Blandford Nature Center is celebrating the sweet arrival of spring by bringing back this popular festival centered around all things maple-syrup for the 54th year! Community members of all ages are invited to attend the Sugarbush Festival on Saturday, March 23rd from 10am-2pm at Blandford Nature Center located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.
The Sugarbush Festival features the opportunity to explore and learn along Blandford Nature Center’s Sugarbush Trail. Festival attendees can visit stations along the trail where they will learn to identify and tap Sugar Maple trees, explore historic sugaring techniques of Native Americans and Pioneers, and get an inside-look at Blandford’s Sugarhouse and syrup making process.
This fun-filled event will also include wildlife encounters, a professional face painter, games, crafts, food trucks and concessions including Mon Cheri Creperie and Lazy Dazy Coffee Camper, music by Beaver Xing historical building tours, puppet shows by the Blandford Environmental Education Program Students (BEEPS), blacksmith demonstrations, and more.
“It’s so exciting to be hosting the Sugarbush Festival for the 54th year,” Farm Programs Specialist, Sarah Bass, shared. “ We’re happy to be bringing back community favorites like our Maple Cotton Candy as well as some new fun activities, like a professional face painter.” Pre-registration is not required to attend the Sugarbush Festival, but is recommended.
Attendees can pre-register and purchase tickets ahead of time at blandfordnaturecenter.org, or walk-in registration will be available at the door. Tickets are $10.40 per member and $13 per non-member. Children ages 3 and under are free, but registration is still necessary. Check-in will be in front of the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center with overflow parking at the Blandford Nature Center Farm, and CA Frost Elementary School.
People who are unable to attend the Sugarbush Festival on March 23rd are invited to check out the other sugarbush-themed programs happening during the month of March. “We have so many fun things happening outside of the festival,” continued Bass. “Our Tap a Tree or Journey to the Sugarhouse programs give families and children the opportunity to explore and learn about the sugaring process in a really fun, interactive way.”
Guests can view a full list of programs on Blandford’s Community Calendar at blandfordnaturecenter.org. Anyone who is unable to attend scheduled programs is encouraged to visit Blandford’s Sugarhouse during its operational hours of Monday-Saturday, 10-3pm, from March 4th-March 30th. A general admission fee of $3 per person is required for non-members which includes access to the Mary Jane Dockeray Visitor Center and Wildlife Education Center as well as over eight miles of trails.
