Cure your hankering for hotcakes at Sugar Bush Fair

Feast on pancakes, connect with nature and learn a little history during Schaumburg Park District's annual celebration of maple syrup.

Sugar Bush Fair is set for 9 a.m. to noon, March 18 and 19 at Spring Valley Nature Center, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road. An outdoor pancake breakfast that includes sausage, coffee and juice will be served beneath a tent outside Merkle Cabin.

"Our pancake breakfast is one of the best around," said Dave Brooks, manager of conservation services for Spring Valley. "There's nothing like fresh-off-the griddle pancakes with real maple syrup."

The maple sugar-themed event features demonstrations of syrup making and sap collecting methods used by Native Americans and early pioneers, an authentic Chicago area Native American interpreter, children's puppet show and hayrides.

"Sugar Bush Fair is an opportunity for people to come together to share a meal and celebrate a seasonal milestone," Brooks said. "Maple syrup making is an American tradition that has been occurring for hundreds, if not thousands of years during the first cold days of spring."

Advanced-sale breakfast tickets cost $4 for a half stack and $6 for a full stack and are available at the Nature Center. Day-of prices are $5 for a half stack and $7 for a full stack.

For more information, call (847) 985-2100 or visit ParkFun.com.