Come February, a super sweet New England tradition marks winter’s last great hurrah and spring’s first greeting. As soon as the days hit 40 degrees while the nights still dip below freezing, the bare sugar maples come to life. And then the magic happens. Maple producers around the state boil off as much sap from February through March as the season will allow, producing their very own kind of liquid gold.
This season, visit your local sugarhouse and learn about maple sugaring with your kiddos. Or better yet, attend a maple sugar festival to see firsthand how maple syrup is produced in the nutmeg state.
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Maple Sugaring for Families
Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center, Ansonia
Learn how to makie maple syrup the old-fashioned way! Ranger Dawn and Alison from the Ansonia Nature Center invities families get to help us choose the right trees for tapping into this sweet treat! Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Dudley Farm Museum, North Guilford
The Dudley Farm Museum in North Guilford, CT focuses on farm life circa 1900, the sugarhouse included. The grounds include the main museum in the farmhouse, barns, farm animals, gardens and a Native American collection. Syrup production is for demonstration purposes only. Sugaring will be on weekends during February and March, but please call ahead, as it is weather dependent. Admission is free.
Wayne's Sugarhouse, North Branford
Visitors are welcome on weekends (mid-February through March) to see maple syrup being made at Wayne’s Sugarhouse in North Branford. Please call Friday for boiling times. Maple syrup for sale year 'round.
Brooksvale Park Sugar Shack, Hamden
Owned by the town of Hamden, Brooksvale Park’s Sugar Shack is in a renovated historic corncrib and its primary use is to provide maple sugaring programs to school groups from surrounding Towns. The Park is open every day and visitors are always welcome to stop by. They boil when the sap is flowing, usually mid-Feb thru mid-March
Flanders Nature Center, Woodbury
Boasting a lovely sugar house , Flanders Nature Center is open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays in the afternoons. Their maple experts will share how maple syrup was first discovered by Native Americans and how the making of it has continued to evolve over the years. (Plus, lots of maple goodies in their sugar house are for sale!)
Where to Buy
Maple Grove Farm, Guilford
Maple Grove Farm uses a wood-fired evaporator to produce delicious maple syrup. Syrup, cream and candy sold during the season (Feb. – mid-March). Syrup sales year ’round as supply permits. Please call
Lamothe’s Sugar House, Burlington
The Lamothe Sugar House in Burlington offers a wide variety of maple products for you to choose. But their syrup—you guys! Their syrup comes in three grades and in so many beautiful bottles including a glass autumn leaf, the glass log cabin, or the short embossed glass.
Hilljack Sugar Shack, Litchfield
Tucked in the Litchfield hills, Hilljack Sugar Shack is a family owned and operated farm selling quality maple syrup. You can stop by and check the place out all week long but if you’re looking to get a full tour, you should contact the farm by email or phone.
Anderson Sugarhouse, East Haddam
Open seven days a week, Anderson Sugarhouse in East Haddam offers a wide selection of maple syrup as well as maple candy, sugar, and cream.
Sugar Maple Farms, Lebanon
For over 30 years, the Sugar Maple Farms in Lebanon has been producing maple syrup and decadent maple candy, butter, and honey.
Did we miss any of your favorite maple syrup farms or sugarhouses? If so let us know!
