As winter begins to loosen its grip and spring starts spreading across the Finger Lakes, there’s a tradition that brings people together every year: maple season. From sugar shacks and family farms to hands-on demonstrations and sweet samples, this is one of the most delicious times to explore the countryside.

During NYS Maple Weekend, visitors can get a closer look at one of New York’s sweetest traditions. Participating sugarhouses open their doors for tours, tastings, and demonstrations that show how maple syrup makes its journey from tree to table.

It is a perfect excuse for a spring drive through the Finger Lakes Countrysides, where rolling farmland, scenic back roads, and welcoming local producers create a maple experience that feels both authentic and memorable. Whether you are hoping to learn something new, stock up on maple treats, or simply enjoy a seasonal outing in the Finger Lakes, Maple Weekend offers plenty of reasons to make a day of it.

Keuka Maple

Nestled in Branchport, Keuka Maple is the kind of stop that makes a spring drive through Yates County feel even more worthwhile. While maple season brings plenty of sweet excitement, this local stop offers visitors even more to explore. Visitors can browse Amish-built sheds, garages, and cabins that combine craftsmanship, durability, and practicality, making it a unique stop where quality and countryside charm go hand in hand.

Schiek’s Maple Products

At Schiek’s Maple Products in Penn Yan, maple season is more than a harvest; it’s a family tradition generations in the making. Dave Schiek, a tech teacher by trade, has turned what he calls an “out-of-control hobby” into a thriving third-generation maple business with 75 years of syrup-making history behind it. In addition to pure maple syrup, Schiek’s offers a variety of maple favorites, including maple cream, sugar cakes, maple mustard, maple BBQ sauce, roasted nuts, and maple seasonings.

Brookside Farm  

Brookside Farm Is located in Branchport, NY, just two miles from Keuka Lake. This year, join Finger Lakes Museum at Brookside Farm for sugaring 19th-century style – just buckets full of sap, a wood fire, and horses!

This unique hands-on learning opportunity will show you that sugaring is accessible and possible for anyone.  You can do it wherever you live, even in the city!  The host and renowned outdoorsman DJ Kitzel will take you back in time to see how maple syrup has been made for hundreds of years.

Don’t miss Brookside Farm’s Maple Sugaring event with Saunders Finger Lakes Museum on March 21. Buy tickets in advance!

Red Shed Sweets

Red Shed Sweets in nearby Naples (the most southwest tip of Yates County)  makes a great addition to a maple-themed day trip in the region. Visitors can enjoy maple syrup production, wood-fired boiling of pure maple sap into syrup, and a look into the bottling process.

Now that you’re familiar with the maple producers, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention The Birkett Mills and the history behind the world’s largest pancake that took place at the popular Buckwheat Harvest Festival in 1987. Plus, you can’t have pancakes without a generous helping of pure maple syrup!

Birkett Mills, located in Penn Yan, is one of the largest manufacturers of buckwheat in the world, and was the organizer of the Buckwheat Harvest Festival, which drew tens of thousands of people. A 28-foot griddle was constructed that year to cook and flip the pancake that fed thousands of people. Check out the videos if you’re curious!

The griddle is still displayed today outside of Birkett Mills headquarters on E. Main Street in Penn Yan, so don’t forget to stop by and take a photo in front of it.

One of the best parts of the maple season in Yates County is how naturally it invites you to slow down and enjoy the day. After visiting a sugarhouse, take the scenic route through the countryside, stop by a local market, or settle in for a meal at one of the area’s restaurants that celebrate local flavors. Don’t miss local shops like Milly’s Market in Penn Yan or Oak Hill Bulk Foods, where you can find locally made syrup to take home with you.

Maple season is more than just a weekend tradition. It is a chance to discover local producers, learn something new, and experience flavors that aren’t found in the local wine profile.

Bring your curiosity, your sweet tooth, and your sense of adventure. You may just head home with a few bottles of syrup and a new seasonal tradition to look forward to each year.