By Sadaf Afshan
Maple Syrup Festivals are a much loved Canadian spring time tradition. A visit to a sugar shack is a great way for the entire family to enjoy the freshness of spring after being cooped up indoors during winter.
Here are some fun-filled activities that you can enjoy with kids at a Maple Syrup Festival:
Learn how maple syrup is made
A visit to a sugar shack will walk you through the process of maple extraction with tours of the sugar bush to see how maple sap is tapped from trees. You will see demonstrations of early Canadian settlers techniques for the production of maple syrup – through the use of cauldron when preparing the sweet syrup, right up to modern methods. At some sugar shacks you can also see how the natives made maple syrup with the help of logs and hot rocks. Many will feature costumed interpreters and provide hands-on and interactive activities along the way.
Learn fun facts about maple syrup
Did you know that it takes about 40 litres of sap to produce one litre of maple syrup? Or the fact that North America is the only place that has both the sugar maple tree and the proper weather required to produce maple syrup? These are just some of the facts that you can learn during a visit to a Maple Syrup Festival.
Learn about pioneer life
At many sugar shacks visitors can visit heritage homes or museums where they can learn about pioneer life. Costumed interpreters offer guided tours and hands-on demonstrations of how life was for Canadians a couple of centuries ago.
Enjoy a wagon ride
Many maple syrup festivals offer horse drawn wagon rides whereas others offer tractor drawn wagon rides. Either ways it’s a fun way to enjoy nature.
Buy treats from the Gift Shop
Maple Syrup, maple candies, maple cookies, maple butter, old-fashioned maple taffy – you can purchase a wide variety of farm fresh fine foods from the Gift Shop.
Watch Cooking Demos
At many Maple Syrup festivals visitors can watch live cooking demonstrations and learn how to make maple treats like candies, taffy etc.
Enjoy pancakes with fresh maple syrup
After a fun-filled day enjoy some hot pancakes with fresh maple syrup under a pavilion nestled in the woods.
There are many more activities families can enjoy such as childrens entertainment, crackling fires, pony rides, romps in the hay bale, play area and farm animals. Before going do check the specific festivals website to know about the activities offered. Dress up warmly and wear proper footwear since most of the activities are outdoors.
So make sure to take your kids to a sugar shack near you this spring. They will surely love the experience.
About the Author:
Sadaf Afshan is an editor at MuslimMoms.ca She also writes a food blog My Culinary Adventures and owns an Islamic Clothing business Chosen Path Abayas.
Have you ever been to a Maple Syrup Festival? Which is your favorite place for enjoying Maple Syrup Festivals? Which activities do you enjoy most there? Please share your experience with other Moms in the comments section.
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