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Adirondacks, N.Y. - Adirondack maple producers and businesses invite all to celebrate spring’s sweetest product with special events, tours and tastings during Maple Weekend, March 29-30, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

New York state maple syrup has established a reputation as one of the highest quality maple syrups in the world. Every March since the mid-1990s, the New York State Maple Producers Association has presented Maple Weekends, during which maple producers from throughout the state host open houses to showcase how maple products are produced, from tree to table, and provide a chance to taste and purchase products.

This year, the Tri-Lakes/High Peaks region of the Adirondacks will also host a series of special “sweet” events on the last weekend in March. 

The weekend includes family fun activities at The Wild Center in Tupper Lake, The Paul Smith’s VIC and Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, sugar house tours and demonstrations, restaurant tastings, specialty cocktails and featured foods, along with special events at museums and visitors centers around the area.

Participating maple producers include Cornell University Uihlien Forest, with guided educational tours on maple, birch and walnut syrup production; Heaven Hill Farm, with hands-on youth maple programs; Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, with an evaporator demonstration and sugar on snow; the Visitor’s interpretive Center at Paul Smith’s College, with student-led sugaring seminars and baked maple pastries; The Wild Center, with a real sugaring operation on site plus tapping tours; and 1812 Homestead, with old-time sap collecting.

Maple Weekend will feature Tastes of Maple at the Conference Center at Lake Placid on March 29 from 4-5:30 p.m. Maple producers will bring samples of their maple syrup to taste, and the region’s chefs will bring delicious dishes inspired by maple syrup. Attendees can purchase tasting tickets for $1, and tasting portions will range from $1-$5.

Skiers can participate in the Whiteface Wipeout, a snowy obstacle course. Participants will don costumes while taking on an adventure race at the base of the mountain. Admission is $15 with purchase of a lift pass.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the Lake Placid Olympic Museum will host a family-friendly maple-themed craft program inspired by the 1980 Olympic Winter Games mascot, Roni Raccoon.

On Sunday, March 30, the Paul Smith’s VIC will host the first ever Maple Sap Run / Walk at 10 a.m. Participants will run or walk out to the sugar bush - likely on snowshoes depending on the weather - fill a quart jug with maple sap and bring it back to the VIC for processing. 

Also on Sunday, the St. Agnes School will host a Maple Weekend pancake breakfast, and teams from the Lake Placid Curling Club will offer a Curling Expo demonstration at the Saranac Lake Civic Center.   

All weekend long, area businesses will be offering maple-themed specials and promotions. Visit www.lakeplacid.com/events/adirondack-maple-weekend for updated Maple Weekend events and participating businesses. Visit www.mapleweekend.com to learn more about Maple Weekend events and products throughout New York state.

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