VERMONT — Vermont is the leading producer of maple syrup in the United States and contributes significantly to the state’s economy. Vermont sugarmakers work tremendously hard to produce their top-quality maple syrup and will open their doors this Saturday and Sunday, March 25 and 26, inviting the public into their sugarhouses to experience Vermont maple.
Maple Open House Weekend is both celebratory of the current season’s crop and an opportunity to educate visitors on the processes involved in making maple syrup, and of course, enjoying maple syrup.
With more than 90 participating sugarhouses representing all 14 Vermont counties, the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association has expanded and grown this year’s event to draw in larger local crowds as well as out-of-state visitors.
The Maple Open House Weekend includes at least eight sugarhouses in Addison County:
•  Village Mapleworks, 505 Main St., Orwell, Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
• Trade Winds Farm, Route 74 East, Shoreham, Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
•  Williams Maple Farm, 35 Swamp Road, Cornwall, Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
•  Franklin Churchill Sugarhouse, 564 Cider Mill Road, Cornwall, Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
•  Dakin Farm, 5797 Route 7, Ferrisburgh, Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
•  Little Hogback Farm, 2365 Lower Notch Road, Bristol, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
•  Twin Maple Sugarworks, 88 West River Road, Lincoln, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
•  Solar Sweet Maple Farm, 3841 South Lincoln Road, Lincoln, Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Some featured activities at sugarhouses will include, sugarhouse tours and process demonstrations, traditional sugar-on-snow parties, pancake and waffle breakfast feasts, maple syrup and maple specialty product samples and many more maple treats to pleasure the taste buds.
The sugar makers association has bolstered this year’s activity offerings to also include 34 partnering businesses that support Vermont maple sugar makers by featuring maple as an ingredient in their signature products and recipes. The partnerships include local Vermont breweries, distilleries, restaurants, stores, inns and bed & breakfasts. Some featured beverage and menu items visitors will enjoy include, maple mustard grilled pork rib eye, maple sriracha wings, Vermont maple cocktails, and a new maple beer release.
In Addison County, those supporting businesses are 3 Squares Café, 141 Main St., Vergennes, and WhistlePig Farm operating out of 52 Seymour St., Middlebury.
For more information about the weekend and to see a complete listing of participating sugarhouses and partnering businesses, visit: www.vermontmaple.org/openhouse.