Thurman’s Annual Maple Days are Back in 2024

Three weekends celebrating maple syrup and Adirondack farms near Lake George in New York State.

Sap buckets on maple trees in New York State.

Maple Days is the perfect opportunity to discover the farms, maple syrup producers and artisans in the picturesque community of Thurman in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains. Thurman Town Hall acts as the hub for this event. From there, follow the map to visit the maple sugar houses, craftspeople and local food producers.

Sample the best of New York State’s maple syrup products.

Think if you’ve seen one maple farm, you’ve seen them all? Think again. The maple syrup producers participating in this year’s Maple Days in Thurman all offer a unique opportunity to see and experience a different aspect of their craft.

• Mud St. Maple — Tour their Sugar Shack to see the step-by-step sugaring process. Enjoy “All Things Maple,” from chili and hot dogs to donuts and s’mores by a campfire. They will also make available their infused syrups, creams, maple coffee and bourbon maple samples.

Toad Hill Farm in Thurman.

• Toad Hill Maple Farm — See an evaporation demonstration and learn how Toad Hill uses energy-efficient equipment to make its products. Take a hayride through the sugarbush and try maple samples. While you’re there, check out their newly enlarged gift shop.

• Candy Mountain Maple Farm — Experience a “learning line” to see how the sap gets from the tree to the sugarhouse and is made into maple syrup. Maple syrup products and “Pints ‘n Pancakes” will be available for purchase.

• Valley Road Maple — Attend a Pancake Breakfast from 9 am-1 pm ($10 for adults and $5 for Lil’ ADKers under 10). They offer maple tours, and their gift shop will open for business.

• Hidden Hollow Maple — Visit this long-standing institution run by multiple generations of the same family in the Lake George area. They offer various products, including specialties like dark maple syrup, maple jelly, cinnamon maple sugar and maple pepper.

Visit local Adirondack food producers and farms.

Thurman’s Maple Days are also an excellent opportunity to discover other farms and bakeries creating delicious products in the area.

• Nettle Meadow Farm — Explore this farm, animal sanctuary and award-winning cheese maker. Enjoy a guided farm walk (hourly, weather permitting), meet the sanctuary animals, sample and shop their delicious cheeses, get a copy of Nettle Meadow’s cookbook with the farm history and much more. They will also serve hot ham and cheese sandwiches and maple appetizer bites.

• Rustic Acres Farm and Bakery — Step into their country kitchen, where they bake with all non-GMO ingredients. Treats of cookies, fresh bread and muffins, and organically raised, grass-fed beef, free-range chicken, and non-GMO pork are available. And, of course, fresh eggs are always in abundance. Cash only.

Happy critters make great cheese at Nettle Meadow Farm.

Meet local artisans and purchase unique, handcrafted items during Maple Days.

In addition to excellent farm-to-table products, local artisans will open their doors to visitors.

• Martin's Lumber — See demonstrations of blacksmithing and pyrography (decorating wood with burn marks resulting from applying a heated object such as a poker). Check out their indoor artisan market: soaps, DIY candles, 3-D handcrafted greeting cards, carved birds, wooden wares and a master gardener. Make or buy paper-beaded jewelry. Also, learn about mushrooms.

• TEF Braids — Take a tour of this unique business that has developed a bodywear design and manufacturing art that uses century-old lace-making machines to produce down-to-earth lace-like fashions that merge old-world craftsmanship with contemporary performance. Everything is produced on-site in a virtually zero-waste way.

Stop by Thurman Town Hall to meet multiple local artisans.

This year, the Thurman Town Hall will be the hub of activity. Stop in and visit the Maple Days Craft Fair, which features multiple vendors set up from 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays during Maple Days, selling an assortment of crafts. Vendors include:

• No. 9 Creations: Tumblers. Pens, wristlets, car coasters

• Creations by Randi: baked goods, knitted items, and more

• Country Creations: Embroidered items

• Adirondack Fleece and Crafts: wearables made from Maolden Mills Polartec fleece

• Krafts by K: Sun catchers and Earrings

• Callie's Creations: bracelets, resin creations: earrings, necklaces, soap dishes, coasters and more

• Ricci's Unlimited Fun Factory: bookmarks, car decals, t-shirts and more

• Lightly Healed: Reiki Master

• Laura Bradway: wooden art pieces, sewing, etc

• Laurie Clark: handmade copper and silver jewelry

Thurman Maple Days are fun for the whole family. Pick your weekend — March 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24, 2024 — from 10 am to 4 pm to watch maple syrup being made before your eyes, enjoy delicious local food products and meet local craftspeople.

Places to stay, shop, eat, and things to do near Thurman.

Upcoming events in the Lake George and Gore Mountain area.

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Show off your love for the Adirondacks.

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Start your journey at Thurman Town Hall.