Tour the County’s tasty maple trail of sweet goodness

Maple in the County will tap into its 15th year of saluting the sweetest welcome to spring.

Thousands visit the award-winning festival showcasing nine sugar bushes, five pancake breakfasts and 18 other stops over the two day festival.

For example, Sue and Todd Vader, the longest producing family in the County (since 1910) on the south side of East Lake, will be showing how syrup is made, sharing maple popcorn, and taffy on a stick. They will also be showing off top honours received at last fall’s Royal Winter Fair – including first prize for maple butter and Premier Exhibitor Maple Syrup.

Kyle Baldwin, of Waupoos Winery and Sugarbush, has been making syrup for generations – beginning with his grandmother’s family in Quebec.

He will be inviting visitors to the winery and sugarbush to enjoy a stroll with the chickens, visit the ducks and goats and enjoy taffy on snow (weather permitting). Their pancake breakfast and maple inspired lunch inside the Gazebo Restaurant will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be free tastings at the winery of their Maple Ice.

Also in Waupoos, the County Cider Company will be serving Apple Crepes with Maple Cream. The tasting room will be open.

Huff Estates will be serving Maple Apple Cake with Maple Glazed Pecans and recipes and tastings featuring Maple Vinegar and other olive oils.

Macaulay House will be demonstrating 1850s traditional maple themed baking and crafts on the Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Kitchen samples will include Maple butternut squash and apple soup; potato pancakes, mulled cider, gingerbread and scones.

The County is holding free public skating at the Picton arena Saturday from 9-11 a.m. and from 6-8 p.m. in Wellington. More free skating on Sunday from 1-3 p.m. in Picton.

Note: The Hallowell Firefighters Association thanks those who supported their fundraising breakfasts over the past six years at Honey Wagon Farms on Sandy Hook Road, but notes that at least for 2016, the association will not be participating in Maple in the County.