Maple's Last Hurrah: A Weekend Preview

Vermont Maple Festival Credit: Perceptions Inc.

If you didn’t get enough of the sweet stuff in March, two big events this weekend wrap up the sugaring season. In St. Albans, the Vermont Maple Festival, this Friday through Sunday, has something for every member of the family, from specialty food sampling to pony rides, music on Main Street to marionette performances.

In St. Johnsbury, the World Maple Festival on Friday and Saturday offers up an ice cream social, 5K run, pancake breakfast and street fair.

At Shelburne Farms on Saturday morning, fans of feathers craft owl puppets or raptor mobiles and learn about birds of prey by meeting some in person. Preregistration is required for this program.

On Saturday, tiny tots might enjoy meeting the cute canine, Biscuit, from the popular children’s book series at Buttered Noodles in Williston or getting up close and personal with big, shiny vehicles at Big Truck Day in Fairfax.

Animal lovers might like Horsin’ Around on Saturday Night, a high-octane pooch and pony variety show that features musical freestyle riding, dog agility and obedience demos, and horse and rider drill teams. The performance is part of the two-day Everything Equine & Canine show at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, which includes seminars, demos and entertainment. Click here for a coupon.

Finally, nature lovers have several opportunities to commune with the flora and fauna on Sunday. A Spring Blooms Walk at Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington and a Wildflower Hike at Round Pond Natural Area in South Hero make for fun, outdoorsy afternoon jaunts for the whole family. Here’s hoping it doesn’t rain.

This article was originally published in Seven Days’ monthly parenting magazine, Kids VT.