Sample pure maple syrup at River Trail Nature Center festival

Festival to include historical demonstrations, tree-tapping, hikes and more

Submitted by Forest Preserves of Cook County

River Trail Nature Center invites the public to celebrate the arrival of spring with a special day of activities highlighting maple syrup during the 46th annual Maple Syrup Festival from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 18.

During Maple Syrup Festival, attendees can enjoy numerous activities including maple syrup history, tree-tapping hikes, maple syrup making and more. Additionally, there will be historical demonstrations of maple syrup and modern maple syrup production.

"There will be puppet shows and family-friendly games outside the nature center, and pure maple syrup samples will be available," said Michele Mottlowitz, director of River Trail Nature Center.

Admission to the 46th annual Maple Syrup Festival is free. Limited accessible parking is available at the nature center. Parking is available at Alison Woods and Lake Avenue East, with a short walk on trails to the event; additional parking with a free shuttle to the nature center is available at nearby facilities.

River Trail Nature Center, 3120 Milwaukee Ave., in Northbrook, is one of six nature centers operated by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, and offers a variety of educational events and festivals throughout the year.

For information on the 46th annual Maple Syrup Festival, call the nature center directly at (847) 824-8360. A complete listing of all special events and programs is posted to the forest preserves' events website at fpdcc.com/events with seasonal brochures that can be downloaded.