Experience Maple Sugaring Month in New Hampshire

Tapping trees at Heritage Farm Pancake House Photo by Jenn Bakos

While we all might all be ready to trade in our snow boots for flip-flops, this month is home to one of our favorite events that celebrates the sweetest times of the year. Hosted by the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association, Maple Sugaring Month runs from March 5 through March 26, 2022 spanning four weeks of maple fun. You will be able to meet the maple producers, see how maple sugaring works, enjoy free samples of fresh syrup, taste maple candy and so much more. Here is a roundup of maple syrup-related events taking place in the coming weeks.

Charmingfare Farm’s Maple Express: In Candia, Charmingfare Farm offers a 20-minute draft horse-driven wagon ride deep into the sugar bush to visit an authentic sugar shack. There, a professional sugar maker will teach kids and adults everything they need to know about tapping maple and all the equipment involved in sugar-making. The end of the trip includes a buttery silver dollar pancake topped with freshly made syrup.

2023 dates: March 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26.

Check it out: visitthefarm.com

Tap Into Maple: From tapping a tree to tasting delicious maple syrup, Prescott Farm in Laconia’s maple sugaring program provides hands-on participation in every step of the syrup-making process. Environmental educators will help families build tree identification skills, learn the history of maple sugaring, including Native American legends, and discover the math and chemical/physical science in the boiling process.

2023 dates: Saturdays, March 4-25
90 minute programs begin at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Check it out: prescottfarm.com

New Hampshire Maple Experience: At The Rocks Estate in Bethlehem, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests invites participants to learn how to identify sugar maple trees, get hands-on practice with tapping and collecting syrup, and see the process of turning sap into syrup up close. Plus, there will lots of pancakes and syrup!

2023 dates: March 11, 18, 19, 25, 26 and April 1

Check it out: therocks.org

Annual Maple Weekend: Sugar makers throughout New Hampshire invite visitors to stop by to learn more about the centuries-old craft of maple sugaring. Many sugar houses offer free samples of fresh syrup, as well as samples of maple candies and confections, coffee and doughnuts. Some locations even have pancake breakfasts, petting farms or horse-drawn rides.

2023 Maple Weekend dates: Saturday, March 18 and Sunday, March 19

Check it out: nhmapleproducers.com

Maple Day 2022: The sap is flowing and there will be a wide variety of things to do this weekend at maple syrup producers across the state. MKIM will have a one day event with maple sugaring demonstrations, acorn pancake samples, fry bread for sale, maple goodies for sale, a used book sale, Yuka the Arctic fox, walking tours and more. The museum and gift shop will be open. Regular admission applies to tour the museum (free for members).

2023 date: Saturday, March 18

Check it out: indianmuseum.org

Pancake Houses

Start the day right with a hearty breakfast of pancakes drizzled with local maple syrup.

Heritage Farm Pancake House
15 Parker Hill Rd., Sanbornton
(603) 524-5400
Enjoy maple syrup made onsite, farm-fresh eggs, homegrown potatoes for the home fries, and bacon from Canterbury’s Fox Country Smoke House.

Intervale Farm Pancake House
931 Flanders Rd., Henniker
(603) 428-7196
They’ve been serving pancakes, eggs, waffles, coffee and, of course, their own maple syrup for 30 years.

Parker’s Maple Barn
1316 Brookline Rd., Mason
(603) 878-2308
What started as a small sugarhosue in the ’60s is now an iconic New Hampshire restaurant.

Polly’s Pancake Parlor
672 Route 117, Sugar Hill
(603) 823-5575
Polly’s has been in the breakfast game for more than 75 years. There aren’t any premade pancake mixes here – all the batters are made from flour they stone-grind themselves.