Maple Harvest Festival and Pancake Breakfast

2020 Maple Harvest Festival

When: March 28–29, 2020; 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
Where: Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center

We can’t wait for you to join us for the Maple Harvest Festival! In order to attend, tickets must be purchased in advance online. Tickets will be available in early 2020.

Come celebrate the first harvest of the new year with Shaver’s Creek in late March! Since 1984 we have hosted our Maple Harvest Festival and Pancake Breakfast to help people learn about the maple sugaring process — both in colonial times and the present day. At the festival you can:

  • learn how to identify and tap sugar maple trees and visit the Sugar Shack to see sap transformed into syrup
  • watch costumed interpreters demonstrate sugaring techniques used by Native Americans, pioneers, and modern-day farmers
  • enjoy live music and storytelling
  • see live birds of prey and reptile shows
  • climbing wall is open from 10:30–2:30
  • savor all-you-can-eat pancakes and maple syrup!
2019 Schedule of Live Music and Storytelling
Saturday, March 23 Musicians/storytellers
10 a.m.–12 p.m. Silvi Resource Room Jim Hamilton – Old Time Entertainment
11–11:45 a.m. Hamer Classroom Adam Bucynski – Folk & Bluegrass
12:45–1:30 p.m. Hamer Classroom George Macias and friends – Acoustic music
2:30–3:15 p.m. Hamer Classroom Moondawgs – Acoustic Folk Rock & Blues
Sunday, March 24 Musicians/storytellers
11–11:45 a.m. Hamer Classroom Moondawgs – Acoustic Folk Rock & Blues
12:45–1:30 p.m. Hamer Classroom Stacy Tibbetts – Singer/Songwriter
2:30–3:15 p.m. Hamer Classroom Joe Bellehumeur – Singer/Songwriter

See live birds of prey and reptile shows

Learn about our animals and their new facilities!

Saturday and Sunday Program
10:30–11:00 a.m. Upper Classroom Reptile and/or Amphibian Program
11:00–11:30 a.m Upper Classroom Raptor Program
12:30–1:30 p.m. Meet at Rear Terrace Informal Raptor Center Tours

Learn about our new raptor facilities and see how our birds are enjoying their new mews!
1:00–1:30 p.m. Upper Classroom Reptile and/or Amphibian Program
2:00–2:30 p.m. Upper Classroom Raptor Program

Cultural History

Pancakes

What Does the Maple Harvest Festival Cost?

Admission to the festival and all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast (including two organic sausages) for:

  • children, ages 5 and under: FREE
  • nonmembers: $10 (ages 12+) and $6 (ages 6–11)
  • members: $5 (ages 12+) and $3 (ages 6–11)

For an additional $2 per person, you can ride the bus to Shaver’s Creek! Scroll down for more information.

Menu Includes:

Pancakes, real maple syrup, two local pork sausage patties (per person), applesauce, and beverages (juice, coffee, tea, hot chocolate)

Visitor Information

Refer to the Visit Shaver’s Creek page for information on parking, accessibility, groups, prohibited items, and more.

Volunteering

We are looking to recruit some volunteers for the 2019 Maple Harvest Festival both Saturday and Sunday. This event would not be possible without the help of volunteers and we need some fun people to help make this weekend great. Pancakes with maple syrup will be provided and we ask that volunteers commit to a 4-hour time slot during the course of the weekend (9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. OR 12:30–4:30 p.m. We have a multitude of different volunteer positions including greeting guests, parking, food service prep and clean-up and working with our zero-waste efforts.  Let us know if you are available and interested in volunteering by contacting Matt at mjw5718@psu.edu.

Earn Penn State Credit

Penn State students can earn 2 credits to help organize and orchestrate the festival. For more information, please see the flyer for 2019 or view information about our Credit Courses.

Maple Harvest Fest 2019 Flyer

 

Ride the Maple Bus!

Would you like a ride to the Maple Harvest Festival?

We will be offering a limited number of spaces (40/day) to ride the Maple Bus to and from the festival each day.

  • Cost: $2.00/person (regardless of age) for a round trip bus ride
  • Pick up and drop: In front of the Penn State HUB
  • Participants will have (approximately) 3 1/2 hours at the festival
  • No refunds

Schedule:

10:15 a.m. — Arrival and check in at the Penn State HUB with your Shaver’s Creek host. The HUB Parking Deck is free on weekends.
10:30 a.m. — Bus leaves the HUB
11:00 a.m. — Arrive at Stone Valley (a host will guide you to the festival, about a ten minute walk)

Enjoy your pancake breakfast at your pre-purchased time slot. Please purchase your ticket for a time slot between 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. to ensure that you have enough time to eat during your time at Shaver’s Creek.

Enjoy the festival (interpretive stations, music and programs) at your own pace.

2:45 p.m. — Meet at the Lake Trail trailhead to walk back to the bus
3:30 p.m. — Arrive back at the HUB!

To secure your bus reservation (available until sold out), when you purchase a ticket:

  • Purchase your festival/meal ticket for a time slot between 11:30 am-1:30 pm
  • Add on the bus purchase option for each person.

Please note:  

  • Only the number of people who purchased a ticket will be allowed on the bus, due to space limitations. You may not show up with extra people.  
  • Strollers are not permitted
  • Participants will need to be back at the designated meeting place to walk to bus pick up by 2:45 p.m. No exceptions.
  • Suggested items to bring: layers, water, appropriate clothing/shoes. Trails may be muddy and wet.
  • Parking at the HUB: Participants are required to obtain their own parking or method of getting to the HUB.  The HUB deck is free on weekends.
  • There are no refunds once a bus ticket has been purchased.