As soon as late winter days see above-freezing temperatures (and as long as overnight temps drop below freezing) sugar maple sap is flowing and trees are tapped in maple sugaring country. That’s also when the regional maple festivals begin to pop up. This year’s 25th annual Hebron Maple Festival in Connecticut has been postponed from this coming weekend to March 21st and 22nd, because of heavy snow in the area. When that weekend arrives you’ll get the opportunity to immerse yourself in all things maple.

Check out the antique tractor parade.

Check out the antique tractor parade.

Three area sugar houses will be participating. You can take self-guided tours and witness demonstrations of the sugaring process. Best of all, there’s plenty of maple to be eaten!

Visit a sugarhouse in operation.

Visit a sugarhouse in operation.

Pancake breakfasts will be held both days. Enjoy cotton candy spun from maple sugar, homemade maple pudding cake (!), maple kettle corn, sugar-on-snow, maple baked goods, and icy maple milk. Not enough maple for you? Sample maple fudge, maple-covered pretzels, Belgian waffles with maple syrup, homemade maple cookies, maple ice cream sodas, and maple cannoli! It’s not just maple food, either: enjoy hot dogs, chili, hot soup, donuts and fried dough, sandwiches, and traditional Jewish pastries, served at the local synagogue.

Bring home a jug of the sweet stuff.

Bring home a jug of the sweet stuff.

There will be an ice cream eating contest, face painting, a silent auction, drawings for baskets, a craft fair, candle-making, and a woodworking demonstration. Watch blacksmiths practice their craft. Tour historic churches. Visit the firehouse. Enjoy the tractor parade. Inspect the schedule detailing what’s available where and when here.

Learn how maple tree sap is turned into maple syrup.

Learn how maple tree sap is turned into maple syrup.

The festival will be held from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. both days, and admission is free. Of course, there will be plenty of maple syrup, maple candy, and other maple products for you to purchase and enjoy at home. Hebron can be found near the center of the state, a little southeast of Hartford. See the festival website for more information.