Maple Sugaring Fest 2013

Maple Sugaring  Fest                                    

Sunday, February 24, 2013 1-4pm

(snow/rain date: Sunday March 3, 2013)

Sponsored by Whole Foods Market and Crown Maple Syrup

In late winter and early spring, great fluctuations in temperature - freezing nights and warm days - allow sap to flow from the maple trees.  During Maple Sugaring Festival at Reeves-Reed Arboretum, you'll see how the early settlers tapped maple trees and then turned the sap into maple syrup.  Stand in front of the warm fire where gallons of sap are boiled down to produce sweet syrup.  Try our tasty maple syrup with homemade flapjacks as you enjoy a memorable event the entire family will savor.   Scavenger hunts and hands-on activities like using an old-fashioned drill and tapping spout and carrying the yoke and bucket will go on throughout the afternoon.   This is an outdoor event so wear boots and dress for the weather.

Cost:      $5 per person; $20 per family

                *FREE for RRA members and children under 3

The History of Maple Sugaring
Maple sugaring was an integral part of American life in the 1800s and was the foremost sweetener until the end of the Civil War. A community social event celebrating the arrival of spring, the difficult work involved in collecting and processing the sap required many hands. This festive gathering was a welcome diversion following a long winter. Until the end of the Civil War, maple products were the most important food sweeteners in the United States because they were far less expensive and more available than cane sugar.

About Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Celebrating 40 years as a historic public garden and education resource, Reeves-Reed Arboretum seeks to engage, educate and enrich the public through horticulture and environmental education, and the care and utilization of the gardens and estate.  Open 7days a week from dawn til dusk, the Arboretum is listed on both the National and New Jersey State Historic Registers. For more information about Reeves-Reed Arboretum and Maple Sugaring Fest, log on to www.reeves-reedarboretum.org.

*Throughout 2013, in celebration of Reeves-Reed Arboretum's 40th anniversary and with generous underwriting support from Investors Bank, we are offering all RRA members free admission to our signature events this year.  Not a member?  Join today and take advantage of this wonderful offer. Visit www.reeves-reedarboretum.org for more information.