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Reminder: March 12 The Big 400 Maple Festival

Big-400-logo(Chelsea Update would like to thank Katie McGlashen for the information in this story.)

It’s maple syrup time.

The communities of The Big 400 are teaming up to celebrate maple syruping in southern Michigan with a festival on Saturday, March 12, which includes pancake breakfasts, tours of tapping areas and the syruping process, the release of a local maple wine, and lots of good things to eat.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Chelsea Alehouse – The menu includes pancakes, and bacon with real maple syrup. 8:00 – 11:30 am, 420 N Main St #100 734-433-5500

Proceeds from the breakfast go to support The Big 400 in guiding tourists to our region.

2nd Sunday Jazz Brunch, Sandhill Crane Vineyards (Sunday, March 13) Stay overnight in the area to enjoy Sandhill Crane Vineyards’ 2nd Sunday Jazz Brunch the day after the festival. The March brunch menu features dishes made with local maple syrup: Brown Sugar Pancakes with Maple-Bacon Butter, Apple-Cheese Panini with Maple Dijon Sauce, Maple Granola with Locally Made Vanilla Yogurt, Baked Brie with Maple-Roasted Cranberries, Maple Latte, and two maple wine cocktails: Sunday Nap and Hibernation. Jazz music by the Trent Harris quartet. Call 517.764.0679 to make reservations, 4724 Walz Road, Jackson

MAPLE TOURS AND INTERPRETATION
Hike at Legacy Land Conservancy/Beckwith Preserve, 1-3:00 pm
The sugar maple has long been the preferred tree for tapping due to its high yields of sugar-rich sap. But what if there are no sugar maples to tap on your property? Never fear. As part of the Big 400’s spring celebration, join the Legacy Land Conservancy for a guided hike to discover the many varieties of trees that can be tapped to produce novel and delicious syrups you won’t find on any supermarket shelf. Free. Main Street on north side just after Maple intersection, Stockbridge

Hudson Mills Metropark, Hudson Mills Metropark Activity Center near Dexter, Saturdays and Sundays, take a journey to the sugar bush and experience how maple syrup has been made over the years.  Tap a tree, and then see the sap being boiled into syrup. Stay and enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast.  Program only: $5/Adults or $3/Child  Breakfast is $5.50/Adults or $3.50/Child served from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please pre-register. (734)426-8211 Metropark vehicle entry permits are required in all Metroparks. $10/Daily, $35/Annual or $21/Senior Citizens (62 and over) 8801 N. Territorial Road 734-426-8211

FEATURED MAPLE WINE
Sandhill Crane Vineyards, (Jackson), 11 am–7 pm, a highlight of the Maple Festival is featuring Sandhill Crane Vineyards’ limited edition dessert wine made with local maple sap and syrup. Annie’s Mapleshine is maple wine aged in vintage in bourbon barrels from the Grand Traverse Distillery. The result is a rich fortified wine with hints of oak and bourbon. Light and not too sweet, Annie’s Mapleshine pairs beautifully with light desserts, sweet cheeses, and the winery’s famous Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookies. The winery also offers live music that day from 2-5 pm with local musician Alex Mendenall. Free admission; wine tasting: $5, 4724 Walz Road, Jackson 517-764-0679, March 13, 10:30 am-1 pm

MAPLE DISHES AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS
A number of local restaurants will be featuring dishes (and beverages) made with real maple syrup:

Chelsea
Cleary’s Pub – Maple-Balsamic Glazed Swordfish Steak, served over grilled asparagus with a baked sweet potato, Maple-Bacon Martinis and Maple Crown Manhattans, 133 S. Main St. 734-475-1922

Common Grill – Grilled Maple Pork Tenderloin with Michigan Dried Cherry Chutney, 112 S Main St 734-475-0470

Chelsea Alehouse – Maple Stout, Maple Bacon Brownie with Calder Dairy Ice Cream, Candied Bacon and Maple Syrup

Jackson
Sandhill Crane Vineyards – a wide range of maple entrees, salads, maple wine cocktails, maple coffee drinks, and desserts during the Maple Festival, 4724 Walz Road 517-764-0679

MAPLE SYRUPING SUPPLIES
Chelsea
Chelsea Farmers Supply – Long time suppliers to local maple syrup producers. They carry a full line of maple syrup supplies from “how to” books to tree tape, spiles, buckets, filters, and tubing. Everything you need to tap your own trees and make maple syrup. 122 Jackson St. 734-475-1777

A TASTE OF THE IRISH HILLS
Saturday, March 12 – Sunday, March 13
Tickets are on sale for the Taste of the Irish Hills event that will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 12-13. Tickets are only $25 for two days of eating. 20 participating establishments this year, with a couple new ones to try.  Tickets are available online at IrishHills.com. Call 517-592-8907 for more information.

March 19
Eddy Discovery Center, 10 am to 4 pm It’s time for that traditional rite of spring – tapping maple trees. Watch a short film about how maple syrup is made, and then go on a guided walk to see various methods of collecting sap and how it is boiled down to make syrup.  Antique equipment for making syrup will be on display from the Waterloo Farm Museum, and maple products will be available for purchase.  Contact the Center at (734) 475-3170 for more information. Cost: Free.17030 Bush Road

Dahlem Environmental Education Center, noon – 2 (Jackson), Join us for our annual celebration of the sugar maple tree and its sweet gifts! This family-friendly program is a great introduction to the seasonal delights of maple sugar production. Learn how to identify the right trees, how to tap and collect sap, and visit he sugar shack to see (and taste) the sap being boiled down into syrup. Lots of hands-on activities. Guided tours leave every 20 minutes. FEE:  $3/member; $5/non-member.  Guided walks head out every 20 minutes. Call to reserve your spot. 7117 South Jackson Road, Jackson 517-782-3453

March 20
Sugaring and Shearing Festival, Ella Sharp Museum
Welcome Spring’s arrival at the Ella Sharp Museum’s annual Sugaring and Shearing Festival Sunday, March 20, from noon to 4 p.m. Rain or shine, there is plenty to do indoors and out! Farm Lane will be bustling with activities such as Puddingstone Farm’s petting zoo, sheep shearing, traditional craftsmanship, and docents in all of the historical buildings. Don’t miss the “sap-to-syrup” demonstrations at the sugar bush, and Haigh’s Maple Syrup will be back in the Country Store selling their delicious products. 3225 Fourth St, Jackson 517-787-2320

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