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Maple Syrup & Maple Sugaring Tours in Connecticut

Enjoy watching the maple syrup process and buy direct from local Connecticut Sugar Houses

By Kim McNeill February 21, 2013
Connecticut produces a large portion of New England's fresh maple syrup. Is it any wonder? We have great land for trees and great people who love farms and farm-fresh products. Maple syrup is made by collecting the sap from Sugar Maples (and some other types) as it begins to flow in February through March and boiling it down to concentrate the sugar into maple syrup. How much sap does it take to make maple syrup? It takes 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of syrup! Some of these sugar houses produce 600 gallons of maple syrup in a season. That takes a lot of work and a lot of trees. 

Most of the local sugar houses in Connecticut enjoy bringing the public in to see the work they do. We visited a sugar house last year and it was informative, interesting, and smelled wonderful. I've included a list of some local sugar houses that welcome you to come by. Some are more formal, some are just open, and others require a phone call before you stop in.

Maple Syrup Tours and Open Houses

Sullivan Farm in New Milford
Sullivan Farm has an actual educational program set up for families for a small fee. Take a tour and sample the maple syrup. It's $5 per person with a maximum of $20 per family. Register by emailing sullivanfarmeducation@gmail.com or calling 860-354-4600.
Dates 2013: 2/23, 2/24, 3/2, 3/3, 3/9, 3/10
Times: 10 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm

Flanders Nature Center in Woodbury
Head over to Flanders and see maple syrup being made. Make sure you bring some home. You can also enjoy a preview of Flanders syrup at their pancake breakfast on March 3rd.
Dates 2013: 3/2, 3/3, 3/9, 3/10
Times: 1 pm - 4 pm

Warrup's Farm in Redding
The first three weekends in March, you can visit Warrup's Farm for to purchase syrup and maple candy plus free demonstrations!
Dates 2013: 3/2, 3/3, 3/9, 3/10, 3/16, 3/17
Times: Noon to 5 pm

Brooksvale Park in Hamden
Park staff and volunteers will be on hand at various learning stations throughout the park to introduce participants to the history and science behind this ancient craft. Native American legends about the discovery of maple sugaring will be told and exhibits, artifacts and hands-on activities will illustrate the changing role of technology in maple syrup production. Participants can also visit the maple grove and sugar shack at Brooksvale Park, providing an opportunity to understand the process from sap to syrup.
Date: 3/2/2013
Time: 10 am - 3 pm

Lamothe's Sugar House in Burlington
Tours are available every weekend from mid-February until the end of March. The tours are free and so is the coffee and hot cider!
Dates: 2/23, 2/24, 3/2, 3/3, 3/9, 3/10, 3/16, 3/17, 3/23, 3/24
Time: 1 - 4:30 pm

Hilljack Sugar Shack in Litchfield
Always open to the public during sugaring season, call ahead if you would like to set up a private tour. They have a recipe for Maple Cheesecake on their site. Sounds yummy.

Woodbury Sugar Shed
The Sugar Shed produces over 800 gallons of syrup each season. The hours for the sugar shed are dictated by the syrup conditions. If you check their Facebook page or give a call, you will know if it's OK to visit. You can meet Lou and have a tour.
Dates: Vary


Maple Festivals:

Maple Sugaring Festival at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington
Explore the importance of maple syrup to Connecticut's native peoples with a demonstration of primitive syrup making. There will also be pancakes!
Date: 3/2/2013
Time: 11 am - 3 pm

Maple Festival at the Ansonia Nature Center
Pancake breakfast with maple syrup and sausages leads into a full day of tree tapping demos, live animals, crafts, and baked goods to buy.
Date: 3/2/2013
Time: Breakfast from 8 am - 10 am, festival lasts until 4 pm

Find the full list of Connecticut maple syrup and sugarhouses here!