NH Maple Season: It's Steaming!

The month of March in New Hampshire is typically gray, blustery, and boring -- especially when it comes to outdoor activities. The one bright spot for me is maple sugar season. Last year Doug and I visited a sugar shack for the first time and I thought it was pretty cool (Read The Maple Guys and Ice Out). In this post, I'm highlighting some of the maple events taking place in our state in the next few weeks. If you want in on the action, my advice is to start planning now!

Maple Weekend -- Over 65 sugar houses across the state will welcome visitors on March 27th and 28th (sponsored by the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association). Check out their website for a list of sugar houses by county and a description of events at each location. You can enjoy hot dogs boiled in sap; feed goats and chickens; take a horse-drawn ride and of course, collect sap and watch the whole syrup making process, weather permitting. Remember that sap doesn't flow until temperature conditions are just right. You can read the basics of maple syrup production in New Hampshire here.

March Maple Madness -- This is an Inn-to-Inn event in Mount Washington Valley "held together by maple syrup and wacky fun," according to the sponsors. Basically, you take a self-guided inn-to-inn tour, sample some sweet maple treats all the way and earn points for select activities. There's a scavenger hunt and a "Hare Raising Quiz," along with a chance to visit several sugaring locations to see the maple syrup process firsthand. Tickets are $15 per person and are valid for both days: March 27th & 28th from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.

NH Maple Festival -- This two day event (same weekend) takes place in the Woodstock area and is about as serious as you can get with maple sugar fun. Let's see...there's an opportunity to "bring in the sap," enjoy a maple dinner, and watch the Maple Sugar Parade. This year's parade features the crowning of the first-ever Maple King and Queen and the ever-popular bed race.

There's more to this Festival, too. You can take part in a sap-collecting obstacle course on snowshoes (is there enough snow in Woodstock still?) I'm not sure how the sap collecting works, but someone rings a cowbell and the contestants are off! According to the website, you'll need to collect at least two quarts of sap to be a serious contender.

Maple Sugar Madness! Last but not least, this is hands-on maple sugaring at its best. Each weekend during March, Prescott Farm Education Center in Laconia NH offers the chance to do it all yourself -- from tapping a tree to boiling and finally, tasting the sweet syrup. You need to reserve a spot in advance, either online or by calling 603-366-5695.

If you know of any other maple sugar events in the state (and I'm sure there are many more!), please drop us a line.