There's Nothing Sweeter Than Local: How to Celebrate Maple Syrup Season in St. Thomas and Elgin County

Spring is here, and in Southwestern Ontario that means maple syrup season has started! We are very lucky in St. Thomas and Elgin County to have so many local syrup shanty's and maple syrup farmers, and nothing tastes sweeter than fresh, local maple syrup! As part of the Maple Belt, many of our local maple syrup farms open up their doors to the public for behind-the-scenes and educational tours, family activities, and hot breakfasts served up with fresh maple syrup. So grab your plaid jackets and gather your family and friends to head out and enjoy the short but sweet season while it lasts! 

Palmer's Maple Syrup

Located just outside of the quaint fishing village of Port Stanley, ON, is Palmer's Maple Syrup. This family owned and operated maple farm has been producing Premium Ontario Maple Syrup since 1955. Currently operated by Brian, Laura, and their two sons, the farm is nearly 100 years old. 

​Today they tap around 4,000 trees with kilometers of lines alongside offering educational tours, family activities, and running their delicious syrup shanty, which serves hot pancakes and waffles topped with their fresh maple syrup. Check out their vendor spotlight for more information about their history, farm, and maple syrup production.

📍 Palmer's Maple Syrup, 34308 Lake Line, Port Stanley, ON
📅 Open for the 2026 season March 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29
🕒​ 9am-5pm

Springwater Maple Syrup Festival

Taking place each year at Springwater Conservation Area, the annual Springwater Maple Syrup Festival is a fun outing for the whole family! Enjoy wagon rides through the Springwater Forest, tour the old-fashioned sugar shanty for live maple syrup production demonstrations, catch some tree tapping demonstrations, and treat yourself to some fresh pancakes with Canadian maple syrup. Admission is $10 per adult and $5 per child, and does not include the pancake house, which is cash only. For more information, check out their event calendar and follow their Facebook page for updates. 

📍Springwater Conservation Area, 8059 Springwater Road, Aylmer, ON
📅 Festival: March 14-17, 19-22, and 28
🕒10am-3pm
📅Pancake House: March 14-22, and 28-29
🕒​ 10am-2pm

Maple Fest at the Horton Farmers' Market

Mark April 25 in your calendar to come gather in the heart of Downtown St. Thomas to celebrate all things maple, local, and Canadian! Each year the Horton Farmers' Market celebrates the end of winter, the sweetness of local maple, and the best local and handmade Canadian products with their indoor and outdoor Maple Fest market. Come celebrate with your community, enjoy delicious local maple treats, learn about maple syrup farming from Palmer's Maple Syrup, explore the history of maple syrup and maple farming with an interactive Goosechase scavenger hunt (download the app and join with game code: ASJRID), enjoy live music, and so much more! 

To stay up-to-date on special vendor offerings, market activities, scavenger hunt information and prizes, and maple facts, make sure to RSVP to Maple Fest and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. See you there! 

​📍 Horton Farmers' Market, 10 Manitoba Street, St. Thomas, ON
📅 April 25
🕒​ 9am-1pm