From Maine Office of Tourism

AUGUSTA – Maine Maple Sunday is an annual celebration of the coming of spring,

Syrup producers from across the state open their sugarhouses to the public to enjoy samples of freshly made maple syrup and other goodies for the 38^th annual event this Saturday and Sunday. The event is always on the fourth weekend in March.

Each March, regardless of how much snow is still on the ground, the maples are at it again – sending sweet sap surging up to feed the buds – but not before maple syrup producers can tap the trees to make delicious syrup and candies.

Maine Maple Producers Association (MMPA) President, Scott Dunn, said the event is critical to the success of many family businesses and producers in Maine. Organizers are adapting and preparing for a safe event this year.

According to MMPA, more than $27 million for the Maine economy is generated by the maple syrup industry in Maine, supporting more than 560 jobs that generate more than $17.3 million in wages.

Annually, the state produces more than 575,000 gallons of syrup.

Each of the nearly 100 participating sugarhouses offers different events and activities including tours of the sap lines and demonstrations of sap boiling; tastes of culinary delights of all things maple, from pancakes to maple syrup-topped ice cream; and hayrides and face painting. Many sugarhouses are open both Saturday and Sunday of the fourth weekend in March.

Somerset County in Maine is the largest maple syrup producing county in the U.S.

In Gorham, maple syrup producers include Parsons Maple Products, 322 Buck St.; Jo’s Sugarhouse at Hartwell Farm, 443 Sebago Lake Rd (Route 237); Merrifield Farm, 195 North Gorham Rd; and The Lockman Place, 274 North Gorham Rd. Dunn Family Maple is nearby in Buxton at 419 Chicopee St.

Close to the Lewiston-Auburn area are Royal River Orchards, 201 Peacock Hill Rd, New Gloucester; and three sugar houses in Sabattus, Maple Rush Sugar House, 123 Webster Corner Rd; Pep’s Pure Maple Syrup, 179 Lisbon Rd; and Jillson Farm Sugarhouse, 143 Jordan Bridge Road.

Find a local sugarhouse at the MMPA website at http://bitly.ws/cgzN, then entering either your zip code or the name of your town.

Find the website for the Maine Office of Tourism at http://visitmaine.com.