Maple Syrup in the Park
Join us at our Annual Maple Syrup Festival
March 19 to 22, 28 and 29
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Experience the Canadian tradition of maple syrup production through interactive demonstrations and kids activities at Terra Cotta Conservation Area. Explore the outdoors as you take a wagon ride to the sugarbush. End your visit with a pancake breakfast with real maple syrup and a treat from the Park Store.
Maple Syrup in the Park is an annual festival hosted by Credit Valley Conservation to celebrate the sweetest season in Ontario. Terra Cotta Conservation Area is in Halton Hills, a short drive from Caledon, Brampton, Mississauga, Orangeville, Oakville and Toronto.
Things to Do at The Maple Syrup Festival 2026
Maple Syrup in the Park offers daily family activities including:
- NEW! Take a trackless train ride that’s fun for the whole family.
- Sweetwater Discovery: Learn about possible ways that Indigenous Peoples may have made syrup and sugar from maple sap.
- Settled into Spring: Watch historical demonstrations of how settlers created maple syrup.
- The Tool Shoppe: Don’t miss this interactive demonstration of both traditional and modern tools used for making maple syrup.
- The Maple Hills Sugarbush: Hike the Sap Bucket Trail to the sugarbush and watch how sap is collected from sugar maple trees.
- The Sugar Shack: Learn how maple syrup is made using modern techniques.
- Fireside Chats: See a traditional sweat lodge (Madoodiswan) and learn how Indigenous Peoples honor Mother Earth’s sacred connection to healing. Listen to traditional helpers (Oshkaabewis) while a fire keeper shares stories and songs that reflect our responsibilities to the land.
- Solve the Maple Mystery Challenge: Find out which of Terra Cotta’s woodland animals has been sipping all the sap in the sugarbush.
- Enjoy a wagon ride to the sugarbush to see how sap is collected from sugar maple trees.
- See daily entertainment, including magic or puppet shows, roaming entertainment and blacksmith demonstrations.
- Go on a maple-themed storybook walk along the Wetland Trail.
- Play in the Family Activities Area with giant games.
- Make maple memories at the Photo booth.
- Get creative with the Maple Mural Colouring Activity.
- Participate in face painting for all ages.
Ancestral Storytelling with Traditional Grandmother Kim Wheatley
March 22, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Please join Traditional Grandmother Kim for ancestral storytelling. Explore traditional Anishinaabe teachings through stories that are shared during this seasonal cycle of maple syrup harvesting.
Enjoy Treats with Real Maple Syrup
Enhance your experience by adding tasty treats with real maple syrup including:
- Try warm maple taffy
- Pancakes with real maple syrup and maple-themed items at the Pancake House
- Maple syrup and maple products available for purchase at the Park Store
Food items are not included in the ticket price.
Photo Gallery
Special Maple Syrup Events
Lamplight: Maple Syrup After Dark
Enjoy an adult maple-themed featuring cocktails, food, live music, campfire vibes and the illuminated sugarbush. Must be 19 or older to attend.
Sap to Syrup
Enjoy a unique maple syrup experience as you learn how to make your own maple syrup in our sugar shack. Must be 14 or older to attend.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am a Credit Valley Park Passholder, how do I redeem my 15 per cent discount to Maple Syrup in the Park?
Choose the Visitor Type from the drop down menu to match your valid Credit Valley Parks Pass type. Enter your barcode ID/ passholder number into the field below. Discounted rates will automatically be applied. Be prepared to bring your Credit Valley Parks Pass for validation when you arrive.
Your barcode ID will be emailed to you as part of your order confirmation immediately after your Credit Valley Parks Pass purchase.
Please call 1-800-367-0890, press ‘0’ if you need any assistance.
Conservation Parks memberships sold through Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, or any other type of park membership do not quality for this discount.
Do I need a reservation for Maple Syrup in the Park?
We encourage you to buy your tickets in advance as it guarantees entry, particularly during March break.
Walk-ins are accepted as capacity allows.
How can I buy maple syrup tickets?
Online: Select ‘Add Person’ for each age range and choose the type of tickets you want to purchase. Complete the required information section with payment details and submit your ticket request. Your tickets will be emailed to you for entry into the event. Please show your ticket confirmation at the gate when you arrive.
By Phone: Call 1-800-367-0890, press 0, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily.
In Person: At the Terra Cotta Conservation Area gatehouse upon arrival between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Last admitted time is 3:30 p.m.
How long is the maple syrup experience?
Most visitors spend up to three hours at Maple Syrup in the Park. Peak times for the maple syrup experience are between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We recommend arriving earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.
We encourage you to arrive before 3:30 p.m. The Pancake House stops orders at 4:30 p.m. and closes at 5 p.m.
What should I wear?
This is an outdoor event. Dress for the weather. Hats, mittens and warm coats are recommended on cold days. Expect wet or muddy areas in some areas of the park.
For the latest updates on conditions in the park, visit our Park Advisories.
Will the park be open for regular day use during the maple syrup festival?
Maple Syrup in the Park pricing is in effect during the event for all visitors to Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
Equipment rentals and winter activities will not be available.
I have signed out a Credit Valley Parks Pass card from the library, how do I redeem my 15 per cent discount to Maple Syrup in the Park?
Redeem your discount by calling 1-800-367-0890, press 0. You must bring the card and present it to staff upon arrival. Tickets through the library program are not available online.
Walk-ins must bring the card to receive the 15 per cent discount, as capacity allows.
Credit Valley Parks Passes are available at libraries in the Credit Valley Watershed. Learn more about the Credit Valley Parks Pass program.
Will you have an early bird sales for tickets on Maple Syrup in the Park this year?
Yes. We have an early bird sales from February 11 to 25 that offers $2 off each ticket.
Is photography permitted near the sacred fire?
Please refrain from taking photos of the sacred fire.
Are dogs allowed at the Maple Syrup in the Park festival?
Yes, dogs are permitted during the Maple Syrup in the Park festival. However, they may not enter the Pancake House or Sugar Shack.
Dogs must be a leash six feet or less. Please pick up after your pet.
Can I bring a group to the Maple Syrup in the Park festival?
Yes, you are welcome to bring a group to Maple Syrup in the Park. We encourage you to purchase tickets in advance. Group discounts are not available. Please call ahead if your group will require drop-offs, have payment questions or you will be bringing a bus or large vans.
Are there maple syrup events at Island Lake Conservation Area?
There will not be maple syrup events at Island Lake Conservation Area in 2026.
We invite everyone who has visited our maple syrup events at Island Lake in the past to visit us Maple Syrup in the Park at Terra Cotta Conservation Area, about a 30-minute drive from Orangeville.
Is there special pricing for persons with disabilities to Maple Syrup in the Park?
Adult and youth tickets are available. Admission fees for persons with disabilities apply to an individual with a disability. No documentation is required. Purchase online or request this option from staff upon arrival. One support worker can accompany the individual at a discounted admission price of 15 per cent off.
How long does it take to get to the maple syrup event at Terra Cotta Conservation Area?
Terra Cotta Conservation Area is located by the hamlet of Terra Cotta. Visitors come from across the GTA and beyond. The park is located 15 minutes from Halton Hills and is a 20-minute drive from Caledon and Brampton, a 35-minute drive from Mississauga and an hour drive from Toronto and Hamilton.
What can I expect during the maple syrup experience?
Visitors attending the Maple Syrup in the Park festival will learn about the history of maple syrup making in Canada. The maple syrup experience will include interactive stations, wagon rides, demonstrations at the Sugar Shack, daily family entertainment and food served at the Pancake House. Everyone is welcome to visit the park, walk the trails and enjoy festival activities.
Is parking available for the maple syrup festival at Terra Cotta Conservation Area?
Yes, free parking is included with your event admission.
Is the event wheelchair accessible?
Most areas are accessible, but some trails may have uneven terrain. For the latest updates on conditions in the park, visit our Park Advisories.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to our staff at 1-800-367-0890 or email us.
Are washrooms available on-site?
Yes, heated indoor washrooms are available near the main event area.
Is there seating available?
There is seating available in the heated Pancake House, as well as some benches located throughout the park.
Do you offer any discounts on tickets for Maple Syrup in the Park?
Yes. We offer a 20 per cent discount on Maple Syrup in the Park admission for guests who are part of any current admission exception program. This discount is available in-person only and can be applied on the date of your visit. Programs include:
- Conservation Ontario Pass Program
- Canoo
- Certificate of Indian Status
- Attractions Ontario
- Active members or veterans of the Armed Forces
Please bring the required identification or card from your program to receive the discount.
Read general frequently asked questions about visiting our parks.