Celebrate maple syrup season in Ontario 2026
Each year as winter recedes, the changing climate brings warmer days and frosty nights. This causes sap in sugar maple trees to flow up from the roots, and maple harvesting to kick into high gear.
During this short but eagerly anticipated sweet season, guests flock to sugar bushes (maple forests) and sugar shacks to witness the tree-tapping and boiling process that converts sap into syrup. Pancake houses pop up and kids are treated to maple taffy. Family-friendly maple-themed events and festivals follow. Beyond maple syrup, this versatile flavour is used in so much, from beer and wine to tea and coffee. It’s infused in spreads, jams, butter, butter tarts, donuts, bacon and even maple bacon donuts.
And it’s not just maple trees. Birch trees can also be tapped for sap to make birch syrup. Birch season occurs just after maple syrup season, in late April to early May. Birch syrup is not quite as sweet as maple syrup, so it’s a tasty ingredient in barbecue sauces and marinades.
During the first weekend in April, Ontario Maple Weekend features two full days of activities at participating sugar bushes across Ontario. Find more places to sample and experience top-quality maple in Ontario. Don’t miss out—time is limited during this tasty season.
Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
The knowledge and use of sweet sugar maple sap originated with the Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands, who valued it for centuries.
In and around the Ottawa area, maple syrup production continues today. So much so that Lanark County, located within an hour’s drive southwest of Ottawa, is hailed as “Ontario’s Maple Syrup Capital.”
Lanark County Maple Experience
Choose your own adventure on a self-guided tour of seasonal maple sugar bushes and camps, as well as other year-round maple-related stops at shops, restaurants and breweries.
Location: throughout Lanark County
Fulton’s Sugar Bush and Maple Shop
Nestled between the communities of Pakenham and Almonte in Mississippi Mills, Fulton’s is like the godfather of maple with over 170 years and six generations of experience.
Explore the property trails, book a horse-drawn sleigh ride and visit the maple shop for various types of maple syrup, including flavoured maple syrup. On your guided walking tour, you’ll learn all about maple tapping and production, and sample fresh maple taffy on snow.
Location: 399 Sugar Bush Road, Pakenham
Sand Road Maple Farm
Just east of Ottawa, this fully operational maple farm opens its gates to visitors to witness the traditional maple syrup-making process. And of course, to enjoy a homemade pancake and maple syrup buffet-style feast, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The syrup season typically begins in March and runs until the sap stops flowing.
Location: 17190 Sand Road, Moose Creek
Wheelers Pancake House, Sugar Camp and Maple Heritage Museum
Book a reservation for a meal at Wheeler Pancake House, where you can enjoy delicious pancakes made from scratch. Visit Wheelers Maple Heritage Museum, which holds the Guinness World Record for the “Largest Collection of Maple Syrup Artifacts.”
Wheelers Maple Farm and Pancake House will be open from early March to late April, Tuesdays to Sundays, for select hours.
Location: 1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners, Lanark Highlands
Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm
Located half an hour from downtown Ottawa, Stanley’s Olde Maple Lane Farm offers fun family activities year-round.
During the maple season, take a tractor-drawn ride to the sugar bush and visit the farm museum and heritage sugar shack. Enjoy tasty pancake syrup served in the pancake house. Purchase delicious maple treats such as maple sugar candies, cookies, seasonings and condiments at the Farm Shop.
Opens Saturdays and Sundays from February 28 to April 12, and again from Tuesday to Friday during March Break 2026 (March 17–20).
Location: 2452 York's Corners Road, Edwards
Perth Festival of the Maples
Held in the heart of downtown Perth on the last Saturday in April, the Perth Festival of the Maple marks the end of maple syrup season with an energetic street festival full of local producers, vendors and maple-inspired goodies.
Sample fresh syrup, maple candy and taffy on snow, browse artisan booths, enjoy live entertainment and family activities, savour pancake breakfasts and admire classic car displays.
This event takes place on April 25, 2026.
Location: Downtown Perth
Maple Weekend in Haliburton Highlands
During the first weekend in April each year, Haliburton Highlands invites you to experience Ontario’s favourite springtime treat, from sugar bush trails and demonstrations to pancake breakfasts and maple syrup products.
Join this maple celebration on April 4 and 5, 2026.
Location: throughout Haliburton Highlands
Maple Sugar Bush Dog Sledding Tour
Join Winterdance to experience Ontario’s only dogsled maple sugar bush tours.
Explore the scenic sugar bush trail by dogsled, learn about maple syrup production at the sugar shack, sample maple taffy and receive a bottle of world-famous syrup.
Tours are offered on select dates during the maple season.
Location: Haliburton Highlands
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Balderson Village Cheese Store for maple crunch chocolate and maple butter cookies.
Top Shelf Distillers in Perth for maple-infused Reunion French Toast Moonshine.
Perth Brewery for the O’Canada Maple Ale.
SuzyQ in Ottawa’s Hintonburg neighbourhood for maple bacon donuts.
Winterdance for amber, dark and very dark maple syrup flavours.
Southeastern Ontario
From family-friendly events to maple-themed wine and dining experiences, there are great opportunities to enjoy Ontario’s favourite sweet treat in Kingston and Prince Edward County.
Kingston’s Maple Madness
A seasonal highlight for families, the annual maple syrup event at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area involves demonstrations of sap boiling as well as wagon rides and trails to explore.
Check back for 2026 dates.
Location: 1641 Perth Road, Glenburnie
PEC March Maple Madness
March Maple Madness celebrates local sugar bushes, maple farms and maple treats in The County.
Create your own itinerary from the dozens of participating maple syrup producers, wineries, breweries, cideries, restaurants and accommodations.
The event takes place every Saturday and Sunday from February 28 to March 29, 2026.
Location: Prince Edward County
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Black River Cheese for melt-in-your-mouth, artisanal maple cheddar with cracked pepper cheese log.
Fifthtown Artisan Cheese Co. for light and creamy Maple Chevre Cheese.
Muskoka, Parry Sound and Algonquin Park
Each spring, communities across Muskoka, Parry Sound and Almaguin Highlands turn their attention to maple in a big way.
Muskoka Maple Festival
Hailed as spring’s sweetest party, this family-friendly event celebrates all things maple with an entire day of fun activities, performers and entertainment and of course, a myriad of maple syrup-inspired foods.
This event takes place on April 25, 2026.
Location: Main Street, Huntsville
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Sugarbush Hill, a family maple farm located outside of Huntsville for maple syrup pie and Maple Creemee, a maple and vanilla soft ice cream.
Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co. for Muskoka Maple coffee.
Muskoka Lakes Farm and Winery in Bala for Red Maple Dessert Wine, a balance of sweet maple and tart cranberry
Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma
There are a handful of dedicated maple syrup producers in this region, specifically on St. Joseph Island, just over half an hour’s drive from Sault Ste. Marie. With an abundance of maple trees, the island is one of Northern Ontario’s most significant maple syrup-producing areas.
St. Joseph Island Maple Syrup Festival
Meet local maple producers and craft vendors, then fill up on all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausages and delicious maple syrup at the annual Maple Syrup Festival held at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 374.
This event takes place on the weekends of April 4 and 5 and 11 and 12, 2026.
Location: 1534 10th Sideroad, Richards Landing
Maple Weekend at Hogan’s Homestead
Celebrate everything maple at this family-run sugar bush. Enjoy a maple taffy station, maple syrup sampling, baked goods at the sugar shack bake shop and sweets at the local marketplace.
This event takes place on April 4 and 5, 2026.
Location: 1157 Thielman Road, Goulais River
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Gilbertson’s Maple Products and Pancake House, one of Ontario’s largest syrup producers, features a signature line of maple-flavoured gourmet foods from mustard to dressings to nuts and candies.
Garside Gardens in Hilton Beach on St. Joseph Island for premium maple and birch syrup products, including a unique blend of the two. “Birple” is great for salad dressings, baking and on pancakes
York, Durham and Headwaters
Visit these highly anticipated maple syrup festivals across the York, Durham and Headwaters region.
Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience
Purchase tickets for a fun-filled maple syrup experience, which includes all-you-can-eat pancakes topped with award-winning maple syrup, and a walk along the sugar shack trail to see how maple syrup is made.
This event runs from February 14 to 16, then every weekend through to April 5, and again on March 16, 20, and April 3, 2026.
You can still take part in maple syrup season during the off-season. A 90-minute guided walking tour follows a sugar bush trail through the maple forest and includes a visit to a traditional sugar shack, along with a tasting. The tour is available on weekends from mid-April to mid-November.
Location: 9467 Erin East Garafraxa Townline, Hillsburgh
Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario
Elliott Tree Farm is also the home of the Maple Syrup Museum of Ontario (formerly of St. Jacobs). Visit the museum to see an extraordinary collection of early tools used to make maple syrup.
The Museum remains open during the Elliott Tree Farm Maple Syrup Experience (see information above).
Location: 9467 Erin East Garafraxa Townline, Hillsburgh
Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival
Enjoy family activities, sugar shack demonstrations and delicious maple products during York Region’s maple syrup festival, which is held at two locations: Bruce’s Mill Conservation Area and the Kortright Centre for Conservation.
The festival takes place on the weekends from March 7 to April 6, 2026.
Locations:
Bruce's Mill Conservation Area, 3291 Stouffville Road, Whitchurch-Stouffville
Kortright Centre for Conservation, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge
Guided and self-guided sugar bush tours, a campfire, wagon rides, a barnyard playground and pancakes are some of the highlights that families will love during Maplefest at Brooks Farm.
Location: 122 Ashworth Road, Uxbridge
Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival
Enjoy daily activities, such as maple syrup demonstrations, self-guided hikes through the sugar bush and shopping at the Heritage Store.
Special events include a sugar bush lantern walk with maple syrup tastings.
Festival activities take place on weekends in March.
Location: 38 Coates Road East, Oshawa
Sunderland Maple Festival
During this outdoor event, you can look forward to music, entertainment, local maple producers and other vendors, pancake breakfasts and even iron forging demonstrations.
Try local festival recipes like maple garlic chicken wings and maple butter tarts.
This event takes place on April 11 and 12, 2026, with free admission and parking.
Location: 3 Jones Street, Sunderland
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Spirit Tree Estate Cidery in Caledon for the wood-fired Maple Bacon Pizza, maple butter tart, scones and so much more.
Crave Doughnuts in Whitby for candied maple bacon and maple dip donuts
Kawarthas and Northumberland
From sap to syrup, the maple syrup-making process is a time-honoured spring tradition that’s celebrated throughout this region.
Kawarthas Northumberland Maple Festival
A collection of farms, communities and sugar bushes hosts events and activities during the maple syrup season. From Maplefest at McLean Berry Farm to tree tapping at Elmhirst’s Resort, build your perfect maple-themed getaway.
Location: throughout Kawarthas and Northumberland
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Sandy Flat Sugar Bush for wood-fired maple syrup, maple butter, sugar and maple-infused syrups.
Bruce, Grey and Simcoe
When winter gives way to spring across Ontario’s “snowbelt” region, the annual sap-to-syrup traditions begin.
Take a self-guided maple-themed tour along the “sweetest route” to local operating sugar shacks and sugar bushes to experience the harvesting and boiling process of maple syrup production.
This event takes place from March 6 to April 5, 2026.
Location: throughout Lake Country
Sweetwater Harvest Festival at Wye Marsh
For a weekend in March, you’re invited to witness how maple syrup was made a long time ago at one of Ontario’s most unique family-friendly nature preserves.
This event takes place on the weekend of March 28 and 29, 2026.
Location: 16160 Highway 12 East, Midland
Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival
Discover one of Ontario’s longest-running maple traditions at this one-day spring event that brings the community together for pancakes, maple treats and small-town fun.
Browse hundreds of vendor booths, watch lively demonstrations and hop on a free shuttle to Lalonde’s Sugarbush to see how maple syrup is made.
Visit this event on April 25, 2026.
Location: 14 George Street, Elmvale
Spring Tonic Maple Syrup Festival at Tiffin Conservation Area
Step back in time and see how syrup was made historically before exploring modern production methods. Breakfast with pancakes and fresh maple syrup is included, and you can take part in outdoor activities, live music, tractor-wagon rides, hikes through scenic trails and more.
This event takes place on April 11 and 12, 2026.
Location: 8195 8th Line, Utopia
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Chelsea Chocolates in Craighurst for maple treats such as maple truffles and buttercreams.
Apple Annie’s Café and Shop for maple walnut fudge.
Shaw's Maple Syrup for delicious maple syrup and maple goodies like maple butter and maple candy.
Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
Explore maple goodness from the maple-infused chocolate treats in Stratford to the maple syrup farms and products in St. Jacobs, Elmira and more communities in Ontario’s Mennonite country.
Elmira Maple Syrup Festival
Elmira has been celebrating Ontario’s liquid gold since the spring of 1965 with pancakes and maple syrup. Visit the family fun area and enjoy farm displays, pony rides and a play area with inflatables and a climbing wall.
The annual maple syrup festival will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Location: Downtown Elmira
Blyth Creek Maple Farm
Enjoy guided sugar bush tours and learn about traditional and modern syrup-making techniques. Take a tractor-pulled wagon ride to the sugar bush, try fun activities like a crosscut saw challenge, meet the farm animals and sample maple treats in the sweet shop.
Tours and experiences are available on weekends in March and April.
Location: 42232 Moncrieff Road, Blyth
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Rocky Mountain Chocolate, along the Stratford Chocolate Trail, for decadent Maple Walnut Fudge.
Rhéo Thompson Candies, also in Stratford, is a fan favourite for the Maple Nut Fudge.
Edrene Maple Syrup in the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market for maple butter, candies and taffy cones.
Shady Grove Maple Co. in Woolwich near Guelph for maple and birch syrup.
Spring Valley Maple in Perth for maple sugar leaves and pumpkin spice maple butter.
Southwestern Ontario
Maple syrup production is a long-standing tradition in Ontario’s agriculturally rich communities of Norfolk, Haldimand and Oxford County.
Take a wagon ride to the sugar bush for a guided tour about maple syrup history. Purchase tickets for the hands-on Maple Experience, which includes brunch. This exclusive experience engages the senses and includes tapping the trees for sap, collecting and tasting sap at different stages of boiling and making taffy on snow.
Location: 131 River Road, Dunnville
Maple Syrup Festival
Join the Maple Syrup Festival during two weekends in March. Special events include the Lumberjack Weekend and the Taster’s Weekend, which features maple-inspired activities like the Maple Butter Tart contest.
Location: John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, 915 County Road 50 East, Essex
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Chambers Pure Maple Product, just east of Waterford, is an eclectic little spot where you can stock up on jams, preserves and sweet or savoury maple BBQ sauce.
Jakeman’s Pure Maple Syrup in Woodstock is one of the largest maple syrup packers in Ontario, selling premium buttermilk pancake mix and a host of sap-inspired treats like maple cotton candy, cream cookies, sugar and popcorn.
Greater Toronto Area
You don’t have to leave the city to enjoy maple season. From lively festivals to market vendors, Toronto brings Ontario’s maple traditions to an urban setting.
Sugar Shack TO
Treat yourself to a weekend of maple fun at Sugar Shack TO. This urban maple event offers fresh Ontario maple taffy rolled on snow, maple-infused comfort food and interactive activities for all ages. Live entertainment, a maple sugaring demonstration and warming stations with bonfires keep you warm and immersed all day long.
This event takes place on March 14 and 15, 2026.
Location: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto
Find more maple-inspired highlights at:
Breedon’s Maple Syrup at St. Lawrence Market for pure Canadian maple syrup, ranging from a delicate golden to a strong, very dark syrup.
Hamilton, Halton and Brant
Experience maple season across conservation areas, historic farms and rolling countryside in and around Hamilton.
Maple Syrup Festival at Bronte Creek Park
Wander Maple Lane with costumed interpreters demonstrating 19th-century tapping and syrup-making methods. Afterwards, you can learn to make fresh maple sugar or enjoy a stick of tasty maple taffy. Kids will love the wagon ride to the pancake house, visiting the farm animals, participating in exciting games and getting a souvenir from the Maple Gift Shop.
This event runs every weekend in March and every day during March Break.
Location: 1219 Burloak Drive, Oakville
Niagara Region
Explore Niagara Region's maple history at a maple farm or at the world’s only indoor maple sugar bush located minutes away from the falls.
Sugar Bush Trek at White Meadows Farms
Get on board the Sugar Shuttle wagon for a scenic 10-minute ride through the countryside. At your destination, a guide will lead a 45-minute walking tour, where you will learn about the history of maple syrup and how it’s produced. Enjoy maple taffy on snow, explore the forest and enjoy your own sample of fresh maple syrup.
This experience is available on weekends from February 28 to April 12 and daily during March Break, from March 16 to 20. Advanced booking is recommended.
Location: 2519 Effingham Street, Pelham
Maple Syrup Days at Agape Valley
Take a hayride shuttle to the sugar bush at Agape Valley and enjoy a guided walk through the forest to see how sap is collected and made into maple syrup. Stop by the pancake house for a delicious pancake breakfast and treat yourself to delicious maple taffy.
Open weekends in March and daily during March Break, from March 16 to 20, 2026. A parking pass is required for admission.
Location: 392 Kilman Road, Ridgeville
Maple Leaf Place
Shop for maple products and get all your maple syrup questions answered.
Experience the world’s only indoor maple sugar shack, learn about the history of maple syrup, sample a flight of different maple syrups and enjoy free traditional maple taffy. In addition, discover different grades of maple syrup and how to use maple syrup in baking and cooking.
Admission is free.
Location: 4199 River Road, Niagara Fall
Northeastern Ontario
Experience the sweetest season of the year in Northeastern Ontario.
Sucrerie Seguin Sugarbush
The Séguin family has been producing award-winning maple syrup since 1950.
Located in Monetville, Sucrerie Seguin Sugarbush is east of Highway 64—just follow Dokis Reserve Road for nine kilometres from the highway. The final two kilometres to the sugar shack can be covered on foot or ATV, so make sure to bring rubber boots.
Enjoy sugar bush tours, taffy in the snow and maple tastings on Sunday afternoons during maple season and during Maple Weekend, the first weekend in April.
Location: 1838 Dokis Reserve Road, Monetville
Visit ontariomaple.com for more info on Ontario’s maple makers and events. Double check the weather, reservations (if required), dates and hours of operation in advance, as some event details may change.
From historic sugar shacks to festive maple syrup celebrations, discover family-friendly ways to experience Ontario’s sweetest season and indulge in the best maple syrup treats.
Last updated: February 10, 2026