Oxford is known for many things: Uptown bars, red-brick buildings and now a historic basketball team. But, Oxford has a lesser-known legacy of maple syrup excellence. The 59th annual Maple Syrup Festival, spanning two weekends, will conclude the weekend of March 14 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hueston Woods State Park Lodge and Beach.
This festival highlights the significance of maple syrup production at Hueston Woods. Park Manager Kathryn Conner said the Hueston Woods Nature Preserve was kept uncut by the Hueston Family specifically for maple syrup production.
“They kept those trees so they could tap, collect the sap and then make syrup or sugar for their family,” Conner said. “I think [the festival] is a nice honor of how we came to be a park.”
She said the festival shows people the art behind maple sugaring and how they can do it on their own. Conner called it the “one stop shop” to learn about the park and the cultural significance of maple syrup while enjoying the local natural area.
The days begin with a $10 pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. downstairs at the Hueston Woods Lodge, with syrup-themed merchandise available in the front lobby. Tanya Drake, assistant front office manager and gift shop manager, said the most popular products are the glass maple leaf bottles, maple balsamic vinaigrette and various flavors of peanuts, popcorn and other snacks.
“[The festival] brings a lot of people to the lodge,” Drake said. “I like seeing the people and chit-chatting with everybody.”
Free hay wagon tours start at noon and run until 4 p.m. These tours begin at the park beach where visitors are taken into the preserve, then are dropped off at the top of an easy, downhill trail with a tour guide. Conner said the tour guides teach visitors about maple sugaring in the park while leading groups to the sugar house. The hay wagon then picks the visitors back up and returns them to the beach.
At the sugar house, visitors can see how syrup is made at Hueston Woods. Along with the demonstration, visitors can enjoy a free sample of the maple syrup and shop around for other merchandise.
Every hay wagon tour has a unique aspect that varies with each tour guide. Conner said certain guides share experiences of how the festival and park has changed over the years, and partners from the Division of Natural Areas and Preserves can explain how maple syrup is tied to their work.
“While the pancakes and syrup are good, there’s something special about getting to make a connection with your guide,” Conner said.
Audrey Rodrigues, a sophomore at Miami University, visited the festival on Sunday, March 8. She said her favorite part was starting the day off at the park.
“I actually don’t like maple syrup that much, but I love being outdoors and walking the trails,” Rodrigues said. “Plus, it gives me and my friends something to do on the weekend.”
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She said she regularly visits Hueston Woods, but enjoyed seeing more people there than usual. Rain or shine, the festival has something to offer visitors of all ages.
“The really big thing is to take advantage of this free opportunity, and then you’ll have been so blown away that you’ll want to take home one of those stickers, ornaments or syrups – and make it a tradition to come back next year,” Conner said.
Feeta@miamioh.edu
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