A Sweet Tradition Returns at Hale Farm and Village
As winter begins to thaw, Hale Farm and Village is preparing for a season of sweetness. The unique combination of a deep freeze followed by a quick warmup has created ideal conditions for the sugar maple trees on the historical site. This timing couldn’t be more perfect, as the farm is set to kick off its annual Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake Breakfasts on Saturday, March 7.
Stephanie Lero, director of Hale Farm and Village, shared her excitement about the event. “I was nervous since we had such a harsh winter and we were delayed in tapping our trees, but to my surprise, the sap is flowing,” she said. “I guess the trees are as excited as us for it to finally be spring.”
The festival offers a variety of activities that bring visitors closer to the history of the farm. Guests can watch as sap drips from the trees and then is taken to C.O. Hale’s 1910 Sugar House, where it is transformed into maple syrup using a wood-fired syrup evaporator. Over the next four weekends, approximately 8,000 people are expected to enjoy pancakes, explore the grounds, and witness firsthand how C.O. Hale, the grandson of Western Reserve pioneer Jonathan Hale, gathered sap and made maple syrup.
Visitors can also try their hand at tapping a tree and explore the same wooded area where Hale would gather his own sap for making syrup. This event, which has been a tradition at Hale Farm and Village since the 1980s, actually dates back to C.O. Hale’s time managing the farm. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, C.O. would tap over 120 acres of maple trees, a labor-intensive task that required help.
To assist with this effort, C.O. and his wife Pauline would invite visitors to stay at the farm and aid in the production of maple syrup. These gatherings became known as Maple Sugar Parties. “Not only would C.O. and his wife invite the public to visit the Hale Farm for the day to come see how it was done and help with the production, but they also invited school kids,” Lero explained. “And all of this is what we do today still in 2026, and to us at Hale Farm and Village, that is what makes this event so special to us.”
Events and Activities
The pancake breakfasts mark the unofficial start of the spring and summer season at Hale Farm. Thousands of school kids are expected over the next few months for field trips that offer a hands-on experience of life for early settlers in northern Ohio.
“This year especially, the buzz around history and celebrating America 250 – visitors, volunteers, and employees are excited to start off our programming season,” Lero said. “This year, we are excited to show guests what we have been working on for preservation work on our historic structures, opening up the Cranz Farmhouse for overnight stays, and amplifying our programming to celebrate America 250 with more trade demonstrations and historical figures making a few appearances throughout the year.”
Festival Details
The Maple Sugar Festival and Pancake Breakfasts will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays on March 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, and 28-29. Tickets are priced at $25 for adults and $16 for children ages 3 to 12. The breakfast, in partnership with Acme Fresh Markets, is served until 2 p.m.
For more information, visit wrhs.org/plan-visit/places-to-visit/hale-farm-village.
