Phelps Maple Syrup Fest: Celebrating the Sweetest Time of the Year

By Dean S. Acheson

There’s no sweeter time after a long winter than the arrival of spring. The warmer daytime temperatures (along with cool nights) will get the maple trees busy with sap production. Did you know Wisconsin is fourth in the nation in the production of maple syrup?

To celebrate, the community of Phelps welcomes you to come and sample the many treats they have in store for you during their annual Phelps Maple Syrup Fest on Saturday, April 10. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free admission.

During the 10th annual event, headquartered at the Phelps Chamber of Commerce, there will be guided tours of local sugar bushes with hands-on tree tapping for all ages and demonstrations on how sap becomes delicious maple syrup.

There will be children’s activities, maple syrup and honey displays, and maple treats. You can even make some of that delicious maple taffy in the snow! Visit the Maple Café for specials (maple sticky buns are our menu favorite!). Treat your sweet tooth later on with a purchase of locally made maple syrup. Please note that $1 from each bottle sold goes to the Phelps Maple Syrup Fest Scholarship Fund.

Be sure to sign up for one of the fun, educational classes related to maple syrup and honey. Don’t forget to get a raffle ticket for the grand prize drawing.

The Phelps Chamber of Commerce is located at 2429 Hwy. 17. The community is located on the eastern end of North Twin Lake, less than 20 minutes north and east of Eagle River via Highway 17 in Vilas County.

Contributing writer Dean S. Acheson is a Wisconsin native with a long career in newspaper and magazine writing and editing. He considers himself semi-retired and enjoys fishing, scuba diving, snowmobiling, photography, and, of course, travel. “I’ve been blessed with traveling throughout Wisconsin and the UP, seeing the diverse communities, taking in the festivals, chatting with the locals, and hiking the trails.”