The woods at Wye Marsh will be filled with the sweet smells of maple syrup next weekend.

Wye Marsh will be hosting the 17th-annual Sweet Water Harvest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 29.

The event will include a large variety of activities for the entire family, including taffy tasting, cooking demonstrations, a woodcarvers and wildflower gardeners exhibits, live animal shows, children’s crafts, face painting, and horse–drawn wagon rides – to name just a few.  

This is one of the top maple syrup events in Canada, and will introduce visitors to the three methods of Maple Syrup making by demonstrating the Native, Pioneer and Modern Maple Syrup methods. 

Visitors can also take a nice walk along the many nature trails and visit the demonstration stations where you can see, feel, smell and taste sugaring-off techniques used over the years.   

Wye Marsh is now accepting submissions for the Children’s Drawing Contest, (Maple Themed) with prizes to be awarded to top three winners in each age category on the day of the harvest.

Deadline for submissions is Saturday,  March 22 by 5 p.m.

A “Giant Pancake” Eating Contest will also be taking place during this year’s event. The official kickoff will be the recently added Mayor's Division.

“Scott Warnock, mayor of Tay Township, threw down the gauntlet at Garfield Dunlop’s Spaghetti Dinner in support of Wye Marsh,” says Denise Brophey, marketing and communications coordinator, adding Warnock publicly challenged Midland Mayor Jim Downer to participate  - a dare that was readily accepted.

The mayor’s challenge is extended to all mayors in Simcoe County and beyond.  The contest will begin at 2 p.m. and prizes will be awarded to top two winners in each division.  Space is limited for each division.  To register please call (705) 526-7809 or e-mail marketing@wyemarsh.com.

Maple syrup cooking demonstrations will also take place between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. where Georgian College Hospitality & Tourism Faculty experts will display an array of different mouth-watering ways to prepare it.  Recipes will be available after each demonstration.

“The Sweetwater Harvest Weekend at the Wye Marsh is a great way for families to enjoy one of Canada’s special spring celebrations and enjoy our rich Canadian culture,” says Brophey, in a news release.

Admission is $5 (children three years of age and under are free), and for an extra $5, visitors can dine on the famous indoor or outdoor pancake, sausage and maple syrup breakfast including coffee, tea or juice.