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Hear Philly: It's All About Maple Sugar At The Audubon Center's Sapsucker Festival

By Andrew Kramer

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- There will be birds, kid's activities and, of course, sugar, when the Sapsucker Festival returns to the John James Audubon Center. The event, formally known as the Maple Sugar Festival, was rebranded just this year.

Carrie Ashley is the education manager at the John James Audubon Center. She says it's a great chance to bring the whole family to learn about maple sugar:

"We tap our trees and show how maple sugar is made through the ages -- from Native American, Colonial and present day."

While maple sugar is a main attraction, Ashley says there will be many other activities, from visiting the John James Audubon House and art museum to seeing the Birds of America display. As she points out, there are also a handful of activities for the little ones:

"We also have a Kids Corner, so there's going to be an entire pavilion set up with activities and games, all based around bird themes. We're also going to have a pancake breakfast. The Lion's Club makes pancakes that are delicious and it's a $5 all-you-can-eat and kids five and under are free. And we are also doing a special thing for scouts."

From babies in strollers to folks in walkers and everyone in between, Ashley says a festival like this is truly geared toward a variety of people:

"We have families come, individuals come. There's enough variation because we have something for art lovers if they come into the house, we have something for nature lovers and someone who just likes pancakes!"

There are many maple sugar festivals that take place all throughout the state, but Ashley says the fact that this one is so hands-on makes it truly unique:

"Not only are you going to get to see the sap coming out of the tree, but you get to taste it as well. We have people making this cool taffy candy, you get to go up and see how it's done. And we're also talking about birds as well, so you get an all-encompassing kind of experience when you come here."

The festival runs from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on March 1st and there's no cost to attend.

For more information you can visit the John James Audubon Center website or find them on Facebook.
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Sapsucker Festival

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