If you've never been to a Maple Syrup Festival, you should consider going this year. In early spring, many parks and farms in Ohio provide a chance for people to come learn about the process of turning sap into maple syrup. You'll learn about tapping trees, how the sap is collected, boiled down and turned into delicious maple syrup and maple candies.

Many of the events include historical demonstrations with costumed interpreters and some even offer a delicious pancake breakfast with fresh maple syrup.

The Maple Syrup Festivals are a unique, fun and educational events all ages will enjoy. With such a variety of dates, times and locations to choose from, you should be able to find one that fits your schedule. Come meet the producers, see the process, learn about sugarmaking, and taste the products of Ohio's many local maple syrup producers.

You may be interested in: Even more amazing festivals in Ohio

Geauga County Maple Festival

Every year during the last full weekend in April, the Geauga Maple Festival takes place at historic Chardon Square. This year marks the 92nd annual event, making it the oldest maple festival in Northeast Ohio.

Visitors will enjoy celebrating the production of maple syrup while taking part in a variety of fun activities including a parade, pageant, pancakes in the park, baking contests, bathtub races, lumberjack competition, a tug of war contest, a sap run 1 and 5 mile road race and much more! {Find Out More}
Where: Historic Chardon Square, Chardon, OH 44024
When: April 27-30, 2023

Maple Sugaring Weekends at Lake Metroparks Farmpark

Visitors take a wagon ride to the Woodland Center to witness the maple-producing process as the sap is collected from the network of tubing and 1,000 taps! After collection, watch as the sap is boiled and turned into maple syrup and candy. Discover how trees are tapped and see the tubing that connects the taps. Sample maple syrup and candy, help gather sap, and learn how to make maple syrup in your own backyard! Pancakes are served all day in the café. {Find Out More}
Where: Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Rd., Kirtland, OH 44094
When: March 4, 5, 11 and 12, 2023

FREE Maple Sugaring at Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation

Take a self-guided hike through the sugarbush, see demonstrations of historical syrup-making processes, visit the sugarhouse, and sample some delicious maple syrup. Locally made maple candy will be for sale 3/$1.00 (cash only) while supplies last. {Find Out More}
Where: Rocky River Reservation, 24000 Valley Pkwy., North Olmsted, OH 44070
When: Weekends, March 4-5, 11-12 & 19-20, 2023 [REGISTER]

FREE Malabar Farms Maple Syrup Festival

Experience sugar camp in the woods with live historical demonstrations, horse drawn wagon rides, food, and maple products for sale. Free event. Parking will be directed by park officers and on the farms hay fields. The Big House will be open for free self-guided tours. {Find Out More}
Where: Malabar Farm State Park – 4050 Bromfield Rd, Lucas, OH 44843
When: March 4, 5, 11 & 12, 2023

FREE Geauga Parks Sap's-a-Risin' Maple Sugar Festival 

Visit Geauga Park District's sugarhouse, sugarbush, and lodge for a sweet taste of how maple sugaring methods have evolved from the Native American tradition to modern methods! Help gather sap in the sugarbush alongside a horse-drawn sap sled, experience the tapping, gathering, and boiling methods used throughout history, see sap boiling in the sugar house and taste some maple syrup, then warm up with live music by Mr. Haney String Band and maple treats in the lodge. {Find Out More}
Where: Swine Creek Reservation, Sugar House & Lodge, 16004 Hayes Rd., Middlefield, OH 44062
When: Sundays, March 5, 12 & 19, 2023

FREE Maple Sugaring Open House & Guided Hikes at the Lorain County Metro Parks

Join in for a 45-minute outdoor program that will engage you in the maple sugaring process through a visit to the sugar bush where you will discover how to identify maple trees, then explore the tools needed to tap trees, collect sap, and end with a visit to the sugar shack where sap will be boiling in the evaporator pan. {Find Out More}
Where: Carlisle Reservation Sugar Shack, 12882 Diagonal Rd., LaGrange, OH 44050
When: February 25-26 and March 4 & 5, 2023

Maple Sugar Days at Hale Farm & Village + Pancake Breakfast

Explore the sweet side of history and experience how maple sap processing changed through the 19th century on the historic grounds. Highlights of the event will include tree tapping in our Maple Sugar Bush, ongoing evaporator demonstrations in the Hale Family Sugar House, Native American storytelling of maple traditions, seasonal cooking demonstrations, and sweet tastes along the way, including an annual pancake breakfast. {Find Out More}
Where: 2686 Oak Hill Rd., Bath, OH 44210
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023 [REGISTER]

Summit Metro Parks Maple Mania Open House 

Join a naturalist to learn the ins and outs of maple syrup production. See how the trees are tapped, how sap is collected, and how it's boiled down to that sweet amber syrup while enjoying pancakes, waffles, and ice cream. {Find Out More}
Where: Liberty Park Nature Center, 9999 Liberty Rd., Twinsburg, OH 44087
When: March 25-26, 2023

FREE Maple Driving Tour

Enjoy a drive it yourself tour of local maple producers of Northeast Ohio. The annual tour takes place during two weekends in March and participants can choose to visit as many of the locations as desired. Come watch how maple syrup and maple products and made and enjoy some delicious maple treats.

Bissell Maple Farm

One of the largest maple syrup operations in Ohio with the only automated maple syrup bottling line in Ohio operating in a repurposed GE factory in Jefferson, OH. {Find Out More}
Where: 82 W. Ashtabula St., Jefferson, OH 44047
When: Saturdays, March 4 & 11, 2023 only

Mother Hen Farm

Mother Hen farm is a small family owned business specializing in eggs, honey, and of course, maple syrup. This Sugarbush is a 100-tap operation done all with buckets and daily collection (bottled on the farm and sold locally). {Find Out More}
Where: 8201 Pettibone Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

IQ Maple Syrup

Handcrafted Maple Syrup made in Geauga County, OH! 675 bucket operation. Maple syrup has been made here for 100 years! Even the arch used in the newer sugarhouse was repurposed from the sugarhouse dating back to the '50s. Stop in to enjoy the smell and taste of maple. Make sure to stop and visit with the donkeys – the office maple mascots! {Find Out More}
Where: 18266 Thorpe Rd., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Pancake Breakfast at Sirna's Farm Fresh Kitchen & Pizza

Enjoy Sirna's very own maple syrup on your pancakes and in many of their recipes. This maple operation grew from 300 to 1200 taps in tubing and is located on their seasonal farm, located 2 miles from the restaurant. {Find Out More}
Where: 11773 E. Washington St., Chagrin Falls, OH 44023 (Auburn Township)
When: Saturdays only, March 4 & 11, 2023 (Breakfast served Saturdays during tour only, from 9 am-1 pm.)

Burton Chamber Log Cabin Sugar Camp

Making maple products here since 1931! Watch candy demos, try candy samples, and see maple syrup being processed right in the cabin on the Burton Village Green. {Find Out More}
Where: 14590 E. Park St., Burton, OH 44021
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Grossman Brothers Maple Products

This is a family-owned and operated sugarbush. Heavy timber frame sugarhouse has a traditional 3’ x 12’ wood-fired evaporator. 5000 taps on high vacuum tubing with reverse osmosis sap processing producing more than 1500 gallons of maple syrup annually. The sugarhouse is easily accessible with abundant parking. Quality maple syrup and products. {Find Out More}
Where: 12147 Claridon-Troy Rd., Chardon, OH 44024
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Hanley's Sugar Camp

First-generation maple syrup producers. The family is very involved in the process, making syrup for 5 years. Currently, 1300 taps produce small-batch syrup. {Find Out More}
Where: 11699 Bell Rd., Newbury, OH 44065
When: Saturdays only, March 4 & 11, 2023

KC Maple Syrup & Candy

A backyard operation that uses a wood-fired evaporator with 400 taps. Take a walk through the scenic woods to see how the sap is gathered and transferred from the pump house to the sugarhouse. Easy access to the sugarhouse. Handicap accessible. Discover Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup as well as maple sugar, maple-flavored popcorn, and maple-flavored dog treats for your doggies. {Find Out More}
Where: 16350 Hard Rd., Montville, OH 44064
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Ma & Pa’s

Watch the horses go to the sugarbush to collect the sap and bring it back to the sugar shack to demonstrate how it is turned into maple syrup. Then enjoy samples of maple coffee, maple candy and other maple treats in the log cabin. {Find Out More}
Where: 15161 Main Market Rd. (Rt 422), Burton, OH 44021
When: Saturdays, March 5 & 12, 2022

Messenger Century Farm

Enjoy the country store porch, where maple stirs and several “Tastes of Maple” samples (so you can see that maple syrup is not just for pancakes) will be served. Learn the history of maple on the farm and discover why they placed a conservation easement with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy to conserve it. {Find Out More}
Where: 17098 Messenger Rd., Auburn, OH 44021
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Pleasant Valley View Farm

This is a 1000-tap operation with a Leader reverse oil-fired evaporator. Tubing and bucket collection system with reverse osmosis. Selling maple syrup and decorative glass bottles as well as traditional jugs. Come taste the wonderful product at the sugarhouse. Plenty of syrup to be sold at their roadside stand. {Find Out More}
Where: 8810 Madison Rd., Montville, OH 44064
When: March 4-5, 2023

Richards Sugarhouse Maple

Come and enjoy the tastes and smells of the season as Richards Sugarhouse Maple celebrates more than 100 years of excellence in maple products. Visit the sugarhouse and enjoy a special treat of hot dogs cooked in maple sap. {Find Out More}
Where: 545 Water St., Chardon, OH 44024
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Salo Maple

Explore the sugarhouse and sugarbush that is owned and operated by Tom Salo of Salo Maple Products of Montville Township. See a 150 maple tree orchard recently planted. There will be maple-coated peanuts and pecans, maple candy, and granulated maple sugar as well as all sizes of maple syrup for sale. {Find Out More}
Where: 16434 Leggett Rd., Montville, OH 44064
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Seldom Seen Farm

A modern sugarbush with 1500 taps on vacuum tubing with modern equipment in a timber frame sugarhouse. Walk the gravel trails and see the operation. The farm is handicapped accessible and private and large tours are available. Products available for purchase: Bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, candies, sugar, cotton candy, and their Grand Champion traditional maple syrup. {Find Out More}
Where: 10055 Madison Rd., Montville, OH 44064
When: Weekends, March 4-5 & 11-12, 2023

Sugarbush Creek Farm

Take a wagon ride to Geauga County’s most picturesque sugarhouse. Learn the history of maple syrup from ancient legends to pioneer days. Then experience a guided tour to see how they blend traditional methods and state-of-the-art technology on the farm today. Afterward, relax by the fire in the timber-framed tasting lodge and sample Geauga’s finest maple syrup. {Find Out More}
Where: 13034 Madison Rd., Middlefield, OH 44062
When: March 4-5, 2023

Sugar Valley Maple

This is a 3100 tap tubing operation with a 3′ x 12′ enviro-brick-fired evaporator. Maple syrup is available for purchase in gallons, half gallons, quarts, pints, and half pints. Maple candy, cotton candy, and various other maple products are made upon request. {Find Out More}
Where: 15771 Chipmunk Ln., Middlefield, OH 44062
When: Saturdays only, March 4 & 11, 2023

Top Tips for Attending a Maple Syrup Festival

Plan now which events to attend – Use our list to choose the Maple Syrup Festival(s) you and your family would like to attend and block the date in your calendar now. That way you won’t forget when the day comes. 

Share realistic expectations with your kids – With popular festivals, large groups may be attending so prepare your children in advance that it may be difficult to see and hear everything. Consider borrowing a book from the library or find a simple explanation of the maple sugaring process to share with them before you go. 

Be prepared to walk or stand – Typically there isn’t any designated seating, so be sure to bring a stroller or wagon for little ones. 

Protect your kids (and yourself!) from the weather – Many of the events are held outdoors. Make sure to dress for the weather, as you'll be outside for at least a portion of the event. Consider wearing layers so everyone is comfortable even in the cold.

Wear shoes or boots that you don't mind getting dirty, as the trails may be muddy. You may even want to bring an extra pair of clean socks and shoes for the drive home. 

Pack your own healthy snacks – Pack plenty of water and bring along some healthy food to snack on while you are at the festival. If you'd prefer to purchase your food, check to see if there will be food in addition to sweets available to purchase onsite before you go.

Be sure to bring some cash money – You'll likely want to purchase some maple sugar treats to take home, so bring some cash money in case they don't accept credit cards. 

Remember your camera – Make sure your phone is charged or bring along a camera to capture beautiful and fun photo opportunities.

Check the forecast before you go – Most of the events are weather-dependent. Always check the host website or Facebook page if the weather forecast doesn't look promising.