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Maple Fest offers sweet taste of spring

Red Oak Nature Center will offer an early, sweet taste of spring on Saturday, March 19, during the annual Maple Fest.

Naturalists from Red Oak will lead visitors to various stations in the woods to view demonstrations of how maple sap is harvested and turned into maple syrup. Each group will tap a maple tree, then witness the process of how sap is boiled and converted into syrup.

Group taste tests will follow. Free tours run every hour from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center on Route 25, a mile north of Route 56 in North Aurora.

"Early spring is the perfect time to collect maple sap because the days start getting warmer but the nights are still cold," said Margaret Gazdacka, facility supervisor at Red Oak. "Visitors will witness this age-old practice of taking sap from a tree and turning it into syrup you use on your pancakes."

Maple-themed treats and hot beverages will be for sale. Also, the event will feature items for sale from Vermont - the maple syrup-producing capital of the world - that include small bottles of maple syrup, candy and beef jerky. Dimple Donuts is providing maple doughnuts while supplies last.

Scout groups are encouraged to attend on Sunday, March 20, when Red Oak hosts its Scout Syrup Sunday event.

For information, call Red Oak at (630) 897-1808 or visit the district's website at foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

If you go

What: Maple Fest

When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19

Where: Red Oak Nature Center, on Route 25 one mile north of Route 56, North Aurora

Cost: Free

Info: (630) 897-1808 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org

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