Welty is hosting its 13th annual Maple Sugar Fest on Saturday, February 23 from 8am-noon at Big Hill Center, located at 1201 Big Hill Court in Beloit. The morning will be filled with maple sugar-themed activities, such as: hikes, an active condenser boiling sap down to make syrup, a drum circle led by the Seven Nations Native American group, stories read with a theatrical flair by Beloit Civic Theatre director and actor Loren Sass, basket weaving, woodcarving, and take-home crafts. There will also be a delicious pancake breakfast, featuring real maple syrup, sausage, apple sauce, and hot drinks. The cost is $8 for adults, $3 for kids 2-12, and children under 2 eat for free. Starting February 1, discounted pre-sale tickets ($7 for adults) will be available through Welty’s website (https://weltycenter.org/).
“This year’s festival will be bigger and better than last year – lots of maple syrup and a great variety of activities of interest to all ages!” said Katie Udell, Welty Board member and event organizer.
Maple Sugar fest is the first special event in Welty’s 20th anniversary year calendar, which also includes an anniversary dinner October 18. “We are so excited to get people out to Big Hill Park and see all the great things Welty has to offer, as well as help us raise funds for our educational activities,” said Brenda Plakans, Welty executive director. “The program staff has a wonderful hands-on experience for visitors, after they eat their pancakes. Folks will be able to taste sap as it comes out of the tree, try their hands at drilling a hole in a tree trunk, and warm themselves by a bonfire while they see how much sap it takes to make a bottle of syrup (almost 40 gallons)!”
Welty board member, Judy Robson, summed it up: “This festival is a good tonic to help cure winter cabin fever,” she said. “So get up, get out, go to Big Hill Center, eat pancakes with real maple syrup, take a hike, and enjoy our community treasure at Big Hill Park.”
