Weekend Winter Weather Prompts Maine Sugar Houses To Open For Second Date

Late winter weather put a damper on this year's Maine Maple Sunday festivities, so Sugar Houses across the state are planning to open for a second, and possibly third weekend to make up for the poor turnout.

President of the Maine Maple Producers Association, and a 20+ year veteran syrup producer himself, Lyle Merrifield, says he's also plowed snow for a living, and with the mess that fell last weekend, he doesn't blame folks for the decline in this year's numbers.

Typically, producers plan for thousands of visitors to the Sugar Houses during the duration of Maine Maple Weekend. In 2023, almost record numbers of people came out to learn about, sample, and purchase Maine-made Maple goods.

This year, with Saturday's all-day snowstorm and the intense clean-up on Sunday, the number of folks who ventured out dropped sharply.

Get our free mobile app

Because of this, Producers have an excess of products still available.

So the decision was made for a "do-over" of sorts.

A representative from the Association said some houses will be open all weekend, some on select days.

"Times vary from sugarhouse to sugarhouse. It is recommended visitors check with the farm directly to confirm. Some members will be open on Friday, March 29 and/or Sunday, March 31 as well. The Pure Maine Maple Facebook page may have the most up-to-date information from sugarhouses."

So far, over 2 dozen Sugar Houses across the state have prepared to receive visitors this weekend.

Merryfield suggests reaching out to the Sugar House nearest you to confirm the dates and times and encourages everyone to come out to sample Maine's Maple goodies.