With the spring temperatures fluctuating, above freezing during the day, below freezing at night, maple trees start to awaken and the sap runs. Locally maple syrup fans will be tapping maples around Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, the only public demonstration locally will be the Feb. 20 Wednesdays in the Wild program. To see demos of maple syrup being made Tippecanoe County folks will need to travel.
Parke County: This marks the 50th year for the Parke County Maple Syrup Festival (link). Start at the fairgrounds north of Rockville to plan your day. There is a pancake breakfast to start your adventure. Several demo sites are sprinkled throughout the county. The festival is free, but there are fees for food and merchandise. Weekends starting 2/23 through 3/10, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Travel time of about 1.5 hours to the fairgrounds.
Lake County: Lake County Parks hosts 18th century re-enactors who will make maple syrup and talk about how it was used. Free. Deep River Park, Mar. 9-10 and Mar. 16-17. Travel time of about 1.75 hours to Deep River Park (link).
Chellberg Farm, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Mar 2-3, Mar 9-10. Re-enactors at the Chellberg Farm/ Bailey Homestead (link) will be harvesting maple sap and turning it into maple syrup. Free. Travel time about 2 hours.
Medora: National Maple Syrup Festival (link), Mar. 2-3 and Mar. 9-10. This national festival is held on Burton’s Maplewood Farm near Medora. Vendors and demonstrators will be on site. Fee charged, limited parking, shuttle available from the school. Travel time about 3 hours.
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