Get a taste of spring at Maple Sugaring Spring Fever March 12-13
It's an annual springtime tradition when hundreds of people come to see the time-honored method of tapping maple trees at Naper Settlement during Maple Sugaring Spring Fever from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 12 and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 13 at 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville.
"Although it's been a milder winter, we know that everyone is looking forward to warmer weather and getting outdoors to enjoy activities with their families and friends," said Anna Di Cosola, Learning Experiences Coordinator at Naper Settlement. "Our annual event is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner."
Maple sugaring was an integral part of American life in the 1800s and was the foremost sweetener until the end of the Civil War. During late winter and early spring, fluctuations in temperature - freezing nights and warm days - allow sap to rise from the roots of maple trees. Naper Settlement museum educators will demonstrate how trees are tapped at noon and 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Try a variety of hands-on activities in the historic buildings throughout the 12-acre campus. At the Log House, see how sap was boiled down to create maple syrup and maple sugar. Pick up a spring-themed bookmark at the Print Shop. Sample a maple treat, try your hand at drilling a maple tree or whitewash a mini fence to take home. Help welcome the season with springtime chores at the Halfway House. At the Meeting House, learn to dance a reel with live music by The Battlefield Balladeers, a dynamic musical duo, who will play authentic 19th century music.
Admission is $12 adults, $10 seniors 62+ and $8 youth 4 to 12. Children 3 and under, Naperville residents and members are free. For more information, call (630) 420-6010 or visit www.napersettlement.org.
About Naper Settlement and the Naperville Heritage Society
Naper Settlement is a nationally accredited, award-winning outdoor museum set on 12 magnificent acres in the heart of Naperville, where history comes to play and community comes to connect. The Naperville Heritage Society is the administrator of Naper Settlement. With a commitment to the community and a focus to the future, the mission of the Naperville Heritage Society is to collect, document, preserve and support the history of Naperville, Illinois, past and present. For more information, visit www.napersettlement.org or call (630) 420-6010.