COLUMBUS – As the days get warmer and the nights remain cold, the maple syrup begins flowing in Ohio’s forests.
Syrup producers in central Ohio are hoping for a cold snap to save what’s left of their season.
The Columbus Dispatch reports producers were encouraged by the start of the season in January with ideal conditions — above-freezing temperatures during the day and below-freezing temperatures at night allowing sap to flow from maple trees native to Ohio.
A stretch of weather in February that brought milder weather halted the flow. Producers are counting on another freeze to get sap flowing again before maple trees begin to bud and make the sap too bitter for syrup.
To celebrate the season, four state parks will host maple syrup festivals where visitors will see how maple syrup is made and enjoy locally made syrup afterward.
Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County will host its 42nd annual Maple Syrup Festival from 12-4 p.m. the weekends of March 3-4 and March 10-11. Visitors can take horse-drawn wagon rides to the Sugar Camp, witness live historical demonstrations and enjoy music and food. Maple products will be available for sale. Donations may be made to the group providing wagon rides. For more information, call 419-892-2784.
Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County will host its 52nd annual Maple Syrup Festival the weekends of March 3-4 and March 10-11 from 12-4 p.m. A pancake breakfast, with locally made syrup, will be available at the park lodge on those days from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Throughout the weekend, concessions will be made available by the Friends of Hueston Woods and the Museum Association. Visitors can go on maple syrup tours, hay rides and hikes through the Hueston Woods State Nature Preserve. The nature center will also be open during this time. For more information, call 513-523-6347.
Hocking Hills State Park in Hocking County will host events at the naturalist cabin at the Old Man’s Cave area on March 10-11 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free tours around the naturalist cabin will be taking place from 12-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Naturalists will demonstrate methods to make maple syrup and maple candy, and delicious samples will be available. For more information, call 740-385-6842.
Indian Lake State Park in Logan County is holding events on Saturday, March 17, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and on Sunday, March 18, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Free wagon rides will be available to visit the Sugar Shack for demonstrations on turning sap into maple syrup. Wagon rides will be from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday. For a small fee ($5 for adults and $3 for kids), visitors can enjoy a pancake breakfast with sausage and beverages from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday. There will be pints, quarts and gallons of syrup for sale. For more information, call 937-843-2717.
Ohio produced 80,000 gallons of maple syrup last year. The state is the eighth-largest producer of syrup, just behind Massachusetts. Vermont is the top producer, providing about half the syrup in the U.S.