Sweet Maple Sugaring Events for Chicago Families

This awesome annual celebration in Schaumburg takes families through demonstrations of syrup production, and a hike through the woods to see maple trees! Registration required.

Hikes at 10 am, 11:30 am, & 1 pm

Brigitte Nohra Miller said:  This event hosted by the Park District of Highland Park combines education and fun. Through activities and a hike, kids will learn about the history of making maple syrup, and they will get to try out collecting sap from the maple trees. Registration required.

10 am & 11:30 am

Celebrate the arrival of both spring and maple syrup with a visit to River Trail Nature Center, one of several maple sugaring events happening this year around Chicagoland. You'll go on a guided walk through the woods and learn all about maple syrup! Registration required.

10:30 am & 1:30 pm

Enjoy this woodsy tour in small groups lead by one of Red Oak's experienced naturalists. Maple sugaring has been set up in various stations for families to see how maple sap is harvested, then how sap is boiled and converted into syrup. Taste-tests will follow, as well as additional treats available for purchase. Tours leave every hour on the hour. Registration required.

Saturday tours on the hour, 9 am - 12 pm

Sunday tours on the hour, 12 pm - 2 pm

Take your family on this 20-minute guided tour while you learn the method of turning sap into syrup while enjoying samples! You get to check the buckets at the trees, and see how sap thickens into syrup. Registration required.

Tours between 1 pm - 3:30 pm

Erin P. said:  The Plum Creek Nature Center is a place to explore nature. Kids will love some of the interactive and hands-on opportunities. At Maple Syrup Magic, the whole family will love learning how maple syrup is made, finding maple syrup trees, and (of course!) tasting some real maple syrup! Most of the program will take place inside, but a portion of it will be outside on uneven terrain. Participants will hike approximately .25 mile on preserve trails. If you require assistance with this portion of the program, please let them know at least 48 hours in advance. Registration required.

Sessions at 10 am, 11:45 am, & 1:30 pm

Brigitte Nohra Miller said:  This festival hosted by the McHenry County Conservation District is perfect for little ones' curious minds as they get to learn how maple syrup was prepared hundreds of years ago and go through all the stages of preparation: from collecting sap from the trees to converting it to syrup at the evaporator house. Tours leave every 15 minutes and are about half a mile long. Registration required.

Tours every 15 minutes, 10 am - 3 pm

Kathleen O'Donovan said:  During the entire month of March, Ryerson Woods will have signs up for free self-guided tours all about maple syrup! Once you arrive simply follow the signs to the "sugar bush." This is a great opportunity to go visit on a day with good weather and learn about everyone's favorite pancake topping!

Also, on Sunday, February 28th, you are invited to join educators virtually and watch them tap the sugar maple trees at Ryerson Woods. Learn all about the science behind making maple syrup! Registration required in order to receive a Zoom ticket and link ($3).

Open daily, 6:30 am - sunset

Kathleen O'Donovan said:  Head out the the Trailside Museum of Natural History to learn all about maple syrup! You'll go on a short hike, tap a tree, and of course, get to taste both freshly tapped sap and finished syrup. Registration required.

1:30 pm