Grayling, MI (WNEM) -
Maple syrup lovers may want to head to a state park in Crawford County for a big celebration Saturday, March 23 for Maple Syrup Day.
All the fun happens at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling. The event outlines the process involved in the making of North America's oldest agricultural product, maple sugar.
The festival begins at 10 a.m. at the Hartwick Pines Visitor center and lasts until 4 p.m.
Visitors can help tap a maple tree, observe the boil-down process which converts maple sap to maple syrup and watch several short videos on maple syrup. An expert will also be on hand to answer questions on how to start making maple syrup from trees in your own backyard.
A pancake breakfast provided by the Grayling Boy Scout Troop 979 will be served all day long so event-goers can enjoy maple syrup. Donations will be accepted. Genuine maple sugar candy and syrup will also be available to purchase.
There are also activities for children. They can tap a maple tree and learn how to build a birch bark container called a "mokuk." Mokuk's were used by Native Americans to transport maple sugar.
Children can participate in tapping a maple tree and will learn how to build their own paper "mokuk" - a birch bark container in which native peoples transported maple sugar.
The event is co-sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of Hartwick Pines State Park. The park is located at 4216 Ranger Road in Grayling. For more information, call the park at 989-348-7068 or visit www.michigan.gov/hartwickpines.
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