As late winter gives way to early spring in Milwaukee, that can only mean one thing: Maple sugaring season is here!
But did you know it takes 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of syrup?
In this blog post, you’ll find interactive, hands-on maple sugaring events throughout Southeastern Wisconsin that are perfect for kids and families.
Tap a sugar maple tree, see the syrup-making process up close, and steal a taste of that sweet, Grade A pure Wisconsin maple syrup that completes your pancake breakfast.
Maple Sugaring events typically occur at the end of February through early April.
Here are some of the best events happening in 2024:
1. Early Adventurers – Maple Sugaring
Saturday, March 2nd, 2024
Riverside Park (1500 E. Park Pl., Milwaukee, WI 53211)
Website
You and your child (aged 2-5) can discovery the natural world in your neighborhood together! Learn what lives in Riverside Park through hiking, stories, games and songs. What can you touch, smell, hear and see?
2. Maple Sugarin’ Festival (Riveredge Nature Center)
Saturday, March 16, 2024, 12-4 pm
4458 County Rd Y, Saukville, WI 53080
Website
Riveredge Nature Center is the go-to destination for all things maple sugaring in Southeastern Wisconsin.
At the annual Maple Sugarin’ Festival, you can take a half-mile hike through the forest, where you’ll trade nature items for maple candies, collect wood cookies with a maple brand from a blacksmith, and complete a sappy scavenger hunt.
At the Sugarbush House, there will live music, sap tea, maple-sugar rimmed beer for the adults, the Riveredge special, pancakes and pickles!
You’ll learn just how sap is made into golden & sweet maple syrup.
Pre-registration is highly recommended, but not required. Walk-in registrations will be available until they reach capacity.
3. Maple Sugar Days (Wehr Nature Center)
March 23-24, 2024
9701 W. College Ave. Franklin, WI 53132
Pre-registration required
Website
Celebrate the spring thaw and our Wisconsin heritage at Wehr’s annual Maple Sugar Days.
The program includes a short walk to the sugarbush, a visit to an old-time sugarin’ camp, a boil down demonstration and stories about the Native American origins of maple sugarin’.
Everyone will receive a warm pancake with real Wisconsin maple syrup to enjoy. Other maple treats, along with DIY tapping equipment will be on-sale in the Friends of Wehr Nature Store.
Pre-purchased tickets are required and are available online starting January 24 at 9 am.
Check Friends of Wehr’s website for the most up-to-date information and other maple sugaring events.
4. Maple Sugar Time! (Schlitz Audubon Nature Center)
Saturday, March 23, 2024
1111 E. Brown Deer Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53217
Website
Learn how maple sap turns into syrup, how to identify a maple tree, and practice tapping a log with a hand drill. There will be five activities to participate in along the trails. Before you leave, visit the sweetest station of all for a delicious treat!
Upon check in, you’ll receive a sweet station guide to help you along your journey.
This program is designed for all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. This program will take place both indoors and outdoors.
5. Maple Syrup Family Day
Saturday, March 23, 2024, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Richfield Historical Park, 1896 State Road 164, Richfield, WI 53076
Admission: FREE
Website
See the syrup making process up close at Maple Syrup Family Day, a free vent from the Richfield Historical Society.
Experience pioneer life by helping render lard, watching a ‘smith’ at work, shelling some corn and more fun activities.
There will also be maple cotton candy and a pancake breakfast.
New this year is a Maple Syrup Contest! Samples of syrup from maple syrup producers will be entered and rated for density, clarity, flavor, color and container. Three celebrity judges including the 2024 Alice in Dairyland will taste the entries and determine the winners.
Find more maple sugaring events on our Events Calendar.
Related Posts:
Easter Egg Hunts Around Milwaukee
April Fools Day Pranks for Kids
Nature Centers Around Milwaukee
In 2013, Calie Herbst, a former teacher with three little ones, saw a need for a “One Stop Shop” for family fun in Milwaukee. So she founded Milwaukee With Kids. Her goal was to find the best this city has to offer families and share it with other parents. In one place.
In 2019, she published “Exploring Milwaukee WIth Kids”, a comprehensive Milwaukee travel guide for families and kids.
She appears regularly on WISN News, Fox 6’s ‘Real Milwaukee’, B93.3, and Wisconsin Morning News. She has been featured in Medium, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, NPR, the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, and on CBS 58 News.
Calie is available for hosting, moderating and media appearances.