It’s almost here! Maple Sunday Weekend, that is, and it’s March 26 and 27 with Sunday, the 27th designated Maine Maple Sunday (thanks to Senators Angus King and Susan Collins). At participating farms across the state, and there are more than you might think, festivities begin at either 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. and run until 4 p.m.

Most of the sugarhouses offer maple syrup samples, and demonstrations on how pure Maine maple syrup is made. Some farms offer games, activities, treats, sugarbush tours, music and more. Sounds pretty sweet, no?

As long as my granddaughter, on the young Lady Seahawks traveling B-ball team, isn’t playing tourney games that weekend, I plan on visiting a few – maybe bring the whole family … we’ll see.

I have always wanted to extract the sweet goodness from the trees … I do hope the trees are prepared for the insertion of those spigots. I think I will plan on bringing an offering for the tree – and maybe some Reiki – don’t laugh; they are alive, you know.

But back to the festivities that weekend …

Wiscasset way, there’s The Marcoux Family Farm LLC at 179 Gibbs Road. This farm is a 100% Service-Connected Disabled Veteran Owned farm producing wood-fired maple syrup. And right in time with Maple Weekend, Mad Boom Maple Brown Ale will be released, made with maple syrup from Marcoux Farm and Bacon Farm. Check it out. The sugar shack will be open for visits and Q&A.

Albion: Wilson Family Maple Syrup – Paul and Sherry Wilson, 652 Bentan Road, Albion. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Facemasks and hand sanitizing required. Maple sugar demos. Maple products include cotton candy, maple cream, taffy, coated peanuts and popcorn.

Newcastle: Stop in and say hi to Justin and Jill Wood at their Sweetwoods Farm, 144 Lynch Road. Justin says there will be hot maple syrup over ice cream and other sweet treats; the Woods will show the entire process from start to finish – and they tap just over 2,200 trees! There are also woods tours and usually Boothbay Craft Brewery is on hand talking about the beer, Sweet Woods (made for the farm) and others they’ve brewed with maple syrup from Sweet Woods Farm. There will also be a booth set up for people who just want to stop by to buy some items of maple goodness. Masks are optional.

Dresden: Goranson’s Farm, Jan Goranson and Robert Johanson, 250 River Road. All-day events, with live music, maple sundaes, sleigh rides (weather permitting), hot drinks, popcorn, homemade baked treats, farm animals, sugarhouse tours and more.

If you are driving home from a sporting event – perhaps the girls traveling team I mentioned earlier with games in Topsham this weekend (who also won all four of its games during the tournament in Waterville last weekend) or you just happen to be south of the Boothbay Region and Wiscasset …

The Red Door Sugar Shack is celebrating Maine Maple Sunday this weekend. Andrew Thibeault, 24 Shellenbarger Road, March 21 and 22, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sweets include maple fudge, cotton candy, hard and soft candy and maple cream. Visit with the goats, ducks and chickens, too!

There’s nothing like real maple syrup on pancakes and waffles … and you may or may not be surprised by how many people opt for commercial syrup and other maple products. Yes, it is a matter of economy for the most part … but, maybe it’s time to splurge – and spend time with the family on Maine farms – some of which will let you explore their wooded land. Family-nature-maple confections equals fun! But you might want to bring that portable toothbrush and paste (LOL) along, too.

The subject of syrup always brings a smile to my face … and an image of Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup bottle … When my oldest daughter, Kassia, was oh, 3 or 4 years old (it does get harder to remember, doesn’t it?) we were visiting my parents in Connecticut. Mom put the pancakes on the table and Mrs. B. Kassia just sat there looking at the bottle. I asked her if there was something wrong. “Why isn’t she talking,” my girl asked. “She does it on TV …” My mom and I exchanged glances. At our house we used Log Cabin. I should have seen this coming! Hiding our smiles I said, “I’ve heard that Mrs. Butterworth is a bit shy.” Kassia made a face, looked at the bottle, sighed and, if I recall correctly, gave Mrs. B an extra hard squeeze to get that syrup out … and then never looked at “her” again!

That Cadbury eggs commercial with the rabbit making like a chicken raised some young eyebrows in our house, too … but that’s next month!

For a complete list of participating maple farms in our gorgeous state, visit https://mainemapleproducers.com and visit the Facebook pages of the farms listed above!