New Hampshire’s Maple Weekend
Grades of maple syrup.
By Mike Moore
As the sun starts to shine a little longer, and the temperatures finally start having two digits instead of one, a terrific tradition kicks off throughout New Hampshire that brings a rush of sweetness to make up for the sours of late winter. Maple Weekend in 2025 will be celebrated on Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16 at many participating sugarhouses, including dozens throughout the Lakes Region.
Sap from sugar maple trees starts to flow as the weather warms; so, this tree not only provides some of the most breathtaking views of the New England foliage in autumn, but it produces a legendary topping to many breakfast options. The history of turning the sap collected from those trees into delicious syrup dates back to the indigenous tribes and early European settlers. There is a nuance to getting the perfect sap to flow, as it requires below-freezing temperatures at night, with warmer sunnier days. This is why March in New Hampshire produces some of the best maple syrup in the world. For hundreds of years, inhabitants of New Hampshire have developed creative ways to obtain the sap from the many sugar maple trees found throughout the state. Metal buckets or tubs have been the preferred choice for sugar makers spanning all the generations.
Over the centuries, most have agreed that boiling down the sap with a wood fire produces superior results. Modern technology has, however, provided the opportunity to come close to the quality and taste of some traditionally operated Sugar Houses. Alternative heat sources like propane and oil help regulate temperature and speed up the process. Some houses use hydrometers to regulate the density by tracking the sugar concentration in the sap. Utilizing an evaporator system has allowed sugarhouse owners to have more control over the process. While some debate that modern approaches don’t pay as much homage to the tradition, others debate that the traditional wood fire method is more time-consuming and harder to keep the temperature regulated. The combination of those valuing traditional methods and those looking to experiment with modern approaches has further increased the number of sugarhouses currently in operation, continuing to make it a popular event. New Hampshire and neighboring states have hundreds of sugarhouses currently in operation that open their doors to visitors every year for the festive weekend held each March.
The long-celebrated Maple Weekend offers tourists and local residents alike an enjoyable and educational experience for the whole family. Many of the sugarhouses that participate in the weekend are family-run, often nestled in the forest of their home’s backyard. For visitors to the woodsy haven of the Lakes Region, just finding their first sugarhouse stop on their Maple Weekend tour can be an adventure. But the plumes of smoke billowing out of the little house hidden away in the trees can often serve as a welcoming guide to their destination. Those wanting more assurance to find their destination can bring along a printed version of the Sugarhouse tour map that the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association provides on their website. This non-profit group formed over 80 years ago and continues its success in celebrating the rich history of maple production in New Hampshire. Maple Weekend is such a huge part of the NH Maple Producers Association, that they even have the governor of the state participate in a ceremonial tree-tapping event to kick off the season. But the group doesn’t limit itself to one weekend a year. They hold a yearly competition where sugarhouses can truly test the quality of their work against the best throughout the state.
Sugarhouses welcoming those on the tour offer a close-up look at how they turn the sap from their sugar maples into the tasty treats they have for sale to their guests. Sugarhouse owners explain or show the sap collection process, which could involve simply drilling a hole for the spile and attaching a bucket. Some houses might run multiple lines from the spiles to a collection area so they can produce a larger amount of their product. Once the sap is collected, it’s brought to the sugarhouse to begin the boiling process. No matter the technology used in the process, syrup makers take a meticulous approach to create the perfect syrup. Boiling the sap at the perfect temperature, filtering it thoroughly, and obtaining that perfect color are all important steps to take to ensure high-quality results.
For people touring a sugarhouse that offers a live demonstration of the process, they will be sure to appreciate the cozy warmth of the wood fire stoking in the sugarhouse on those chillier March days. The sweet aroma of the sugaring process will also have folks craving waffles in a matter of seconds. The care taken during the boiling process results in a terrific array of maple-based products available to those taking the tour. The bottles of syrup made right from the house they’re touring are enough to bring in visitors from across the country. Many houses offer a variety of options in traditional syrups, from the subtler golden and amber flavors perfect for the Sunday family breakfast, to the darker varieties that have a more robust flavor, and are ideally used for cooking. Some of the sugarhouses in the Lakes Region offer bourbon barrel-aged syrups that take months to reach perfection. Several of the retail shops at the local houses have granulated maple sugar to use when looking for a bit of a healthier alternative to cane sugar, as well as maple butter and maple cream to use as the perfect toppers for bread and pastries. Many stops on the Maple Weekend tour allow visitors to bring home an overstuffed goodie bag full of custom designed maple candies and homemade pastries. Maple ice cream can be hard to resist even in colder weather; maple-flavored soft serve has been a favorite for both locals and tourists alike for many years. Some houses even sell their own merchandise, including hats, T shirts, or recipe books.
Maple Weekend is such a popular attraction throughout the Lakes Region that some sugarhouse companies offer housing accommodations as part of their tour for maple fanatics to get an immersive experience. The New Hampshire Maple Experience opened a museum in Bethlehem to honor the “sweet tradition”. Their tours are offered multiple times a day, where people can see a working sugarhouse operation in addition to the museum. The museum offers an interactive experience, allowing visitors to participate in the process of identifying and tapping a sugar maple. The museum also has various displays of tools used in the sugaring process over the years.
Some of the sugarhouses participating in Maple Weekend around this year include Big Lake Maple in Wolfeboro, Smith Farm Stand in Gilford, Abbott Farm in Moultonborough, Young Maple Ridge Sugarhouse in North Sandwich, Eldridge Family Sugar House in Tamworth, and Seabrisket Sugarbush in Brookfield. While many of the houses will be fully operational and welcoming visitors for tours, it is recommended to call in advance to ensure there is availability, since tours often fill up quickly. Whether up in the Lakes Region getting one last day on the slopes, or living locally and looking for a family fun activity before the warm weather kicks in, there are an abundance of sugarhouses nearby to enjoy the celebration, and no sweeter way to bring on the springtime than taking home some of the tastiest candies and syrup made by hardworking, talented members of the local community.