The Region Celebrates Last Two Weekends of March
By Kate Bartlett
March means maple season. Get ready to sample fresh maple syrup and rediscover the wonders of syrup making during several events across Chautauqua and Cattaraugus counties. Mark your calendars for WNY Maple Weekends March 19-20 and 26-27, with several events extending through spring.
But first, do you know the health benefits of maple syrup? Maple syrup is can be used as a sugar substitute for those who strive to use less refined sugar. It also has many properties that are good for the body including antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. It has fewer calories, and is generally much sweeter and contains some essential nutrients like zinc and manganese.
Cattaraugus County Events –
Boberg’s Maple in Delevan invites you to watch their process and sample their popular maple cream and syrup products. Tour their modern building with ample parking. Open both weekends, both days.
The Maple Glen Sugar House in Gowanda will present candy making and tree tapping demos as well as wagon rides through the sugar bush. Free tours are also available every weekend in March outside of Maple weekends. Call 716-532-5483 to schedule.
Moore’s Maple Shack & Pancake House in Freedom gives you the opportunity to sample maple products. They’ll have the evaporator running and the restaurant will have All-You-Can-Eat Buttermilk Pancakes. The restaurant is open everyday day until mid-April and is decorated with unique family antiques.
Sprague’s Maple Farms in Portville will have a variety of events including tree tapping demonstrations, demonstrations on how Native Americans made maple syrup, sugar on snow, maple cake donuts, and wagon rides to their old-fashioned sugarhouse. Saturdays and Sundays in March 10-4 weather permitting.
Ulinger’s Maple Farm in East Otto is family owned and operated and will welcome visitors both days, both weekends from 10-4. The farm is a growing maple farm with 14,000 trees. Tour their syrup making processes with products available for purchase, and offsite at several locations and online.
Wright Farms in Farmersville invites you to try their “jackwax”, a unique creation which turns maple and snow into a taffy substance. Visitors can tour their modern sugarhouse and view over 8000 taps.
Franklinville is home to The Annual Maple Festival this weekend, founded in 1962 by the JayCee’s. This two-day long festival attracts thousands of visitors to the area to experience local maple producers featuring their maple syrup and products. This year is will be held at the Franklinville Elementary School. Visit https://www.franklinvilleny.org/wny-maple-festival.html for event schedule.
Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region Events-
Big Tree Maple in Ashville invites you to witness the production of maple syrup, cream and butter in a modern sugar house. Tastings and products available for purchase. Stop by nearby Ashville General Store (2 miles) starring Big Tree Maple products.
Clear Creek Farms will have maple product demonstrations highlighting sustainable farming methods, horse-drawn wagon or sleigh rides along with tastings, and products for purchase.
Fairbanks Maple, a rustic family run farm, will offer a complete demonstration on the process of maple syrup production from collecting to processing and boiling sap. Watch maple products being produced with tours including sugar house and sugar bush. In the past, they’ve offered informative wood walks. All-you-can-eat pancake breakfast 8-4 on March 19th, 20th, 26th and 27th, with maple pulled pork sandwiches available later in the day.
Johnson Estate Winery in Westfield offers a unique experience for adults during NYS Maple Weekends. Chef Andy will be making French Crepes with toasted nuts paired with their Maple Liqueur 12-4pm daily. Their creation tastes like “a combination of sherry and ice wine, fortified and sweet, with a dry finish. The light infusion of maple syrup provides a warming, not-too-sweet maple sensation.” Guests can purchase a bottle and a French Crepe Kit to enjoy at home.
Lily Acre Farms in Amish Country will offer a pancake and waffle breakfast followed by a farm tour and live demonstrations of maple production.
Scott Farms & Greenhouse in Lakewood is Chautauqua County’s newest sugar house and will have full demonstrations of the syrup, maple cream, candy and cotton candy making. Stop by Maple weekends and anytime you see the steam!
Red’s Best Pancake House in Sherman is celebrating 40+ years producing maple syrup. This local institution is said to be a best-kept secret and is only open Saturday & Sunday from February – April, and then again in October. Enjoy all you can eat buckwheat pancakes, homemade pork sausage, apple sauce, and a beverage, all served with their house syrup. Watch and learn how sap transforms into the “liquid gold” that is maple syrup while you wait for a table.
No matter how you decide to appreciate the maple season, there’s something for everyone across our region. For a complete list of farms participating in NYS Maple Weekends visit Enchantedmountains.com and TourChautauqua.com.
Caption: Johnson Estate Winery in Westfield offers a unique experience for adults during NYS Maple Weekends. Chef Andy will be making French Crepes with toasted nuts paired with their Maple Liqueur 12-4pm daily. Their creation tastes like “a combination of sherry and ice wine, fortified and sweet, with a dry finish. The light infusion of maple syrup provides a warming, not-too-sweet maple sensation.” Guests can purchase a bottle and a French Crepe Kit to enjoy at home.