of maple syrup. Tours will run on weekends in March and early April. Reservations are advised. therocks.org.
The restaurant is open at Stuart and John’s Sugar House in Westmoreland. On weekends, the cooks there serve up anything that goes well with syrup. 399-4486.
To learn about the history of maple sugaring, visit Christies’ Maple Farm in Lancaster. In addition to the museum, you can sample different grades of syrup at a tasting bar. realmaple.com. While you’re in town, check out Fuller’s Sugar House, which is nearby. fullersugarhouse.com.
The new Remick Museum Sugar House in Tamworth features a cutting-edge evaporator system. You can also see other methods of sugaring off used throughout the ages. remickmuseum.org.
Enjoy hay rides, taste sugar on snow and meet the syrup makers at Tamarack Farm in Canterbury. geocities.com/tamfarm2001/news.html.
At Ragged View Farm in Andover you can walk away with more than fresh syrup. The farm sells hand-raised pork, homegrown garlic and more. raggedviewfarm.com.
Since the late 1960s, Parker’s Maple Barn in Mason has been making – and selling – its syrup. Its restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. Don’t miss the maple frappes. parkersmaplebarn.com/history.php.
Bisson’s Sugarhouse in Berlin teachers visitors about syrup-making and then serves them syrup on ice cream. Runs events in late March with the nearby Northern Forest Heritage Park. Call 752-1298.
In Belmont, Cormier’s Sugarhouse offers impromptu tours and an impressive selection of maple products, including maple cream, maple candy and maple lollipops. cormierssugarhouse.com.
Anyone up for maple cotton candy? Try it at Ben’s Sugar Shack in Temple. Don’t miss the collection of recipes using maple syrup on the shack’s web site, bens-maple-syrup.com.
Benton’s Sugar Shack in Thornton serves breakfast on weekends. nhmapleoutlet.com.
Valley View Maple Farm in Springfield makes and sells more than just maple syrup. The farm’s gift shop also offers handmade wooden gift boxes and clothing and furniture for American Girl dolls. valleyviewmaplefarm.com.
You’ve taken the tours and, despite your efforts to resist, you’ve gotten maple fever. Get all the supplies and advice you need to boil your own at The Maple Guys in Lyndeborough. mapleguys.com.
Journey’s End Maple Farm in Pittsfield will host a pancake breakfast on March 27 from 9-11 a.m. journeysendmaplefarm.com.
You don’t have to travel to the deep woods to see syrup-making up close. Maple Tree Farm is well inside Concord’s city limits, and the owners love visitors. mapletreefarmnh.com
Folsom Sugarhouse in Chester runs sap boilers and a gift shop packed with syrup, maple mustard, maple barbeque sauce and more. folsomsugarhouse.com.