Mad for Maple | Best New England Maple Festivals, Maple Recipes & More
Early spring in New England offers optimal sweetness in the form of pure maple syrup. Here’s our roundup of top maple festivals and tastiest maple recipes to help you celebrate the season.
By Aimee Tucker
Feb 07 2019
It wouldn’t be a New England country store without some delicious maple syrup.
Photo Credit : Mark Fleming
Photo Credit : Mark Fleming
Best New England Maple Festivals
Celebrate the sweetness of maple season at one of these top New England maple festivals and events.
Hebron Maple Festival
Hebron, CT
March 16–17, 2019
Experience sugarhouse tours, a craft fair and demonstrations, contests, kids’ activities, a pancake breakfast, and more at this townwide celebration.
Massachusetts Maple Weekend
Statewide
March 16–17, 2019
This is the main event of the state’s “Maple Month.” Contact the Massachusetts Maple Producers Association to find out which sugarhouse is hosting the kickoff event this season; state officials will be in attendance to tap the ceremonial first tree.
New Hampshire Maple Weekend
Statewide
March 23–24, 2019
More than 60 sugarhouses across the state participate in this open house, which includes the Canterbury Maple Festival and other events. Learn how maple syrup is made, and enjoy free samples, horse-drawn rides, sugar on snow, pancake breakfasts, and more.
Vermont Maple Open House Weekend
Statewide
March 23–24, 2019
Visit sugarhouses throughout the state, watch maple syrup being made (weather permitting), and sample maple products at this statewide celebration of all things maple.
Maine Maple Sunday
Statewide
March 24, 2019
Some 40 farms and sugarhouses take part in this annual celebration. For a full weekend of fun, check out the Skowhegan Maple Festival, which features a pancake breakfast, maple-marshmallow roasting, and the Maple Madness Basketball Tournament.
Vermont Maple Festival
St. Albans, VT
April 26–28, 2019
Celebrate the grand finale of maple season with exhibits, cooking demos, a carnival and parade, breakfasts, and dinners.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
Best New England Maple Recipes
Love maple? These three maple recipes from the Yankee archives are sure to become your new favorites.
Maple-Walnut Layer Cake with Easy Maple Frosting
Sour cream and toasted walnuts give this towering maple walnut layer cake filled with sweet maple frosting a rich, nutty flavor. It’s a delicious, old-fashioned treat.
Slow-Cooker Maple Baked Beans
This maple-kissed recipe originally ran as “Bertha Robb’s Home Baked Beans” in the March 1981 issue. We’ve adapted it for the slow cooker.
Chewy Maple Nut Bars
The combination of sweet brown sugar, crunchy pecans, and pure maple syrup in these chewy maple nut bars is tough to beat.
Photo Credit : iStock
Even More Maple!
Maple Sugar on Snow
A fun and easy winter treat, this homespun candy requires just two ingredients: pure maple syrup and fresh, clean snow.
Guide to Maple Syrup Grades
Don’t know your rich from your robust? Our guide to the updated maple syrup grades is here to help explain the difference. Just pass the pancakes!
Ode to Maple Candy
Made from pure maple sap and molded into fun shapes, maple candy is a popular and sweet New England treat.