SIU Maple Syrup Festival at Touch of Nature
March 21 @ 9:00 am - March 22 @ 4:00 pm
CARBONDALE, Ill. — The 2026 Maple Syrup Festival, a popular springtime tradition for the whole family, is happening March 21-22 at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center.
The festival features a tasty breakfast including pancakes topped with real maple syrup, but that’s not all. It’s a chance to see firsthand the extensive process involved in turning sap tapped from maple trees into syrup. It’s also lumberjack shows, live demonstrations of handcrafts such as pottery and rope making, fun children’s activities, nature walks and live music. Visitors can enjoy testing their prowess on the big climbing wall or taking a turn on the giant swing. And, they’ll want to check out the wide variety of items offered by artisans and vendors in vendor alley.
The fest runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at the scenic facility located about eight miles south of Carbondale off Giant City Road. The pancake breakfast and all the trimmings is served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily—but organizers say you should arrive by 1:45 p.m. if you’re planning to eat. The fest continues through 3:30 p.m.
For more information, visit: https://news.siu.edu/2026/03/030226-plan-to-attend-sius-popular-maple-syrup-festival-at-touch-of-nature-march-21-22.php
