As winter loosens its grip, Senate House State Historic Site marks the shift with its annual Sugaring Off on April 4, from 11am to 4pm. The free, family-friendly event recreates the seasonal rituals of 18th-century maple sugaring, when colonists headed into the woods for days at a time to harvest and boil sap using techniques learned from Indigenous communities.
Re-enactors from the 1st and 3rd Ulster Militias demonstrate camp life, while live sap boiling shows how maple syrup is made the slow way. Nick Martin of Minnewaska State Park Preserve will prepare jack wax candy for sampling, and visitors can take part in hands-on crafts throughout the day. Live music by Mark Rust adds to the atmosphere, making Sugaring Off both an educational snapshot and a welcome sign of spring.
