With spring almost upon us, that means one thing for some Northeast farmers - maple season!

Approximately 110 maple producers throughout New York, the world's third largest producer of maple syrup, have banded for the 13th year to participate in a tradition known as Maple Weekend.

Producers from all corners of the state will open their sugarhouses to the public to demonstrate the processes involved in the making of maple products.

Cayuga county's representative maple producer in Maple Weekend is Schoolyard Sugarbush in MNew Hope.

Visitors to the Maple Weekend locations will experience many of the aspects of maple making, like tapping the trees to get sap and boiling the sap into syrup. Other demonstrations include how to make maple treats such as maple cream, maple cotton candy and maple sugar, and there's a good chance guests will get to sample and purchase them.

Maple Weekend organizers say the techniques of maple production can vary from producer to producer, from the state-of-the-art to the traditional, so they encourge people to visit several participating farms.

Additional Maple Weekend activities include attractions auch as horse and wagon rides, snowshoeing, guided walks in the woods and children's corners.

And, what good would fresh maple syrup be without something tasty to pour it on. So, many pancake breakfasts will be held in conjunction with Maple Weekend.

“This family-oriented event is sure to delight visitors of all ages,” boasts the event's Web site.

Lists of participating maple producers, pancake breakfasts and purchase links are available at www.mapleweekend.com.

If you go

What: Maple Weekend

When: All day, March 29 and 30

Where: Schoolyard Sugarbush, 5967 Appletree Point Road, New Hope

Info: Call 567-9900