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The Best Maple Sugaring Events in New Jersey

Maple syrup is the perfect accompaniment to your weekend breakfast feast. Sure, you can buy it at the grocery store or a local farmer’s market, but did you know that you can get up close and personal with the sweet treat at various New Jersey locations this winter?

Several farms and nature centers throughout the state offer maple sugaring events for families that are fun, educational and a little sticky. Check out this roundup featuring maple sugaring events that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.


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Duke Farms

Where: 1122 Dukes Parkway West, Hillsborough
When: March 4 & 5 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Price: Free
Details: Sample New Jersey maple syrup at Duke Farms’ Sugar Maple Celebration. Learn the maple sugaring process, watch a live sawmill demonstration and taste delicious maple syrup specialties. You will be spending time outside so please dress accordingly. Advance registration to choose your specific time slot is requested.
More info: www.dukefarms.org or call 908-722-3700


Echo Hill Playground

Where: 42 Lilac Drive, Flemington
When: January 28 & February 18 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm
Price: $3 per person
Details: On January 28, watch Park Naturalist Laura Kroon Bush tap a maple tree and then try your hand at it. Come back on February 18 for the second stage of the maple syrup process and help collect sap from the trees. These activities are best for ages 5 and up. Space is limited and registration is required.
More info: www.co.hunterdon.nj.us or call 908-782-1158


Environmental Education Center

Where: 190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge
When: February 18, 19, 25 & 26 and March 4, 5, 11 & 12
Price: $1 per person (suggested donation)
Details: Learn how trees are tapped and sap is collected during this 90-minute presentation, held at the center’s Sugar Shack. Wear your boots as the trails may be wet or muddy. The program is held on Saturdays at 10:00 am, 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm and on Sundays at 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm.
More info: www.somersetcountyparks.org or call 908-766-2489


Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center

Where: 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham
When: January 28 & 29 and February 4, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 & 26
Price: $3 per person (free under 3 years old)
Details: After this demonstration, you will know how to identify and tap a maple tree, collect its sap and make syrup. Taste different maple syrups and choose your favorite! Each demonstration is an hour long and offered twice a day at 1:00 and 2:30 pm.
More info: www.morrisparks.net or call 973-635-6629


Howell Living History Farm

Where: 70 Wooden’s Lane, Lambertville
When: February 4, 18 & 25
Price: Free
Details: The farmers at Howell Living History Farm show you how to identify sugar maple trees, when to tap and how to turn sap into syrup. Tree tapping takes place on February 4 and return to collect the maple syrup on February 18 and 25.
More info: www.howellfarm.org or call 609-737-3299


Huber Woods Environmental Center

Where: 25 Brown’s Dock Road, Middletown
When: February 25 & 26 at 10:00 am and 1:00 pm
Price: $12 per person
Details: Families are invited to learn the history and technique of making maple syrup at the Huber Woods Environmental Center. Participants will enjoy a maple syrup taste test and watch a tree-tapping demonstration. This event takes place outside so please dress accordingly. Pre-registration is required.
More info: www.monmouthcountyparks.com or call 732-872-2670


James A. McFaul Environmental Center

Where: 150 Crescent Avenue, Wyckoff
When: March 5 at 9:00, 10:00 & 11:00 am
Price: $5 per person for pancake breakfast, sugaring demo is free
Details: Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast with pure maple syrup and other treats. Free maple sugaring demonstrations will take place at the Sugar Shack at 10:00 and 11:00 am. Reservations are required for the breakfast but not for the sugaring demo.
More info: www.co.bergen.nj.us or call 201-891-5571


Miller-Cory House Museum

Where: 614 Mountain Avenue, Westfield
When: March 5 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Price: $4 for ages 13 & up, $3 for ages 3-12, free for kids under 3
Details: Your family can learn all about syrup on Maple Sugar Sunday at Miller-Cory House Museum. Tour the 1740 farmhouse with costumed docents and check out the Shop to view colonial reproductions, crafts, cookbooks and more.
More info: www.millercoryhouse.org or call 908-232-1776


Rancocas Nature Center

Where: 794 Rancocas Road, Westampton
When: February 19 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Price: $9 per person or $21 per family (limit 5)
Details: If you’re looking for a fun way to spend the afternoon, check out the maple sugaring program at Rancocas Nature Center. Watch a tree get tapped, taste maple syrup and warm up by the campfire. Advance registration is required.
More info: www.rancocasnaturecenter.org or call 609-261-2495


Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Where: 165 Hobart Avenue, Summit
When: February 26 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Price: $5 per person or $25 maximum per family
Details: All are invited to Reeves-Reed Arboretum for their annual Maple Sugaring Fest. Spend a winter afternoon enjoying fun, family-friendly activities at the arboretum. Learn how to tap maple trees and turn the sap into syrup, participate in the family scavenger hunt and sample fresh maple syrup.
More info: www.reeves-reedarboretum.org or call 908-273-8787


Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association

Where: 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington
When: March 11 at 9:30 or 11:00 am
Price: $20 for adults, $12 for children, free for kids under 3
Details: Hike into the woods with a Naturalist to learn about tapping trees and converting sap to syrup. Enjoy a delicious pancake brunch with homemade maple syrup after the hike. Registration and prepayment are required.
More info: www.thewatershed.org or call 609-737-7592


Tenafly Nature Center

Where: 313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly
When: February 5, 12, 19 & 26 and March 5, 12, 19 & 26
Price: $11 per person, free for children under 2
Details: The Tenafly Nature Center hosts three hour-long sessions on each of the above dates demonstrating how to identify a maple tree and gather sap. Participants will learn how sap-collecting has changed throughout history, plus sample some of the center’s own fresh maple syrup. Pre-registration is required.
More info: www.tenaflynaturecenter.org or call 201-568-6093


Trailside Nature & Science Center

Where: 452 New Providence Road, Mountainside
When: February 18 & 20 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Price: $5 per person (in county), $6 per person (out of county)
Details: Watch how sap collected from a maple tree is turned into syrup during The Journey of Sap to Syrup at Watchung Reservation’s Trailside Center. Test out your taste buds and see if you can tell the real deal syrup from the imposters!
More info: www.ucnj.org or call 908-789-3670


Washington Crossing State Park

Where: 355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville
When: March 4 & 11 at 1:00 pm and March 5 & 12 at 1:30 pm
Price: Free
Details: Visitors are invited to participate in a demonstration of home maple sugar production. All ages are welcome to attend this event. Advance registration is required.
More info: www.state.nj.us or call 609-737-0609

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