LANSING, Mich. — Fenner Nature Center invites everyone to enjoy the aroma of sap boiling in the longpan evaporator, pancakes sizzling on the griddle and maple sugar spinning into maple cotton candy at the 45th annual Maple Syrup Festival. On March 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the sights, sounds and smells of this FREE family-friendly event celebrate Michigan maple syrup and its rich history.
“The sights, sounds and smells of the Maple Syrup Festival tend to stick with you,” event manager Alexa Seeger said. “As a little kid living in Lansing, I remember the wonder of walking the Sugarbush Trail to the Maple Grove Pavilion and watching sap boil into syrup. The festival has grown since then into a day of community and connecting to nature, through conservation, education and stewardship. That sense of wonder, though, I still see written across visitors’ faces as they peak into sap buckets or taste maple cotton candy for the first time.”
Hands on activities, like tapping a tree, educate visitors about forestry history, forest to table products and ethical management of natural resources. Festival-goers can also watch different syrupping techniques, including demonstrations of a native american sugaring log, a traditional pan evaporator and a modern evaporator.
Inside, the public can enjoy the resulting sweet treats from Sugar Bush Supply Co. in Mason, sourced locally. In addition to syrup, maple candies, maple cookies, maple creme, maple cotton candy, maple tea, maple barbeque and maple mustard will be available for purchase.
In the main field tent, the Guinness World Record Flapjack Flippers, Chris Cakes will be serving up pancakes with high flying antics and of course, a side of maple syrup. Every $8 ticket purchased for the all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast “Flapjacks for Fenner” will go directly to support the nature center.
The festival is free, with a suggested parking donation of $5. Parking is limited at Fenner Nature Center. Overflow parking is located at Crego Park,1600 Fidelity Road, Lansing, MI 48910, just up East Mount Hope Avenue from Fenner Nature Center. Dean Transportation will be providing a shuttle with wheelchair-accessible seating from Crego to Fenner Nature Center.
To schedule a school tour, volunteer at the festival, or for additional information, contact Fenner Nature Center at 517-483-4224 or www.MyNatureCenter.org.
About Fenner Conservancy: Fenner Conservancy, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization and managing body for Fenner Nature Center, connects people to nature in the heart of Lansing through conservation, education, and stewardship. Through the efforts of this organization, Fenner Nature Center continues to meet that commitment in difficult times, but Fenner Conservancy needs your help to sustain this crucial part of our community. To explore the many ways you can help support this vital organization, please call 517-483-4224 or visit www.mynaturecenter.org. Fenner Nature Center is located at 2020 E. Mt. Hope Ave., just East of Aurelius Rd. in Lansing.
