Duke Farms' Sugar Maple Festival
On Saturday, February 9th, Duke Farms held their annual Sugar Maple Festival. This event welcomed people of all ages, including first-timers and returning Duke guests. Activities engaged visitors in nature hikes and the maple tapping process.
When first walking onto the Duke’s estate, guests were welcomed by informative stations set up around the lobby after registering with staff members. Stations included facts and statistics about the environment, sugar maple trees, and Duke Farms itself. Throughout the day, there were several activities that families could partake in, which included hikes around the property, as well as a kid-centered story time.
The Duke staff ushered guests towards four sugar bushes, which comprised of multiple sugar maple trees that were tapped for their sap. Families received an up-close perspective and were able to hold the objects used for the syrup making process, experiencing extraction and evaporation. Kids were able to interact with staff members and gain a better insight into what goes on during harvesting season.
The Farm Barn Café, located on the Duke property, offered an array of foods and beverages that catered towards the maple theme. Popular favorites included Maple Hot Chocolate and Sugar Maple Beignets. This was a favorable way to get out of the cold while still being immersed in what the Sugar Maple Festival had to offer.
While the event usually happens in the fall, Duke’s caters the event to whenever the sugar maple trees’ sap is optimal for harvesting. Even though the climate was below freezing, the cold could not prevent families from having a fun-filled memorable experience.