Storrowton Village Museum will celebrate all things maple on Maple Harvest Day, Saturday, March 12, from 10am to 2pm. The annual FREE event highlights the history and tradition of maple sugaring in New England.

The historic Gilbert Farmhouse will turn into a sugarhouse for the day. Visitors can learn how the “liquid gold” is made, from tree tapping to sap boiling, with historian Dennis Picard, and watch 19th century open hearth cooking demonstrations of maple recipes inside. Docent-led tours and 19th century craft demos will also be available.

West Springfield Lions Club Pancake Breakfast – 10am – Noon – $5 per person
The West Springfield Lions Club will flip pancakes, served with pure New England maple syrup, in the Village’s red Greenwich Barn. Offerings include sausages, coffee and juice. All proceeds from the pancake breakfast will be donated to Storrowton’s educational programs.

Horse Drawn Wagon Rides – 11am – 2pm (last ride departs at 1:30pm) – $8 per person
Take a horse drawn wagon ride from 11am to 2pm (last ride departs at 1:30pm) for $8 per person (under 1, free). The ride travels between Storrowton Village’s South entrance and the Farmers Market near the Mallary Complex. Tickets are on sale now online and on-site.

“Our Maple Harvest Day event is a fundraiser for the educational programs at the Village and we are happy to be back this year with the same fun activities, plus a few new offerings to add to the excitement,” Jessica K. Fontaine, director of Storrowton Village Museum, said.

The Shops at Storrowton and Farmers Market
The Shops at Storrowton will be open with the Gift Shop featuring Yankee Candles, jewelry, gifts and more, and the Christmas Shop offering holiday ornaments and collectibles. The nearby Farmers Market, with a variety of maple products, apparel and hot maple wine and wine slushies, will also be open during the event.

Storrowton Tavern Maple Luncheon – 11am – 3pm – $23.95 adults; $12.95 children 10 and under
Across the green, Storrowton Tavern will feature a special maple-themed menu. Entrees include maple glazed salmon, Yankee pot roast with maple infused butternut squash or turkey dinner with cranberry maple chutney. The full meal includes choice of main course, fresh garden salad with maple vinaigrette, a fresh bakery basket with corn bread and anadama bread served with a crock of maple butter,family style maple baked beans and maple walnut ice cream brownie sundae. The children’s entrée will be a choice of a child size portion of the turkey dinner or chicken fingers with maple mustard.

SEE RECIPE FOR MAPLE GLAZE SWEET POTATOES IN OUR “WHAT’S COOKIN” SECTION OF THIS ISSUE OF THE WESTERN MASS WOMEN MAGAZINE