Local producers and invited officials will mark the symbolic start of Ontario’s first agricultural crop of the year on February 8, 2026. Image above by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/photos/maple-sugar-season-boiler-syrup-70408/
The start of Ontario’s maple syrup season will be officially welcomed next month as the Grey Bruce and District Maple Syrup Producers prepare to host their annual First Tapping Ceremony in Grey Highlands on February 8, 2026.
The event marks the symbolic launch of the new maple season, when producers, guests, and local officials gather to drill the first ceremonial tap and hang a bucket to collect the earliest sap of the year. Attendees will also have the chance to tour a working sugar house and share a few remarks before heading outdoors to the maple stand.
“Every year, we anticipate the start of sap flow in our sugar bushes so we can make more delicious maple syrup for our customers. The First Tapping Ceremony marks the formal start of Ontario’s first agricultural crop of the year. We look forward to another bountiful harvest,” stated Steve Smith, Director for Grey Bruce and District of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Sarah and Mark Nicholls, along with Doug and Donna Nicholls, at Nicholls Farms and Maple Products, located at 267021 South Line B in Grey Highlands. The event begins at 1:00 p.m on Sunday, February 8, 2026.
The Grey Bruce and District Chapter is one of 11 locals within the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association (OMSPA), representing producers across Grey, Bruce, northern Huron, and northwest Wellington counties. OMSPA serves as the provincial voice for more than 600 maple syrup producers committed to delivering high‑quality, Ontario‑made syrup to consumers.