News

Maple Sugar Fest Comes To Nixon County Park

Published on: 2/22/2016

The York County Department of Parks and Recreation will host a Maple Sugar Fest at the Nixon County Park Nature Center during the last weekend of February and first weekend in March.

Join Parks staff for ongoing tours through various stations to learn the history and methods of maple sugaring, the natural history of the sugar bush and enjoy sampling maple syrup.

The Maple Sugar Fest is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, March 5, and from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 6.



Tours will include hands-on demonstrations and begin every hour from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, and from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. on Sunday.

A Maple Sugaring StoryWalk also will be available on one of the park’s trails each weekend and during the intervening week. This self-guided walk will allow participants to stroll along signposts to follow a continuing story.

Also available during both weekends and during the week is a Maple Sugaring Scavenger Hunt, an independent program allowing participants to search for answers to clues inside the Nature Center.

Two special programs have been added to the Sunday Schedule:

Learn to Start Your Own Maple Sugaring Production: 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28. Learn how to start a small maple sugaring production in your backyard. After a brief presentation, see demonstrations of tapping, boiling and bottling. This program requires pre-registration at 428-1961. There is a $10 fee that includes the typical weekend admission fee and tools you need to get started making maple syrup at home.

Sugaring Presentations: 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 6th. Representatives from Juniata-County based Hammer Hollow Maplers will conduct sugaring presentations. Admission to this program is included in the event fee.

Visitors can also partake in other activities and crafts throughout the Nature Center and buy maple-related products from Patterson Farms.

Weekend admission is $2 per person, which is good for the entire weekend. Admission is free for park members and children ages 5 and younger.

The Admission fee will not be collected during the week (Tuesday through Friday) for those wanting to do the Story Walk or Scavenger Hunt.

For more information, or for groups of 10 or more, please call Nixon County Park at 428-1961.

For more information on our programs, go to our website at www.yorkcountyparks.org.