Saturday February 6, 2010

10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Taste maple syrup from Vancouver Island at the Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival!

Visitors are invited to participate in mini-workshops facilitated by experienced maple syrup producers, including tapping demonstrations, presentations, and displays. This year’s event features cooking with local maple syrup and maple food will be available. The festival features a maple syrup competition with judging by celebrity chefs from Vancouver Island. The evaporator will be running all day so visitors can savour the warm maple aroma of sap and see how syrup is made.

Dance to musical entertainment provided by Shelley and Shannon Smiley from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm and the museum’s train will be running from 10:30-3:30. The Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival is unique on Vancouver Island. This event is about the local maple syrup industry and is the only festival where visitors can find out how local maple syrup is made. You will leave the event ready to tap your own backyard trees!

A special admission rate of $5 for everyone is offered, and includes train rides and a taste of local maple syrup provided by the Sapsuckers, a group of local maple syrup producers. Members may use their season’s pass. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the BC Forest Discovery Centre before Friday, February 5 (available Monday to Friday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm).

Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival Schedule:

Explore the sights and aromas of syrup making

Evaporator:
10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Find out more about maple tapping

Tapping Demonstrations:
Every 20 minutes from 10:20 am – 3:20 pm
Approximately 15 minutes long

Maple Syrup Presentations
Approximately 15 minutes long

10:30 Maple Tapping Basics 101 (Gary & Katherine Backlund)