
It's an annual tradition that helps ring in Spring and celebrates a local tasty treat. It's the 2025 Maple Syrup Festival, at ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois University's Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and it's happening the weekend of March 22-23.
CARBONDALE, Ill., (WSIL) -- It's an annual tradition that helps ring in Spring and celebrates a local tasty treat. It's the 2025 Maple Syrup Festival, at ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois University's Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, and it's happening the weekend of March 22-23. The festival happens Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The two-day festival is full of family friendly activities, held at the Touch of Nature's Cabin 2 area, which can be found off Giant City Road. The event features a lot of outdoor activities like nature hikes, vendors and lumberjack demonstrations. You can also watch maple syrup making demonstrations that happen throughout the day. Organizers also want the public to know that most of the activities planned for children are happening between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Of course, the festival wouldn't be complete without its traditional pancake breakfasts, topped with the guest star of the event, locally harvested maple syrup. Tickets are required to enjoy the breakfast, which happens from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Tickets for the breakfast, happening at Freeberg Hall, are as follows:
Ages 11 and older - $15
Ages 4-10 - $8
Ages 3 and younger - Free
SIU students with valid student ID - $8
You can learn more about the festival by checking out the on SIU Carbondale's website. There you can find a full schedule of events.