Purple Woods
Maple Syrup Festival

Come out and experience a spring tradition in our sugar bush at Purple Woods Conservation Area in Oshawa!

Sap collected from hundreds of sugar maple trees is boiled on site into delicious maple syrup. On your self-guided tour, you can visit our modern evaporator, enjoy games, activities and, of course, pancakes* with real maple syrup. Don't forget to stop by our Heritage Store to purchase some maple treats to take home!

Check out our additional events: Family Lantern Walk! Details below.

*No outside food permitted in Heritage Hall. This excludes those requiring accommodation due to allergies, food consumption restrictions, etc.

Festival Dates and Details

Daily

Maple Syrup Demonstrations

Children's Activities

Self-guided Sugarbush Hikes

Sweet Shack Taffy ($)*

Heritage Store ($)**

* $2 cash only - at bottom of hill

** Accepted payment includes MC, Visa, Debit and cash. Open all Festival days 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

2025 Date-Specific

Oshawa Museum: March 8, 15, 22, 29

Bawaajigewin Aboriginal Community Circle: March 9

Durham Region Waste Management: March 12

Scugog Museum: March 12, 13, 14, 15

DCHC Indigenous Initiatives Health Promotion Team with Sacred Fire: March 13, 15, 23 (9:30 am - 1:00 pm)

Oshawa Public Libraries: March 14

Family and Community Action Program: March 22

EarlyON: March 22

Soper Creek Wildlife Rescue: March 23, 30

TRACKS: March 23

Wagon Rides ($)***: March 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14

*** Pay operator directly. $3 per person, cash only.

2025 Food*

$7 - Large Pancake Order (3 pancakes)

$6 - Small Pancake Order (2 pancakes)

$7 - Gluten-free Pancakes (2 pancakes)

$3 - Maple Baked Beans

$3 - Maple Pork Sausages (4 bkfst sausages)**

$1 - Extra Syrup

Ingredient Lists (See FAQs)

2025 Beverages

$1.50 - Coffee

$1.50 - Cider (hot/cold)

$1.50 - Hot Chocolate

**Halenda's sausages made with Purple Woods Maple Syrup!

*Please note: No outside food permitted in Heritage Hall. This excludes those requiring accommodation due to allergies, food consumption restrictions, etc.

General Registration

Entrance Fee $(TBC) (includes tax), plus ticket processing fee

Children 2 years old and under are FREE*

Online ticket purchasing is strongly recommended. On-site ticket availability is limited by Festival capacity. When available, the on-site entrance fee is $(TBC), payable by VISA, Mastercard, and Interact Debit only (no cash).

Tickets available February 2026

Tickets are non-refundable.

*Excludes School Groups and Guided Tours.

Group Bookings

1-Hour Tour, 15 - 30 participants, $(TBC)/person +HST

Monday - Friday, 1:15 p.m.

To book a group tour, please contact:

Cathy Grant, Education Instructor

cgrant@cloca.com

Not available on weekends or during March Break.

Lantern Walk

Friday, March 27, 2026

Saturday, March 28, 2026

7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.

$(TBC) / person (tax included)

Enjoy a tasty treat made with real maple syrup, then head out for a self-guided hike and explore our illuminated sugarbush. The history of this liquid gold will be told by firelight.

Mason jar lantern in the snow at Purple Woods Conservation Area.

Community Groups
Pancake Program

Community groups assist with the delivery of the pancake program clean-up and customer service in Heritage Hall.

In exchange, they receive a donation of $400 per day of service for participating.

FAQs

Pancakes

Brand: Pearl Milling Company (Formerly Aunt Jemima)

Ingredients: Wheat flour, corn flour, sugar, modified milk ingredients, monocalcium phosphate, dextrose, sodium bicarbonate, salt wheat gluten, glucose solids, modified corn starch, colour.

NOTE: CONTAINS WHEAT AND MILK INGREDIENTS

Gluten-free Pancakes

Brand: President’s Choice, Gluten-Free Pancake Mix

Ingredients: Tapioca starch, modified potato starch, white corn flour, sugars (sugar, dextrose), sodium cellulose, xanthan gum, salt, monocalcium phosphate, natural flavour, corn starch.

NOTE: WATER, EGGS AND MARGERINE ADDED TO THE MIX

Maple Pork Sausages

Source: Halenda’s Fine Foods Ltd. – Pork Sausages

Ingredients: Pork, water, toasted wheat crumb, sugar, salt, spices, paprika extract, sodium diacitate

NOTE: Sausages for the Purple Woods Maple Syrup Festival have also been made with Purple Woods Maple Syrup!