Westchester County Parks to Offer Maple Sugaring Events
The Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation is open year-round and has a busy winter schedule ahead with family-friendly maple sugaring events taking place county-wide through March.
Events range from informational sessions, hands-on tree tapping, and tastings. The sugaring events are hosted at Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers, Muscoot Farm in Katonah, and Trailside Nature Museum at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation in Cross River.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer said, “The Westchester County Parks’ Conservation Division is comprised of professionals who are leaders in the environmental field. These events will not only be fun for families, but is also an educational opportunity.”
The Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Kathy O’Connor said, “Our winter schedule is just as busy as our summer schedule. I encourage families to participate in our sugaring events to see a different side of parks.”
Several events require pre-registration and fill up quickly. View the list of events and register.
Lenoir Preserve is located at 19 Dudley Street in Yonkers; Muscoot Farm is located at 51 Route 100 in Katonah; Trailside Nature Museum is located at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, which is at the junction of Routes 35 and 121 South in Cross River. Parking is free at Lenoir Preserve and Muscoot Farm. Parking fee at Trailside Nature Museum is $5 with Park Pass, $10 without Park Pass.
Saturday, Feb. 20 — Sugar House Chat at Trailside Nature Museum, noon to 2 p.m. As long as the sap is running, we’ll be making one of nature’s sweetest rewards, maple syrup. Come on into the sugar house to chat with us! Free; no registration required.
Saturday, Feb. 17 — Family Maple Tapping at Lenoir Preserve, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experience how maple syrup is made! Registration required for 30-minute time slots per family (max of six people per group); $10. Includes tree tapping and a taste test.
Sugar House Chat at Trailside Nature Museum, noon to 2 p.m. As long as the sap is running, we’ll be making one of nature’s sweetest rewards, maple syrup. Come on into the sugar house to chat with us! Free; no registration required.
Saturday, Feb. 24 — Family Maple Tapping at Lenoir Preserve, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Experience how maple syrup is made! Registration required for 30-minute time slots per family (max of six people per group); $10. Includes tree tapping and a taste test.
Sugar Shack Chats at Muscoot Farm, noon to 3 p.m. Stop by the sugar shack anytime from noon to 3 p.m. to learn how maple syrup is made.
Sugar House Chat at Trailside Nature Museum, noon to 2 p.m. As long as the sap is running, we’ll be making one of nature’s sweetest rewards, maple syrup. Come on into the sugar house to chat with us! Free; no registration required.
Sunday, Feb. 25 — Sugar Shack Chats at Muscoot Farm, noon to 3 p.m. Stop by the sugar shack anytime from noon to 3 p.m. to learn how maple syrup is made. Free; no registration required.
Saturday, March 2 — Sugar House Chat at Lenoir Preserve, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by at any time between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to see our sugar shack in action! We will be inside using the evaporator to boil down gallons of Lenoir’s very own maple sap until we have sweet maple syrup. All ages. Free; no registration required.
Saturday, March 9 — Sugar House Chat at Lenoir Preserve, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Stop by at any time between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to see our sugar shack in action! We will be inside using the evaporator to boil down gallons of Lenoir’s very own maple sap until we have sweet maple syrup. All ages. Free; no registration required.
Maple Munchies at Muscoot Farm, 2 p.m. Learn about using maple syrup in the kitchen while cooking up a maple-themed culinary treat! Registration is required; $20 per person. Adults and kids ages 6+ welcome.
Sunday, March 10 — Pancake Breakfast at Muscoot Farm, 11 a.m. Enjoy some pancakes and taste our house-made syrup! Registration is required; tickets are timed and are $5 per person.
Saturday, March 16 — Maple Saturday at Lenoir Preserve, noon to 2 p.m. Do you wonder how maple syrup is made from maple trees? Join us for demonstrations, tastings and an optional $5 pancake lunch. For all ages; an indoor/outdoor event.
Sugaring Off Party at Trailside Nature Museum, noon to 3 p.m. Enjoy winter’s sweet rewards at this annual celebration that offers food, music and sugaring demonstrations all day. Free; no registration required.
(Un)Tap-A-Tree at Muscoot Farm, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Help finish the sugaring season by collecting the last bit of sap and un-tapping the trees! A private, hands-on tour, learning about the tapping process of maple sugaring, in reverse! Sessions every half hour, one group for each timeslot. $25 per group of 6; registration required.
Sunday, March 17 — (Un)Tap-A-Tree at Muscoot Farm, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Help finish the sugaring season by collecting the last bit of sap and un-tapping the trees! A private, hands-on tour, learning about the tapping process of maple sugaring, in reverse! Sessions every half hour, one group for each timeslot. $25 per group of 6; registration required.
Saturday, March 23 — (Un)Tap-A-Tree at Muscoot Farm, 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m. Help finish the sugaring season by collecting the last bit of sap and un-tapping the trees! A private, hands-on tour, learning about the tapping process of maple sugaring, in reverse! Sessions every half hour, one group for each timeslot. $25 per group of 6; registration required.
Saturday, March 30 — Maple Munchies at Muscoot Farm, 2 p.m. Learn about using maple syrup in the kitchen while cooking up a maple-themed culinary treat! Registration is required; $20 per person. Adults and kids ages 6+ welcome.