The Kalamazoo Nature Center celebrates their 50th annual Maple Sugar Festival this coming weekend, March 14th and 15th. Start your visit with a pile of pancakes drenched with Michigan maple. Follow that up with a maple sugar tour through the woods with a naturalist, which departs every 15 minutes. At the DeLano Homestead you can see how sugaring was done in the 19th century, take a horse-drawn wagon ride, and observe blacksmithing, spinning, and fiber art demonstrations. When you catch your second wind, enjoy some ice cream topped with more of that sweet elixir.

Maple Bucket, Maple Sugar Festival, Kalamazoo, MIThere will be live animal programs at the visitor center and plenty of kids activities and crafts. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children four and above, and free for children under four and Nature Center members. Learn more at the festival website.