National Lakeshore, Preserve Sleeping Bear host Maple Sugaring Days
From staff reports
March is maple sugaring time in northern Michigan. An annual Maple Sugaring Days event presented by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in partnership with Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear will be held over two days–March 7-8 at the Olsen and Dechow Farms. Saturday hours are 10 am-3 pm and Sunday hours are 11 am-3 pm. Maple Sugaring Days offers a variety of demonstrations and hands-on activities to get outdoors and learn about the history of maple sugaring.
The family event allows attendees to experience the process and evolution of making maple syrup from start to finish, including a stop at the historic Dechow sugar shack. After viewing the process in action at the Dechow farm, visit the Olsen Farm across the street, to see the final boiling of sap, sugar making, kids’ games, and maple syrup snow cones. Various maple products and maple syrup will be on-hand in the Olsen farmhouse. If walking between stops at the Dechow farm is not your pace, a one-stop demonstration is on-going at the Olsen Farm.
Participants should plan on spending 2 ½ hours at this event to experience both farm sites. Parking is available at each farm in a snow-plowed field near the farmhouses. Participants can drive and park at each site or follow the groomed path to cross M-22. These events are free for the public with a park entrance pass. If there is snow or ice, attendees are encouraged to bring trekking poles, or snowshoes for the hike at Dechow farm. Snowshoes will be available to borrow on a first-come, first-served basis. Dechow Farm: 3991 W Harbor Hwy.; Olsen Farm: 3164 W Harbor Hwy, located just 4 miles north of Glen Arbor.
As part of the festivities, a Community Pancake Breakfast at The Homestead Resort’s CQ’s Cabin, will be held on Saturday, March 7, from 8 am-noon only. Menu includes pancakes and syrup, sausage, bacon, eggs, potatoes, fruit and beverages at $17 per adult, $9 per child ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. The breakfast is hosted by the Homestead Resort sponsored by Sleeping Bear Visitor’s Bureau with proceeds benefiting Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. No reservations are required for the breakfast or any of the weekend’s events.
