[SustainableTompkins] CNC's Maplefest attracts over 1, 000 visitors

[Steve Gabriel]

CAYUGA NATURE CENTER'S 29th MAPLEFEST ATTRACTS OVER 1,000 VISITORS

Cayuga Nature Center enjoyed record attendance at the festival this 
year, with over 1000 visitors participating in two days of festive fun, 
Saturday, March 29th and Sunday, March 30th. The event was held in 
collaboration with the NYS Maple Producers Association Maple Weekend.

During the two days, festival goers waited patiently in long lines for a 
pancake breakfast supported almost entirely with food from local farmers 
and suppliers. The staff, along with volunteers, cooked up vegan and 
buttermilk pancakes, eggs, homefries, and maple-glazed carrots, beets, 
and pork sausage. Farms that supported the brunch included Blue Heron, 
Stick & Stone, Sweetland, Cayuga Pure Organics, and Sabols Farm. Local 
supplier Regional Access provided NYS Maple Syrup and regional flour for 
pancakes.

Music was rampant as the festival organizers added a stage in the dining 
room this year. Jazz, Folk, Bluegrass, Rock, and Old Thyme music was 
enjoyed both days by local talent, including Ira Kamp, Hee Haw 
Nightmare, the Wayward Girls, Shannon Hawley, Zela Zola, Mad Daddy, 
Native Earthling Band, Emily Arin, and the El Caminos. Attendees were 
also treated to special performances from Irish dancer Kay Cafasso and a 
demonstration by a local Capoeira group.

Outside, CNC staff members led tours which took dozens of people at a 
time down the sugarbush trail, with stops at several stations telling 
the history of maple sugaring in the Finger Lakes. At the first stop, 
volunteers told legends of the discovery of sugar and demonstrated how 
Native Americans would boil sap with hot rocks heated over a fire. At 
the pioneer camp, baby sheep and stories of the first settlers to this 
area delighted young and old, and all were invited to try their hand 
making a collection spout, known as a "spiel", the old fashioned way. 
Finally, the tour ended at the CNC sugar shack, where sap was boiled and 
tastings of both pure sap from the tree as well as finished syrup were 
offered.

Other activities were scattered throughout each day including a visit 
from the Cornell Raptors, face painting, crafts, and animal programs 
with CNC's collection of snakes, lizards, and birds. Community 
organizations including the Cornell Cooperative Extension Composters, 
Finger Lakes Native Plant Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and 
Ithaca Youth Bureau shared their projects.

The festival was a mere kick off to an exciting season of events at the 
center. CNC will offer several weekends throughout the Spring and Summer 
with tours, workshops, food and music. Our next major weekend will be 
May 16 through 19 and will include a benefit concert on Friday night, 
the opening of our Butterfly House on Saturday, and another tasty local 
foods brunch on Sunday morning. Please check our website for more 
details and for information on our summer camp, ropes course, and 
butterfly house tours.

For more information call 607-273-6260 or visit www.CayugaNatureCenter.org.