Maple Weekends pancake breakfasts have more activities than ever in 2026, celebrating New York State’s most productive sugaring region in the Genesee River’s most famous park with deep community roots.
Letchworth State Park’s annual sugaring festival has grown every year since it began with a soup pot over a campfire in 2018. On March 21-22 and March 28-29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Humphrey Nature Center will be the heart of a big show. There is year-round access to the nature center at 6787 Denton Corners Road, Castile, NY; follow signs to the Humphrey Nature Center.
“Hard work by our education team has built a wonderful diversity of programs and activities over the years,” said Matt Nusstein, lead educator for the Genesee Region of New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. “All ages and ability levels can play, learn, and make memories as we all enjoy this special time of year for our region.”
All educational activities are free. Pancake breakfasts are $12 per person; kids 4 and under eat free. Breakfast is served from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., using syrup generously donated by local sugarers. Tickets are for sale now at friendsofletchworth.com/product/maple-weekends-pancake-breakfasts/. All sales benefit preservation and maintenance projects at Letchworth State Park.
Naturalists will demonstrate ancient traditional syrup-making methods, with tips and tricks still used by sugarers today. There will be many hands-on activities, like tapping with hand tools, and a version of the traditional Haudenosaunee “snow snake” contest. The sugar shack will be working full blast, handing out taste test samples of several grades of syrup.
While supplies last, you can even buy Letchworth State Park’s syrup at the nature center during Maple Weekends. It’s made exclusively with ingredients provided by the park’s trees and tends to be nice and dark.
Thousands of visitors have made Maple Weekends a family tradition, returning year after year to see and try new sugaring methods while enjoying the same sweet treats. You can share your photos with the park to be posted on a “family photo album” board in the sugar shack.
The nature center is open every day, year-round. A larger team of educators leads programs and hikes for all ages at other state parks in and around the Genesee Valley. Email Genesee.Education@parks.ny.gov to subscribe to The Genesee Naturalist, a free newsletter and year-round event schedule.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches, and more, and welcomes over 88 million visits annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app, or call 518-474-0456.
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