Annual Maple Sugar Festival at IAIS

Saturday, March 7 | Institute for American Indian Studies, Washington, CT | 11am–3pm

The woods and trails of Washington, Connecticut come alive with spring’s first sweetness at the Annual Maple Sugar Festival at the Institute for American Indian Studies. Held Saturday, March 7 from 11am to 3pm, the event celebrates the seasonal gift of maple sugar and the deep cultural traditions that surround it on the museum’s 38-acre campus. 

Throughout the festival, IAIS staff and educators demonstrate the methods and timing of maple sugaring—how sap is collected from trees and boiled down to produce syrup and sugar in conditions unique to late winter and early spring, when days warm and nights remain cold. The event includes demonstrations with family-oriented educational programming and storytelling rooted in Native American traditions. 

Visitors can explore the museum grounds, learn about historical and contemporary uses of maple sugar in Indigenous and settler communities, and participate in related hands-on experiences designed for all ages. The festival also offers a flavorful seasonal ritual—a communal way to mark the end of winter and the return of sap flow through the region’s sugar maples. 

Pre-registration is typically requested, and fees help support IAIS’s programming and museum operations. For the latest details on activities, demonstrations, and pricing, visit the Institute for American Indian Studies event page.