For as long as I can remember, we’ve called Maine Maple Weekend this: maple syrup Sunday. That’s because on that sweet, sticky holiday we would visit the local sugaring house near my grandparents’ home in Kezar Falls (now Parsonsfield).Afterwards, we would enjoy homemade pancakes with, of course, authentic Maine maple syrup. Always on a Sunday. Again, maple syrup Sunday.
The tradition continues with my mother inviting my cousins and their children to watch maple syrup being made. Then, there is always a pancake breakfast afterwards at her house on Long Pond. What I never realized is that what I called maple syrup Sunday is actually a weekend-long food holiday in Maine. At the very least it is weekend long. Also, it’s a big deal.
What is Maine Maple Weekend
The Maine Maple Producers Association (MMPA) are the folks that started Maine Maple Sunday aka maple syrup Sunday back in 1983. The MMPA represents more than 250 of the 450 producers licensed to sell maple products in Maine. They celebrated the 40th anniversary of Maine Maple Sunday in 2023.
Photo courtesy of Maine Maple Producers Association
When is Maine Maple Weekend?
In 2026 this maple syrup celebration is Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. If you can’t get to Maine, here are ideas for some of the other best March vacations in USA. Overall, Maple Syrup Sunday and Maine Maple weekend are always the fourth weekend in March.
You may recall in 2024, Maine was hammered with a snow storm on Maine Maple Weekend. People simply could not get to the local sugarhouses, which was a huge disappointment for everyone involved. Then, they decided to open the following weekend, after the snow cleared.
We’ve had plenty of snow in Maine this year. Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate in 2026 and we won’t have to delay the celebration like in 2024.
Where can you go on Maine Maple Sunday
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Here is a roundup of some of the events occurring for Maine Maple Sunday 2026 in Southern Maine. Primarily, it includes places in York and Cumberland counties. However, we’ve included a few Oxford County sap houses, too.
In some instances, when you visit these sap houses or sugarhouses, you’ll get a bona fide maple syrup making tour. If you’ve never seen it being made, it’s pretty cool. Actually, it’s very hot as it involves boiling off water into vapor.
Recently, I interviewed a maple syrup expert from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. He told me that it takes 40 to 50 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. Finally, many maple syrup producers hold pancake breakfasts as part of the celebration. Think of them as Maine maple Sunday breakfasts, since most of these breakfasts are held on Sundays.
This article explains maple syrup grades so you’ll know what to expect from the maple syrup you might buy or be tasting at these events. Also, if you leave inspired to try your hand at making maple syrup, here’s what you need to know about tapping maple trees at home.
207 Tappers
- 125 Dennett Rd.
- Biddeford, Maine
We visited 207 Tappers in Biddeford for the 2023 Maine Maple Weekend. We didn’t get there right when the festivities started so there were long lines and crazy parking delays. If we go back this year — or you decide to go — definitely get an early start, especially if you want a spot to sit down at the pancake breakfast on Sunday. Check out the 207 Tappers’ Facebook page for the latest news on their Maine Maple Weekend celebration.
Balsam Ridge
- 140 Egypt Road
- Raymond, Maine
Visit Balsam Ridge on Saturday and Sunday from 9 to 3. Check out the Balsam Ridge Facebook page for more information.
Come fall, Balsam Ridge participates in Maine Maple Fall Fest, when its Christmas tree farm is open for touring.
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Crooked Brook Farm
- 210 Meetinghouse Rd
- Wells, Maine
Crooked Brook Farm opened in 2023 as a place where you can cut your own Christmas tree. In 2026, they’re offering two days of Maine Maple Weekend festivities. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Dad’s Maple Sugar Shack
- 1061 Naples Rd.
- Harrison, Maine
Dad’s Maple Sugar Shack calls itself a small, hobby farm, where they raise animals and make maple syrup. They will be open on Saturday and Sunday for Maine Maple Weekend 2029, from 9-4. Check out the Dad’s Maple Sugar Shack Facebook page for more details.
Douston Maple and Honey
- 251 Old Alfred Rd.
- Arundel, Maine
Here is what Douston Maple and Honey posted on their Facebook page for this year’s festivities:
Come check out our sugar house! We will have various syrup sizes for sale.
Smokin Dads will also be here again with their food truck selling some delicious items of their own!
Saturday & Sunday
March 21st and 22nd
9am – 2pm
251 Old Alfred Rd Arundel
Dunn Family Maple
- 419 Chicopee Rd
- Buxton, Maine
Dunn Family Maple has a mention of Maine Maple Weekend on its Facebook page but nothing specific to its participating. So check back with them as the date comes closer to see if they have updated things.
Photo by Leah Ingram
Fairwinds Farm
- 332 Augusta Road
- Topsham, Maine
Fairwinds Farm will be open Saturday and Sunday of Maine Maple Weekend. Here’s what they posted on their Facebook page:
Come celebrate nature’s SWEETEST gift with us! We’ll be hosting Maine Maple Weekend both Saturday AND Sunday 9am-4pm. Don’t miss out!
Featuring Maple Treats available for Purchase (unless otherwise specified, treats are available all day, both days or until sell out):
-Pancake Breakfast made with OUR Pancake Mix! 9am-11am, or until sell out, each day
-Maple Baked Beans (made with beans we grow!), Hot Dogs, and Biscuits 11:30am-4pm, or until sell out, each day
-Moses Dyer Coffee, Hot Cocoa, and Ricker Hill Apple Cider (cold)
-Donuts
-Our Popcorn
-Vanilla Ice Cream with Maine Maple Syrup
-Maple Whoopie Pies
-Maple Baked Goods- We are working on a few new treats this year that we are excited about!
-Maple Syrup & other farm treats available in our Farm Stand
Gile’s Family Farm
- 100 Shaker Hill Rd.
- Alfred, Maine
Gile’s Family Farm is celebrating on Sunday only, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., selling all kinds of maple goodies. You can get more details on their Facebook page.
Greene Maple Farm
- 723 Bridgton Road
- Sebago, Maine
Greene Maple Farm has not yet updated its programming for 2026 Maine Maple Weekend. Continue to check the Greene Maple Farm Facebook page for details.
Highland Farms Sugar Works
- 152 Towles Hill Rd.
- Cornish, Maine
For 2025, Highland Farms has created an event on Facebook that shows them celebrating Maine Maple Weekend Friday through Sunday. You can explore sap still in the buckets attached to the maple trees on this farm or enjoy the views of Mount Washington.
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And, of course, there is plenty of maple syrup and other treats available to purchase. Finally, Highland Farms Sugar Works will be participating in Maine Maple Fall Fest October 2025.
Hilltop Boilers
- 157 Elm St.
- Newfield, Maine
Hilltop Boilers refers to this maple syrup holiday in the plural, as Maine Maple Weekends. That’s because it is pulling out all the stops as it celebrates Maine Maple Weekends over four days in March. Here’s what they posted on the Hilltop Boilers website:
- March 13, 2026 9AM-4PM
- March 21, 2026, 9AM-4PM
- March 22, 2026, 9AM-5PM
- March 28, 2026, 9AM-4PM
Merrifield Farm
- 195 North Gorham Road
- Gorham, Maine
Open Maine Maple Sunday Weekend March 21-22 from 9am to 4pm. You can find any updates on Maine Maple events on the Merrifield Farm Facebook page.
Then, come back in October for Maine Maple Fall Fest.
Parsons Maple Products
- 322 Buck Street
- Gorham, Maine
Open 8am to 5 pm on both Saturday March 21 and Sunday March 22.
Pineland Farms
- 15 Farm View Drive
- New Gloucester, Maine
I’d included Pineland Farms in my article about free and cheap electric vehicle charging in Southern Maine.
As far as Maine Maple Weekend goes, there are a few things you need to know. One, Pineland Farms is celebrating all week long. In 2026, that’s March 16-22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Two, you’ll need to register online and ahead of time for the Pineland Farms maple syrup celebrations. You get a two-hour pass to visit the farm. For a Saturday visit, the cost is $6 per person.
For a Sunday visit, it’s free until all reservation spots are filled.
- Syrup samples will be provided in the Sugar House.
- Maple Cotton Candy will be available for sale in the Smokehouse Visitor Center.
Red Door Sugar Shack
- 24 Shellenbarger Road
- Topsham, Maine
The Red Door Sugar Shack will be open 8-4 on March 21 and March 22 for Maine Maple Weekend. Check out their Facebook page for more details.
Don’t forget to visit their goats, which, after Christmas, are happy to recycle your Christmas trees for you.
Royal River Orchards
- 201 Peacock Hill
- New Gloucester, Maine
Royal River Orchards is part apple farm (no surprise, given its name) and part maple syrup producer in their sugarhouse. On Saturday and Sunday March 21 and 22, Royal River is having its Annual Pancake Breakfast and maple syrup sales. Breakfast is 9am-12pm for $15 and the retail barn is open until 4pm both days. More details on their Facebook page.
Come fall, you can come back to Royal River Orchards for Maine Maple Fall Fest. Also in fall: you can go apple picking in the orchard.
Waterhouse Family Farm
- 939 River Rd
- Hollis Center
- https://waterhousefamilyfarm.com
Waterhouse Family Farm is celebrating Maine Maple Weekend March 21-22, from 9-5.
Free and Cheap Things To Do in Southern Maine This Week
Here are FREE and cheap things to do in Southern Maine in the coming week.
I learned something new….I never realized there was such an event in October as Maine Maple Fall Fest. I’m aware of numerous Maine Fall Festivals in October, but never Maine MAPLE ones. I’ll have to check it out.
Ah, Maine Maple Weekend! Brings back memories of sweet Sundays at the sugaring house near my grandparents’ place. Excited to check out Balsam Ridge this year, live entertainment sounds like a nice touch!
This sounds so fun! I’d want to try the maple cotton candy. That sounds delish!
Maine Maple Weekend?? Have made many trips over the years to Portland and Boothbay Harbor and had no idea about this. Looks like so much fun!! Thanks for this article!
Why not mention Maine maple syrup events in central and northern Maine as well, not just southern Maine
Because as the name of our blog implies, we focus on things to do in Southern Maine. However, yours is a good point and next year, when we do our roundup, I will take your suggestion to heart and consider adding sugarhouses in other parts of the state. Thank you for the comment.