Last Chance for Syrup!

Just Two More Maple Sundays at Westfield

There are just two Sundays left to visit Westfield Heritage Village’s Sweet Taste of Spring maple syrup program!  On Sundays March 23 and 30, you can visit the village between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and learn how maple syrup was made in three different time periods.  In the village’s Early Settlement area, see how maple sugar was produced by Canada’s First Nations communities using hot rocks and a hollowed out log, and how these techniques were shared with early European immigrants.  At the D’Aubigny Inn, find out how early 19^th century pioneers used three cast iron cauldrons, hung over roaring fires, to produce large quantities of delicious syrup.  A picturesque walk into the sugar bush leads to the modern sugar shack, where you can see the village’s shiny new evaporator and taste some of Westfield’s very own maple syrup.  The new evaporator was recently donated by the Friends of Westfield, the volunteer organization that raises funds for a variety of Westfield projects and activities.

Modestly priced, delicious pancakes, ham, sausage and of course, maple syrup, will be served by the St. George Lion’s Club throughout the day at the Ironwood Hall.  This year, the club is celebrating ten years of flipping pancakes at Westfield!  Visit the General Store for old-fashioned candy, hot apple cider and baked goods.  The Gift Shop will be selling a variety of maple syrup products and other one-of-a-kind items.  You won’t want to miss the free horse and wagon rides that will be making the rounds of the village throughout the day.

Check out these photos from the last couple of days at Westfield. Fun for all.

Finally!  Sap is Flowing at Westfield

 

 

After much anticipation, the maple trees are finally ready to share some of their sweet sap, and the people at Westfield Heritage Village are more than ready to collect it and turn it into delicious maple syrup!  The village has more than 130 taps in place in their sugar maple bush, and this week’s rising temperatures promise a good flow in the coming days. 

At Westfield, visitors can learn about one of Ontario’s sweetest and oldest culinary traditions.  Follow the lovely scent of wood smoke and steaming sap to the Early Settlement area, where you can see the methods taught to the European settlers by the First Nations people.  At the D’Aubigny Inn,  you can find out how early 19^th century pioneers used a series of iron cauldrons to produce large quantities of delicious syrup.  A picturesque walk into the sugar bush will lead you to the modern sugar shack, where you can taste some of Westfield’s very own maple syrup.   The tours and demonstrations run from 10 am. to 4 pm., on Wednesday March 12, Thursday March 13 and every Sunday in March.

Those looking for a tasty treat will enjoy visiting the Ironwood Hall, where the St. George Lions Club will be selling a delicious all-day breakfast of hot pancakes, with either ham or sausage.  A variety of maple syrup products are available at the Gift Shop.  Visitors to the General Store will find baked goods and sweet treats available for purchase.  Free horse-drawn wagon rides will be available to take you around the village and sugar bush.  A special feature on March 23 only will be a demonstration of maple taffy making.

Nearly 70,000 Pancakes Served

(And Counting!)

For ten sweet years, the enthusiastic crew from the St. George Lion’s Club has been flipping pancakes at Westfield Heritage Village during the Sweet Taste of Spring maple syrup festival - 66, 960 of them, at last count! Served with a side of freshly grilled ham or sausage, with a healthy dose of maple syrup, these pancakes have become an annual tradition for many families who come out to the festival each spring.  Priced at only $1.00 per pancake, this has got to be one of the sweetest deals around!  The Lion’s Club crew will work their magic at Westfield every Sunday in March, with the festival running from 10:00 am. - 4:00 p.m.  They will also be serving up pancakes during March Break, when the village is open for the maple syrup program on two days - Wednesday March 12 and Thursday March 13.

Pancakes are just one great part of a day at maple syrup time at Westfield.  Free horse and wagon rides will take you on a tour of the village throughout the day.  In the village’s Early Settlement area, you can learn how maple syrup and sugar were produced for generations by Canada’s First Nations communities, and how these techniques were shared with early European immigrants.  At the D’Aubigny Inn, find out how early 19^th century pioneers used a series of iron cauldrons to produce large quantities of delicious syrup.  A picturesque walk into the sugar bush will lead you to the modern sugar shack, where you can taste some of Westfield’s very own maple syrup made using a modern evaporator.   The tours and demonstrations run from 10 am. - 4 pm., Sunday March 9, 16, 23 and 30, as well as Wednesday March 12 and Thursday March 13.

Westfield is a special place for families, with something interesting to see and do around every corner.  The village’s nearly forty heritage buildings are staffed by authentically costumed interpreters, who will take you back to earlier times and places.  Children will enjoy taking a seat in the one-room, log school house and having a lesson about maple syrup.  Stop by the General Store for some sweet treats and baked goods.  In the spirit of the season, a variety of maple syrup products and other one-of-a-kind items will be available at the Gift Shop.  A special feature on March 9 will be a demonstration of maple taffy making.

The Sweet Taste of Spring Maple Syrup Festival is a fun way for families to get out together and enjoy the day while learning about our past.  Admission is $11.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors and $6.50 for children ages 6-12.  Children and 5 and under are free.  For more information regarding this event and future Westfield events, call 519-621-8851 or visit westfield.heritage.ca .

Westfield Heritage Village is located in Rockton, Ontario on Kirkwall Road (Regional Road 552), just off Hwy 8, between Hamilton and Cambridge.

Photo Credit: Jacklyn Brown