Presented by Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in partnership with park partner Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. 

10 am – 3 pm FREE in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

8 am – 2 pm Community Pancake Breakfast at the Homestead Resort

Last year this inaugural event brought almost 1000 people to get outside in March and experience history on the landscape! Come experience the sugaring process through time in the Port Oneida Historic District at the Dechow Farm and Olsen Farm.Learn the history of maple sugaring through a guided hiking tour from the Anishinaabe, to the Settler’s  open fire process, to the sugar shack evolving to the present day.

Step inside the Olsen farmstead for the final boiling in the historic kitchen and purchase maple treats and books on maple sugaring.  Try your hand at activities outside, carrying a yoke with buckets, hand drilling into a log, or make old fashioned maple syrup taffy. The event is free with a park pass.

The fun includes:

• a guided hike
• a visit to a historic sugar shack
• sap boiling demonstrations
• kid’s activities
• and maple syrup sampling

A Community Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, March 2 from 8 am – 2 pm just down the road from Port Oneida.

The breakfast is hosted by the Homestead Resort sponsored by Sleeping Bear Visitor Center with proceeds benefiting Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear who funds and helps organize Maple Sugar Days.

Admission: $12 per person ages 13 and older; $6 for kids 6-12; 5 and under are free. All you can eat pancakes, sausage, eggs, potatoes, fruit and beverages!  Then head to the Maple Sugar event down the road in Port Oneida. Have breakfast with us and enter a drawing for a gift basket from The Homestead. Check for additions to the event as details are confirmed Sleeping Bear Dunes website.

Locations: 1 mile north of The Homestead, between Thoreson road and Port Oneida Road. Dechow Farm: 3991 W Harbor Hwy, Maple City, MI 49664 Olsen Farm: 3164 W Harbor Hwy, Maple City, MI 49664

Volunteer Opportunities!

Help collect maple sap the week before: Help with Kid’s Activities, snow cones, cook’s helper, a greeter in the Olsen farm; or learn to interpret one of the methods of processing sap. Interested?  Email us at phsbpark@gmail.com.