COLUMBUS, OH - Late winter's sub-freezing nights and mild days start the sap flowing in Ohio's maple trees, signaling maple syrup festival time in Ohio State Parks, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
Native Americans taught pioneer Ohioans how to turn maple sap into syrup and candy, said Dan West, Ohio State Parks chief. Now modern Ohio families can learn the art and history of making syrup at five Ohio State Park events, highlighting the sugaring season.
Caesar Creek State Park in Warren County kicks off the maple syrup festival season on Saturday and Sunday, February 24-25, with events for children and adults. "Kids' Day on the Sugarbush" on Saturday, February 24, will feature tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Children can warm up with a woodland walk, hot cocoa and storytelling, and then learn how maple trees are drilled to collect sap for making syrup.
The following day, park officials will host maple syrup tours and a pancake brunch at the park's Pioneer Village. Tours begin each hour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a fee. For information or to pre-register, call 513-897-2437.
Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County will hold its annual Maple Syrup Festival from noon to 4 p.m. on two weekends, March 3-4 and March 10-11. Visitors can take a horse-drawn wagon ride to the sugarbush to see demonstrations of sugar making through history.
A working model railroad will also be on display, sponsored by the Rocky Way and Strait Gate RR Club. For information on the event, call 419-892-2784.
Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County will also sponsor a Maple Syrup Festival on March 3-4 and March 10-11 at the main beach parking area. A pancake breakfast will be offered from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day for a small fee. Visitors can explore the sugarbush from noon to 4 p.m. each day and learn how the art of making maple syrup has evolved since the time of Native Americans to the modern era. For information, call 513-523-6347.
Visitors will learn the art of "Maple Sugaring in the Hills" at Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County from noon to 4 p.m. on March 10. Maple sap from park trees will be used to make tasty treats that will be available for sampling in the naturalist cabin behind the Old Man's Cave Visitor Center. Naturalists will demonstrate the many historic methods used to make maple candy and syrup. For information, call 740-385-6841.
Indian Lake State Park in Logan County will host a Maple Syrup Festival from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 17-18 at the park's campground commissary. Visitors will take a wagon ride through the sugarbush, then watch park staffers boil sap into syrup at the sugar shack. Free samples will be available for tasting. A pancake and sausage breakfast will be served for a small fee. For information, call 937-843-2717.
For Further Information Contact:
Jean Backs, Ohio State Parks
(614) 265-7077
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860