Guide to the Best 2026 Maple Sugaring Festivals in New Jersey

Discover Where to Celebrate Maple Season Across the Garden State

New Jersey’s maple sugaring season is one of the sweetest times of the year—quite literally. As winter begins to thaw and sap starts to flow, farms, nature centers, and historic villages across the state open their doors for hands‑on demonstrations, family workshops, and fresh maple treats you can’t find any other time of year. Whether you’re planning a cozy weekend outing, looking for kid friendly outdoor activities, or simply curious about how maple syrup is made, the Maple Sugaring Festivals in New Jersey offer unforgettable experiences for all ages.

This guide brings together the top maple sugaring events happening across NJ in 2026, highlighting the best places to watch tree tapping, explore sugar shacks, taste warm syrup, and learn the science behind this centuries old tradition. From the forests of North Jersey to the family farms of Central and South Jersey, you’ll find the perfect festival to kick off your late‑winter adventures.

Get ready to bundle up, breathe in that crisp February air, and savor the sweetness of maple season in the Garden State.

The Best Places in New Jersey to Experience Maple Sugaring

If you're looking to experience maple sugaring firsthand, New Jersey has a variety of farms and sugarhouses that offer tours and demonstrations during the sugaring season. From South Jersey to the northern regions, there's a sweet experience waiting for you.

Top 2026 Maple Sugaring Events in Northern New Jersey

Maple Sugaring

Sundays, beginning January 18th until February 15th, 2026 (10am, 11:30 am & 1pm)
Visitor Center, Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ
Cost: Member $8.00, Non-member $12
This is a great, family outdoor winter experience. Learn how to identify a maple tree. Discover the history of syrup making and how technology has changed the way we gather sap over the centuries. The group will check Tenafly Nature Center's tapped tree and boil down sap to make fresh, warm maple syrup, a sweet treat for all to taste. All ages are welcome.

Maple Sugaring Demo & Festival

Saturday, Sundays, beginning January 24th until March 7th, 2026
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, NJ
Ticket Price: $7 per person. Preregistration is required. Age: 6 & up with an adult.
Learn how to identify and tap maple trees, collect sap, and make real maple syrup over a wood-fired evaporator. Finish with a syrup taste test! This program will be held entirely outdoors, so dress for the weather. Syrup will be available for purchase, while supplies last.
For ages 6 and up.

Maple Sugaring at the Environmental Education Center

Saturdays & Sundays, February, 2026
190 Lord Stirling Road
Basking Ridge
Cost: $6 per student/senior $7 per adult (Walk-in ticket sales only. Tickets for Maple Sugaring will be sold the day of the program inside the EEC building)
Visitors will learn how trees are tapped, view sap-collecting methods past and present, and see the boiling process that produces delicious New Jersey maple syrup. This 60-minute, outdoor program is conducted at our Sugar Shack, a ½-mile hike from the EEC. Please arrive at the EEC 30-40 minutes before the program start time to purchase tickets and hike to the Sugar Shack to meet your Naturalist. Please dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Boots are recommended as the trails can be wet, muddy, and/or covered by snow.

Maple Sugaring at The New Weis Center

The New Weis Center for Education
February 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, March 1, 2026
150 Snake Den Rd.
Ringwood, NJ
Cost: $21/person ; members. $23/person non-members
Participate in their 90-minute program as attendees will learn about the process, history, and ecology of maple sap & syrup. There will be a short hike to learn about winter tree ID, sap ecology, and tree biology, with a discussion on the history of tree tapping and some of the many things sap is used for. Attendees will visit tapped trees where they will learn how to tap, collect and taste the sap, then see how the evaporator works. Finish the 90 minutes with a blind syrup taste test in the covered pavilion (with heaters).

Maple Sugaring Fest

Sunday, March 1, 2026, 1 pm until 4pm (This event is held rain or shine)
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Avenue, Summit, New Jersey
Cost: Member Price: Free, Non-Member Price: $12.00
Enjoy a brisk winter afternoon learning the steps involved in turning tree sap into delicious maple syrup. The whole family will enjoy spending the day outdoors, hiking our trails, and partaking in our Maple Sugaring Challenge activities! Also enjoy hot chocolate, some vendors, and more. It's going to be a sweet day!

Top 2026 Maple Sugaring Events in Central New Jersey

Sugar Shack Demonstration

February through March 2026
Happy Day Farm
106 Iron Ore Rd
Manalapan, NJ
Tours will take place at select times (10am, 11:15am, 12:30pm, 1:45pm). . Tickets will be sold at the door only, no reservations are required
This is a great outdoor winter experience where attendees will take a tractor ride of their 130-acre farm. Pancakes and maple syrup will be available to purchase. Visitors will then see their 'sugar bush', find out what equipment is needed to collect sap, learn first hand how to identify maple trees, and lend Farmer Tim a hand in the tapping process. In Olivia's Sugar Shack, visitors can see how sap is finally produced into our delicious maple syrup. The sap is boiled and evaporated in a wood-fired evaporator. They have over 700 maple trees and it takes about 80 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup. Goats and chickens will be available to feed?

Maple Sugaring

Saturday, February 7, 2026; 10 am, 12;30 am, & 2:30 PM
The Watershed Center, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington, NJ .
Discover the history, folklore, and science of maple sugaring. Visit their maple trees, find out how they tap them using drills and spiles, and try a sample of sweet maple sugar. Learn about the evaporation process and how sticky sap transforms into sweet maple syrup. The operation of our outdoor evaporator is dependent on the amount of sap the trees produce and the weather. It may not be running during all program sessions.

Maple Sap Collection

Sunday, February 22, 2026 (1:00 PM - 2:30 PM)
42 Lilac Drive, Flemington, NJ
Ages: 4 through 8 recommended (children must be accompanied by an adult)
Families, nature lovers, and curious learners are invited to explore how maple trees are tapped, discover the science behind sap flow, and watch the early steps of turning sap into syrup. This interactive outdoor program is perfect for kids and adults looking for an educational, seasonal activity that celebrates local traditions. If you're searching for winter things to do in Flemington, NJ or maple sugaring events in New Jersey, this engaging experience offers a sweet way to enjoy the outdoors and learn something new.

Top 2026 Maple Sugaring Events in Southern New Jersey

Maple Sugaring in Rancocas Nature Center

Sunday, February 22, 2026
Rancocas Nature Center
794 Rancocas Rd.
Westampton, NJ
Cost: FRNC members, $9/person, $30/family (limit 5); nonmembers, $11/person, $40/family (limit 5)
Bring the whole family and enjoy a program about maple sugaring, the oldest continuous industry in North America. With their self-guided hike, you'll follow a map and visit multiple interactive stations along the Rancocas trails. Learn about the Sugar Maple tree and the history of maple sugaring, observe a tapping demonstration, and enjoy a maple syrup tasting. To ward off the chills, we'll have an old-fashioned campfire burning. Start times are staggered

Frequently Asked Questions

Question
What is maple sugaring?

Answer
Maple sugaring is the process of collecting sap from sugar maple trees and boiling it down to produce maple syrup. This traditional practice has been a staple in the northeastern United States and Canada for centuries.

Question
When is maple sugaring season in New Jersey?

Answer
The maple sugaring season typically runs from late January to early March. The best conditions for sap flow are when daytime temperatures are above freezing (32°F) and nighttime temperatures dip below freezing.

Question
What types of trees can be tapped for syrup?

Answer
While sugar maples are preferred due to their high sugar content, other maples, such as red and silver maples, can also be tapped. However, the syrup yield and quality may vary.

Question
Can I tap trees on my own property?

Answer
Yes, if you have mature maple trees (at least 10-12 inches in diameter), you can tap them to collect sap. You’ll need tools like spiles, buckets or tubing, and a method to boil the sap.

Question
How much sap is needed to make maple syrup?

Answer
It takes about 40 gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of syrup. This ratio can vary depending on the sugar content of the sap.

Question
Is there a difference between Grade A and Grade B syrup?

Answer

Yes, but the classification system has changed in recent years. All maple syrup is now Grade A but is categorized by color and taste:

Golden (Delicate Taste)
Amber (Rich Taste)
Dark (Robust Taste)
Very Dark (Strong Taste)

Question
Are there health benefits to maple syrup?

Answer
Maple syrup is a natural sweetener rich in minerals like manganese and zinc. However, like all sweeteners, it should be consumed in moderation.

Question
What should I wear to a maple sugaring event?

Answer
Dress warmly and wear sturdy, waterproof boots, as most events are held outdoors and can involve muddy or snowy conditions.

Question
Can children participate in maple sugaring activities?

Answer
Absolutely! Maple sugaring events are family-friendly and often include hands-on activities like tree tapping, sap collection, and syrup tasting.

Question
Is maple sugaring sustainable?

Answer
Yes, when done responsibly. Tapping does not harm healthy trees, and producers follow guidelines to ensure sustainability. A tree can provide sap for many years if cared for properly.