PA Fairs and Festivals

Somerset County Maple Taste & Tour Weekends: A Sweet Tradition

A collage of four images captures the essence of the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour. The first photo shows a wooden sugar shack with smoke rising from its chimney, indicating the maple syrup production inside. The second image features two individuals working inside the sugar house, monitoring the syrup boiling process on a shiny evaporator. The third picture highlights a maple tree with a sap bucket attached, alongside an event sign promoting the Maple Weekend schedule. Lastly, an array of maple products is displayed, including syrup bottles, pancake mix, and confections, showcasing the delicious outcomes of the syrup-making tradition.

If you’re looking for information about Somerset County’s 2024 Maple Taste and Tour Weekends, you’re in the right place!

A vibrant red tractor stands in the foreground during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event, with a large, old-fashioned metal sap sled attached to its back. The sled is resting on a wooden pallet, ready for transport. Behind, a rustic sugar shack emits a plume of white smoke, indicating the boiling of maple sap. The scene is set against a backdrop of leafless trees and a dusting of snow, capturing the essence of maple syrup season in Somerset County. — Milroy Farms maple sugar camp near Salisbury.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Somerset County, this sweet tradition invites locals and visitors alike to experience the magic of maple sugaring by visiting free open house events at nearly two dozen maple sugar camps.

A vibrant red barn adorned with an American flag motif stands prominently on a snowy farm landscape. Near the barn, there's a traditional silo and several red outbuildings, all under a bright blue sky with distant rolling hills and wind turbines on the horizon. A black cow grazes in the foreground, and a quaint white house nestles among bare trees to the left. — A farm scene near Markleton in Somerset County.

As attendees drive from camp to camp, they’re greeted with the warm, inviting scent of maple syrup in the making and a unique glimpse into the heart of maple production.

Hillside Sugar Shack near Sculton.

Dates | Times | Directions

The 2024 Maple Taste and Tour Weekends are scheduled for March 2-3 & 9-10.

A rustic yellow sign shaped like a maple leaf with the phrase 'it's MAPLE TIME in SOMERSET COUNTY' painted in bold letters, captured during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event. The sign, showing signs of wear with its paint chipping off, is mounted on a weathered wooden wall next to an old-fashioned metal lantern, adding to the charm of the maple syrup celebration atmosphere. — February and March is maple time in Somerset County.

The hours are 10 am – 4 pm each day.

A vivid photograph captures a maple sap collection setup during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event. A mature tree with a textured bark stands prominently in the foreground, featuring a tap and a metal bucket collecting sap. A bright sign is staked into the snowy ground, announcing the 'Maple Weekend Taste and Tour' schedule, set for Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am to 4:00pm with a red maple leaf accent. In the background, a rustic sugar shack is visible, surrounded by a wintery landscape and clear blue skies. — Be sure to check the official brochure for the hours of each camp, as some may vary or not offer Sunday sales.

You can download the official brochure featuring a map with the names and addresses of all the participating maple sugar camps AT THIS LINK on the Somerset County Maple Producers official website.

A promotional brochure for the 'Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour' event, featuring information about maple syrup production and a list of participating maple camps with descriptions and contact details. The brochure includes a 'Taste & Tour Map' of Somerset County, highlighting the locations of the camps. Dates for the 2024 event, March 2-3 and 9-10, are prominently displayed, along with a call to 'Mark Your Calendar for the 2025 Taste and Tour' event. The right side of the brochure is adorned with autumn leaves and maple syrup products, celebrating the rich maple heritage of the region. — Download the full brochure at the link provided above.

What You’ll See on the Maple Taste and Tour

Each of the nearly two dozen camps has its own story, techniques, and special recipes, making every stop a new discovery.

A rustic sugar camp with a corrugated metal roof is pictured during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event. Smoke billows from metal chimneys against a cloudy sky, indicating the boiling process of maple sap. The camp features wooden structures with exposed insulation, lined with silver maple sap buckets. A bare winter landscape surrounds the camp, with a light dusting of snow covering the ground. In the foreground, a golden dog stands attentively next to a tree, adding life to this serene winter scene. — Kinsley’s Sugar Camp near Berlin.

Free tours provide an educational look into the process of turning sap into syrup, showcasing the blend of tradition and innovation that characterizes the region’s approach to maple sugaring.

A wooden table with a sign that reads ‘SAP’ on it. Below the word ‘SAP’ is text that says ‘Approx. 4000 drops per gal.’, ‘5-15 gal. sap per tap per year’, and ‘35-50 gal.sap per gal.syrup’. The sign is sitting on a wooden table at the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event. — It takes roughly 50 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup.

Somerset County is Pennsylvania’s leading producer of maple products, and each stop on the tour provides a glimpse in to how and why that is so.

An informative display about the history of maple sugaring in Somerset County, viewed during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event. The top half of the display features the heading 'MAPLE SUGARING' in large letters with a silhouette of a maple tree. Below, a text in blue background details the county's over 200-year history of maple sugar production, its ideal climate, and the significant yields of the 1880s. A quote from an 1836 magazine article describes the labor-intensive process of maple sugar-making. The display is a visual narrative of Somerset County's rich tradition in maple syrup production. — Somerset County is PA’s leading producer of maple products.

Some of the camps offer displays and demonstrations on the various methods of tapping a tree to extract the sap.

An educational display at the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event demonstrates various methods of tapping a maple tree. A tree trunk is fitted with different spiles and tubing, used to channel maple sap. Labels on the trunk indicate 'End Tree Drop-Line', 'Mainline', 'Drop-line', 'Wooden Spile', and 'Metal Keeler and Lid with Spile'. A metal bucket sits at the base to collect sap, set against a backdrop of workshop tools, highlighting the practical aspects of maple syrup production. — Methods of tapping a maple tree.

While others have areas set aside for mini-museums of maple sugaring memorabilia from over the years.

A charming display from the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour showcases a variety of vintage maple syrup containers. The collection, arranged on wooden shelving, features nostalgic imagery of pastoral scenes, sugar shacks, and traditional sap collecting methods. The colorful tins range in size and are adorned with vibrant illustrations, some with detailed recipes and instructions on the back. The antique aesthetic of the containers reflects the rich history and tradition of maple syrup production in Somerset County. — Vintage maple syrup containers.

The variety of maple products available for purchase is impressive, ranging from the traditional syrups and candies to more unexpected items like maple mustard, maple cotton candy, maple milkshakes, and maple-glazed nuts.

A variety of maple products displayed from the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event, including several bottles of pure maple syrup in different shapes and sizes, a bag of maple-flavored coffee, and a bottle of bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup. In the foreground are homemade maple treats, such as maple frosted doughnuts, maple candy, and a maple walnut cookie. Each item is a testament to the rich maple culture of Somerset County. — Just a few of the maple products you’ll be able to buy along the way.

A word of advice – TAKE CASH if you plan on buying maple products, as not all of the camps are set up to accept credit cards.

Maple syrup for sale at Brantview Farms Maple Camp in Somerset County, PA. — Maple syrup for sale at Brantview Farms Maple Camp.

The Maple Taste and Tour Weekend is not just about indulging in sweet treats; it’s a celebration of community and craftsmanship.

The evaporator used to turn maple sap into maple syrup by boiling off excess water. — This evaporator at Brantview Brantview Farms Maple Camp is used to turn maple sap into maple syrup by boiling off excess water.

It offers a rare opportunity to meet the families behind the maple products, hear their stories, and learn about their dedication to sustainable practices.

Inside a sugar house during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event, two individuals are working on the maple syrup production process. One person, with their back to the camera, oversees a large, metallic evaporator where the sap is being boiled. Another, facing the camera, stirs the contents with a long paddle. The interior is warmly lit, with wooden walls and various maple syrup production tools and containers scattered around the space. — Making syrup at Hillegas Sugar Camp near Fairhope.

For many of these producers, maple sugaring is not just a business but a way of life passed down through generations.

In a rustic setting during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour, a life-size black bear statue is playfully positioned as if interacting with the maple syrup production display. It stands beside wooden barrels and sap buckets hung on the wall, creating an immersive historical atmosphere. A vintage illustrated poster reads 'Saps A'Runnin', contributing to the theme. The backdrop is a large sign featuring 'Maple Syrup Equipment' for Wagner's Sugar Camp in West Salisbury, PA, celebrating the local heritage of syrup making. — Wagner’s Sugar Camp in West Salisbury.

This event also serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting local agriculture and food producers.

A snowy scene at Livengood Brothers Maple during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour event, with a large orange sign featuring the business name in bold black letters. Below the sign, a smaller green placard advertises 'Pure Maple Syrup For Sale Here'. In the background stands a two-story building with stone walls and blue accents, partially covered by the falling snow. A metal gate and wooden fence frame the snowy foreground, enhancing the rustic charm of the setting. — Livengood Brothers Sugar Camp near Rockwood.

By purchasing directly from the sugar camps, visitors can take a piece of Somerset County’s sweet tradition home with them, while contributing to the local economy.

Hillside Sugar Shack near Sculton.

Final Thoughts

Somerset County’s Maple Taste and Tour Weekend is an event that promises warmth, sweetness, and community—three things that are often needed in the chilly early spring.

Hillegas Sugar Camp near Fairhope.

Whether you’re a maple syrup aficionado or simply looking for a unique weekend outing, Somerset County’s Maple Taste and Tour Weekend is a sweet tradition worth checking out!

A young girl smiles brightly during the Somerset County Maple Taste and Tour, standing in a snowy forest beside a tapped maple tree. She is dressed warmly in a green winter coat and a pink beanie with a fluffy pom-pom, holding a small bottle of amber maple syrup in one hand and a sample cup in the other. A traditional metal sap bucket is attached to the tree, collecting the dripping sap, ready to be turned into the syrup like the one she proudly displays. — Enjoying some treats from Lemmon Brothers Sugar Camp near Markleton.

Exploring Brantview Farms Maple Camp in Somerset County takes you through the entire process of maple syrup production, from tree to table!

Exploring Brantview Farms Maple Camp in Somerset County PA — Brantview Farms Maple Camp in Somerset County.

This maple camp doubles as a “maple syrup museum” of sorts, housing many unique tools and artifacts used in maple syrup production over the past 100 years.

Inside the sugar camp, which doubles as a maple syrup museum.

21 Must-See Attractions in Somerset County is your guide to some of the best things to see and do in the region throughout the year.

A collage of four images showcasing attractions in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. The top left image features a fisherman by a creek in front of a picturesque red covered bridge surrounded by autumn foliage. The top right photo shows a person standing on a rocky outcrop overlooking a vast landscape of colorful fall trees under a clear sky. The bottom left picture captures a well-lit tunnel with multiple lights creating a starburst effect. The bottom right image is a tranquil scene of a park with a bicyclist on a path next to a lake reflecting the vibrant autumn trees and blue sky. — Scenes from Somerset County, PA.

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