Sweet Traditions Return: Sugaring Off Sundays at Fenimore Farm this March

Cooperstown, NY: Fenimore Farm & Country Village is pleased to announce the return of Sugaring Off Sundays, a cherished Cooperstown tradition celebrating the magic of maple sugaring. Every Sunday in March, families and visitors of all ages can enjoy a day of hands-on activities, delicious food, and immersive experiences.

Each Sunday begins with a pancake breakfast served in the Louis C. Jones Center (LCJC) inside the Main Barn, featuring freshly made pancakes with toppings bar, scrambled eggs, sausage, home fries, salsa, and real maple syrup provided by Otsego County Maple Growers. Local producers will also offer maple goods for purchase.

After breakfast, guests are invited to explore the Historic Village, where interpreters demonstrate the full maple syrup–making process, from tree tapping with traditional and modern spiles to the evolution of sugaring methods across centuries. Visitors can watch the transformation from sap to syrup using historic wooden buckets, open-fire boiling, and a modern outdoor arch.

Families will enjoy a variety of interactive activities, including the creation of jack wax, made by drizzling hot syrup over fresh snow, a timeless maple-season treat.

Children can participate in historic games such as Snow Snake, a Haudenosaunee winter tradition, and craft their own “snow dart” to test on the snow track each Sunday afternoon (weather permitting). A special full-size Snow Snake workshop takes place on Saturday, March 14th (pre-registration required).

Visitors are encouraged to meet the farm’s beloved animals, including sheep, goats, cows, horses, chickens, pigs, and turkeys. Fan favorites Lucy and Ethel the pigs and Laverne the chicken will greet guests, and Nutmeg, the farm’s Jersey cow, is expected to welcome a new calf during March.

Throughout the Historic Village, buildings will be open with live demonstrations by museum interpreters. Blacksmiths will work on forging a waffle maker modeled after a piece in the museum’s collection, while Bump Tavern’s kitchen showcases 19th-century recipes using maple syrup and sugar. Visitors can watch historic 1845 maple recipes being printed in the Print Shop and take home their own printed copy. The Pharmacy demonstrates how maple was once used to sweeten throat lozenges, highlighting the ingredient’s long medicinal history. Families can also enjoy a ride on the Empire State Carousel, warm and operating inside its heated pavilion, and stop by the Bump Tavern photo station for a take-home souvenir portrait.

Enjoy a wagon ride through the Historic Village each Sunday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (weather permitting).

Todd’s General Store and the Fenimore Farm Store will be open with handmade goods, maple treats, and unique souvenirs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

On Sunday, March 15, we will be joined by special guest, local influencer Benji Spears, who will be onsite from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm, joining guests for a St. Patrick’s Day themed breakfast before heading to Bump Tavern for a festive gathering featuring a cash bar, brunch-themed specialty drinks, and live music. There is no additional charge for this program, and all are welcome to join in the fun.

New this year … guest can pre-purchase their tickets online at www.fenimorefarm.org. While preregistration is not required, purchasing tickets in advance provides faster access to breakfast and helps streamline the day’s activities.

Join us Sunday March 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 for Sugaring Off Sundays. Breakfast is served from 8:30 am – 1:00 pm and the Historic Village and activities will run each week from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Sugaring Off Sundays 2026 is proudly sponsored by Wayne Bank.