Maple Madness is Back and Celebrating 40 Years of Family Fun

Published on: 2023/02/21 - in Entertainment

Cataraqui Conservation’s Maple Madness is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, inviting thousands of visitors to Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area to celebrate the onset of spring and the allure of maple syrup-making. The festival will be held every weekend in March and every day during March Break (March 13 to 17) from 9am to 4pm.

Visitors are required to register, and further information and specific activity times are available on the Cataraqui Conservation website.

The Maple Madness festivities offer a wide range of activities, including tractor-drawn wagon rides, self-guided tours, and interpretive stations. Visitors can learn about the maple syrup-making process from staff and volunteers, who will share their knowledge about the process through the centuries of time. Additionally, visitors can enjoy fresh pancakes with hot maple syrup at the sugar shack.

The Outdoor Centre at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area is the starting point for everyone’s Maple Madness journey. It offers a host of kids’ activities, including face painting, button making, and the new Maple Shop, where visitors can purchase Cataraqui Conservation merchandise and delicious maple sugar and maple syrup products.

As part of the anniversary celebration, the first 50 people to purchase pancakes in the sugar bush or maple products in the Maple Shop will receive a special commemorative gift, courtesy of Cataraqui Conservation.

Visitors are also encouraged to participate in the Maple Madness photo contest by sharing their best and most fun photos of their time in the sugar bush. Additionally, visitors can send any old photos or memories from visiting Maple Madness over the last four decades to be part of the Maple History Project.

With the beginning of the fifth decade of Maple Madness, Cataraqui Conservation is also initiating a new public fundraising initiative. Visitors can donate in person or online on the organization’s website to help expand and refurbish the Maple Madness program and facilities so that it can be enjoyed for another 40 years.

The 40th Anniversary of Maple Madness promises to be a special event, with a slate of special activities and amenities for this momentous and historic occasion. Visitors are encouraged to visit the Cataraqui Conservation website for more information about the anniversary, registration, activities, contests, and how to plan their visit.


Photo: Ano Lobb (cc)