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Maple Weekends in Dutchess County

Date Published: February 26, 2024

 Did you know that maple production in New York is among the highest in the United States?  Join us for Maple Weekends to learn more fun facts about the sweet stuff! Here in Dutchess County, we have a handful of family-owned, high-quality maple syrup companies that look forward to educating you about the maple syrup making process, in addition to offering sugarhouse tours, family-friendly activities, tastings and more!  

For more one-of-a-kind events this March in Dutchess County, click here

Soukup Farms, Dover Plains

This third-generation family farm has been producing maple syrup since the 1950s. What started as a hobby, Soukup Farms now operates over 2,000 taps and sells, not only pure maple syrup, but a number of specialty products including hot sauce, mustard, soy candles and candy. Maple Weekends welcomes you onto their farm. This educational experience also includes delicious snacks, ranging from maple popcorn to warm maple and apple cider donuts. The sugarhouse offers a unique view of the maple syrup making process that you can see for yourself during Maple Weekends. Their schedule will be as follows:

March 16 & 17, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
March 23 & 24, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Join them as they share their entire maple syrup process, from tapping to boiling to bottling!

The Fresh Air Fund Maple Farm—The Sharpe Reservation's Camp Hidden Valley, Fishkill

First and foremost, The Fresh Air Fund is a wonderful organization serving New York City children from low-income communities. Here in Dutchess County, we welcome these children into our community to spend two weeks at one of their overnight camps in Fishkill (including Sharpe Reservation's Camp Hidden Valley), allowing them to partake in outdoor summer adventures. This spring, anyone is welcome to visit Camp Hidden Valley for their annual Sugar Maple Celebration.  This exciting FREE event takes place on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dive into a maple sugaring demonstration before browsing a crafts and food market. The kids will love the nature discovery room, planetarium and animal show. Plus, don't miss the traditional maple syrup judging contest.

Bowdoin Park, Wappingers Falls

Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls hosts a Sap Happy Maple Weekend beginning with a "pancakes in the park" event for seniors on Thursday, March 21 at 10:30 a.m. Learn about the history of the maple syrup-making process through demonstrations and tastings on Friday and Sunday, March 22 & 24, 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Engage in each step of the maple syrup process, from tapping the trees to collecting the sap and boiling it down to syrup. Get hands-on experience with these interactive sessions, and explore Native American methods of maple sugaring. Plus, judge a competition between students at the Culinary Institute of America and Bowdoin Park staff for who can craft the best pancake! This pancake breafast contest kicks off Saturday March 23 at 10 a.m. Of course, fresh maple syrup from Bowdoin Park and Wilcox Park in Stanfordville elevate these fantastic flapjacks. Walk-up maple demonstration exhibits invite visitors in throughout the event. And Poughkeepsie's Just A Little Pie Shop crafts a must-try maple syrup pie all week long. For more information, click here.

Calling all runners!  The Eastern Dutchess Road Runners Club and Sneaker Mutt host the Sap Happy Maple 5k race on the morning of March 23: register here.


Related: Celebrate the Arrival of Spring in Dutchess County

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