• The always-popular Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival returns to Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area for March Break.
  • The event operates 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 8–16 and on weekends until April 6.
  • TRCA staff demonstrate traditional and modern maple syrup production, and visitors can enjoy educational trail walks and family activities.
  • Attendees can sample maple syrup, enjoy pancake breakfasts, shop from vendors, and enjoy free horse and wagon rides.
  • Tickets must be purchased online in advance, with prices ranging from $7.80 for children to $12.10 for adults.
  • Treewalk Village and uplå will also be open but require separate tickets.

 

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) family-friendly Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival is returning to Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area just in time for March Break.

Using period-appropriate tools and techniques, TRCA staff demonstrate how maple syrup was produced by Indigenous communities and early European settlers. Modern evaporators are also part of the experience, and there’s no shortage of maple syrup samples to enjoy.

Visitors follow a guided trail, learning about the history of the sugarbush and the region’s different maple species. Family activities and games are available, and wandering entertainers such as magicians, stilt walkers, and jugglers will occasionally mingle with attendees.

The festival runs daily during March Break, from March 8 to March 16, and continues on Saturdays and Sundays through April 6. It is open between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., though maple syrup demonstrations and food service ends at 4:30 p.m.

More than 40,000 people attended last year’s festivals at Bruce’s Mill and the Kortright Centre for Conservation in Vaughan.

Tickets are nonrefundable and must be purchased online in advance. Children’s tickets are $7.80, adult admission is $12.10, and senior tickets cost $10. A parking pass can be purchased for $6.

Ticket holders also have access to other parts of Bruce’s Mill, including hiking trails and select park facilities. Pancake breakfasts and vendors offering a variety of maple syrup products are planned, and attendees can enjoy the return of free horse and wagon rides, courtesy of 407 ETR.

Treewalk Village and uplå will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the festival. Access to these attractions is not included with festival tickets; however, discounted tickets will be available. Children’s tickets are $19, adult tickets are $10, and complimentary maple treats will be provided.

Cover image courtesy of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority