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.
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.
Also, it’s a big deal.
What is Maine Maple Weekend
Photo courtesy of Maine Maple Producers Association
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.
2023 is the 40th anniversary of Maine Maple Sunday.
When is Maine Maple Weekend?
In 2023 this maple syrup celebration is Saturday, March 25 and Sunday, March 26.
Where can you go on Maine Maple Sunday
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In addition, here is a roundup of some of the events occurring for Maine Maple Sunday 2023 in Southern Maine by county.
Cumberland County Maine Maple Events
Balsam Ridge
140 Egypt Road
Raymond, Maine
Not only will Balsam Ridge have plenty of maple syrup and maple syrup snacks during the two-day weekend, but also live entertainment between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Balsam Ridge itself is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Come fall, Balsam Ridge will participate in Maine Maple Fall Fest, when its Christmas tree farm will be open for touring.
Cooper Maple Products
81 Chute Rd.
Windham, Maine
Lots going on at Cooper Maple Products on Maine Maple Weekend.
On Saturday you can watch them make maple syrup in the sugarhouse, shop in their store or tour their farm, including the horse barn.
That’s from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Then, on Sunday, they add a pancake breakfast to the menu of activities.
Breakfast is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The farm itself is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dads Maple Sugar Shack
1061 Naples Rd.
Harrison, Maine
Dads Maple Sugar Shack calls itself a small, hobby farm, where they raise animals and make maple syrup.
You can tour their sugar house and their farm on both Saturday and Sunday of this maple syrup weekend.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Gary Farm Maple
30 Hilton Rd.
Denmark, Maine
Here’s how Gary Farm Maple describes its participating in Maine Maple Weekend:
“Gray Farm Maple will be open for tours of sugar bush and sugar house. We will be making syrup all day. Plenty of syrup for sale, too.”
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Grandpa Joe’s Sugar House
103 Murch Rd.
North Baldwin, Maine
Grandpa Joe’s Sugar House will be open both days of Maine Maple Weekend, selling all kinds of maple goodies.
Greene Maple Farm
723 Bridgton Road
Sebago, Maine
Greene Maple Farm is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days of Maine Maple Sunday.
New this year: its homemade sausage made with maple syrup.
Jim’s Sugar House
296 Maple Ridge Rd.
Harrison, Maine
Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days of Maine Maple Weekend, you can see how maple syrup is made, enjoy free ice cream with maple syrup and buy maple treats to your heart’s content.
Also, Jim’s Sugar House will be participating in Maine Maple Fall Fest October 7-8, 2023.
The Lockman Place
274 North Gorham Road
Gorham, Maine
Maple Syrup Sunday is the one day of the year that The Lockman Place is open to the public.
You can come watch them make maple syrup and buy it in small bottles.
Merrifield Farm
195 North Gorham Road
Gorham, Maine
What you can do at Merrifield Farm on Maine Maple Weekend really runs the gamut.
They include:
- Maple Syrup Making Demonstrations
- Blacksmith
- Live Music
- Ox Cart Rides
- All Day Pancake Breakfast
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.
Nash Valley Farm
79 Nash Road
Windham, Maine
Visit Nash Valley Farm from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both days of Maine Maple Weekend. Maple treats of the day include:
- Maple buttercreams
- Maple fudge
- Hard candy drops
- Whoopie Pies
- Maple Cotton Candy
- Maple coated nuts
Parsons Maple Products
322 Buck Street
Gorham, Maine
On Saturday, March 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, March 26, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parsons Maple Products will have sap boiling demonstrations on their wood burning evaporator.
There will also be a pancake breakfast on Sunday.
However, I don’t know at what time.
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.
So, Maine Maple week runs March 20-26, 2023.
Two, you’ll need to register online and ahead of time for the Pineland Farms maple syrup celebrations.
For a Saturday visit, the cost is $6 per person.
For a Sunday visit, it’s free until all reservation spots are filled.
Finally, tickets go on sale March 1st and, technically, you’re buying a two-hour pass to tour the farm.
Robinson Family Maple
545 New Gloucester Rd.
North Yarmouth, Maine
Robinson Family Maple is open for Maine Maple Sunday only, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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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.
During Maine Maple Weekend, they have a pancake breakfast both days, starting at 9 a.m.
Cost is $10 per person and includes pancakes, maple syrup, bacon and coffee or hot cocoa.
I’m told they’ll have cider donuts, too.
Also, you can buy syrup in their vintage barn.
Come fall, you can come back to Royal River Orchards for Maine Maple Fall Fest.
Spiller Country Farm
118 Spiller Rd.
Gorham, Maine
It appears that Spiller Country Farm is holding a pancake breakfast on both days of Maine Maple Weekend, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
The farm itself is open both days until 4 p.m.
York County Maine Maple Events
207 Tappers
125 Dennett Rd.
Biddeford, Maine
Some of the highlights during Maine Maple weekend here include a chainsaw artist and an all-you-can-eat $10 pancake breakfast on Sunday (children under 5 eat for free).
Breakfast is 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The sugarhouse is open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There’s also tons of maple products (candy, syrup, sugar, nuts and more) you can buy to take home.
Alderwood Farm
52 Elm St.
Limerick, Maine
The sugar house at Alderwood Farm is open to the public, both Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brookridge Boilers
2144 Alfred Rd.
Lyman, Maine
On Sunday, March 26th only, the Brookridge Boilers sugarhouse will be open so you can watch maple syrup making demonstrations, for free.
Also, they’ll be giving out free syrup samples.
Cole Farm Maple
13 Cole Farm Rd.
Dayton, Maine
The Cole Farm Maple sap house will be open for tours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 26 only.
Plus, there will be pony rides and face painting from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.
And, of course, you can buy maple syrup.
In fact, you can do all year long at Andy’s Agway, which is affiliated with Cole Farm Maple.
Douston Maple and Honey
251 Old Alfred Rd.
Arundel, Maine
The sugarhouse at Douston Maple and Honey is open both Saturday and Sunday for demos.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Also, you can enjoy free samples of syrup on ice cream.
Plus, you can purchase syrup and other maple treats.
Dunn Family Maple
419 Chicopee Rd
Buxton, Maine
Both Saturday and Sunday of Maine Maple Weekend, Dunn Family Maple will have a pancake breakfast, featuring blueberry pancakes made with Wyman’s of Maine wild Maine blueberries.
Photo by Leah Ingram
Breakfast is served 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on both days.
Also, you can take a guided tour of the woods surrounding the sap house, and then end the tour there with free samples of maple syrup on ice cream.
Like many other sap houses, Dunn Family Maple will be participating in Maine Maple Fall Fest October 7-8, 2023.
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.
Harris Farm
280 Buzzell Rd.
Dayton, Maine
You can buy maple syrup and many kinds of maple treats at Harris Farm on both Saturday and Sunday of Maine Maple Weekend.
They’re open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Highland Farms Sugar Works
152 Towles Hill Rd.
Cornish, Maine
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 7-8, 2023.
Hilltop Boilers
157 Elm St.
Newfield, Maine
Hilltop Boilers is pulling out all the stops as it celebrates Maine Maple Weekend.
They are open Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m to 6 p.m..
That includes:
- Shopping in its maple store
- Axe Women Loggers are performing on Saturday, March 26th. (They are world champion choppers, sawyers, log rollers and axe throwers.)
- Farm tractors for kids to play on and animals to interact with.
- A children’s scavenger hunt.
Maple Moon Farm
289 Chick Rd.
Lebanon, Maine
Visit the sugarhouse for a maple syrup making demonstration on both Saturday and Sunday.
Plus, you can buy your own maple syrup products to take home.
Finally, Maple Moon Farm will be participating in Maine Maple Fall Fest October 7-8, 2023.
Scenic View Sugaring
90 Sokokis Trail N (aka Route 5)
Limerick, Maine
We pass Scenic View Sugaring on the way to my mother’s house, if we don’t take the shortcut on Route 160 through East Parsonsfield.
The sugar house here is open both Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with Q&As with the sugar masters and free samples.
Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy the view and wear your Wellies since it is mud season.
Thurston & Peters Sugarhouse, LLC
299 Bond Spring Rd.
West Newfield, Maine
During winter (February and March) Thurston & Peters Sugarhouse sells maple syrup in makes.
Then, from April to mid-October, the sugarhouse adds ice cream to the menu.
You can stop by on Maine Maple Weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If you’re looking for a map of participating sap houses or sugar houses or farms with Maple Sunday events, the MMPA has just such a map.
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.