LAKE PLACID — It’s time to celebrate spring with Adirondack Maple Weekend, the highlight of which is the growing Tastes of Maple event held in Lake Placid. 

This weekend, April 2 and 3, there are plenty of events throughout the region spotlighting Adirondack maple syrup production. There are sugarhouse tours and demonstrations, a race and maple tastings at Whiteface Mountain, outdoor family programs and activities at The Wild Center’s sugar shack, sap to syrup workshops, and restaurant promotions and maple-related menus all weekend. 

The Tastes of Maple event is a great way to finish a day filled with maple-related activities. It runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at the Conference Center at Lake Placid, 2608 Main St. The event has grown from just six participants with tastings three years ago to what it is today. Last year, well over 250 people enjoyed Tastes of Maple.  

At this year’s event, visitors will be able to sample local maple-based cuisine, taste maple-laced beer and spirits, listen to live local music and find the perfect restaurant for their next meal. Along with Lake Placid Pub and Brewery with maple ale and Lake Placid Spirits with maple spirits samples, 13 local restaurants and businesses will be represented with samples of their goods: Dancing Bears, Cake Placid, Centerplate, Generations, Lisa Gs, the Breakfast Club Etc., the Cottage, The Wild Center, Smoke Signals, Artisans at Lake Placid Lodge, Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood, KANU at Whiteface Lodge and Top of the Park. 

Local jazz group Le Groove will perform throughout the two hours of the events. 

Admission is free, and tasting tickets will be available for $1. Each establishment offering tastings will charge one to three tickets for a portion. Credit cards will be accepted.  

In addition to the maple spirits and ale samples, maple drink specials will be for sale at a cash bar. 

Attendees can taste local maple producers’ syrup for free, then vote on their favorite. Winners will be announced at 5:50 p.m. 

For more information, click here.