Sponsors of the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Island Lake Conservation Area are optimistic that the weather will be ideal for syrup making during this year’s festival, to be held Saturday, March 27 and Sunday, March 28.

Then again, they should be, since again this year the sponsors are the Optimist Club of Orangeville.

Thanks to this week’s warm weather, the syrup has already begun to flow from sugar maples emerging from their winter sleep.

The two-day festival includes a Pancake Breakfast, park admission, a tour of the Sugar Bush with exhibits on how maple syrup was made over time and plenty of other things to do.

After a great and entertaining sugar bush tour, the tour ends at Sugar Shack with a taste of the real syrup.

In the Park there will be live music, and you can pay a visit to the Alpacas on display, take a wagon ride, enjoy the hiking trails and the facilities at Island Lake. Even better, bring the family and have a great day together. You can grab a little syrup for yourself too.

The Optimist Club of Orangeville supports youth in the area. Programs like the JackRabbit Ski Program, The Kid’s Bike Safety Roadeo, Breakfast with Santa and Christmas in the Park are examples of what the Optimists do for the Youth in our community. Events like the Maple Syrup Festival help the Club to raise the funds necessary to deliver these programs. Come and eat, get some fresh air, help your Community and have a good time.

Admission and Breakfast for kids five years old and younger is free.

Those aged six to 12 are $5 each and if you are older admission is $10. Gates open on Saturday at 9 a.m. and Sunday at 10. Closing both days is at 3 p.m. Parking is included in the admission. A good pair of shoes or boots and a hat are recommended. More details available at www. OrangevilleOptimists.ca