Wesselman Woods invites you to join us for our sweetest tradition: the annual Maple Sugarbush Festival and Pancake Breakfast! This fundraiser will take place at the Wesselman Woods Nature Center on March 7 and 8, 2026, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

ADMISSION

Adults (Ages 13+) $18 • Children (Ages 3-12) $12 • Under 3 gets in free

Wesselman Woods members receive $3 off each ticket.

Tickets are sold in pre-scheduled time slots, so guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance to reserve their preferred time.  

Time slots: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon.

Tickets are also available for in-person purchase at the front desk of the Nature Center. We will sell the remaining tickets at the event, but indoor seating availability will be limited.

Admission includes:

All festival activities, unlimited pancakes, two sausage links, and unlimited coffee, orange juice, and milk. Real Indiana maple syrup from Harris Sugarbush in Greencastle, Indiana is available on each table.

Support the “lungs” of Evansville! Visit wesselmanwoods.org/msb to buy tickets.

ACTIVITIES

Attendees have many activities to choose from after they eat:

• Experience the sugar maple tree tapping and distillation processes first-hand during guided hikes,
• Enjoy several educational activity booths, including storytime with the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library,
• Encounters with our resident animal ambassadors,
• Explore over four miles of trails and the five-acre Nature Playscape, Arwood Family Treehouse, and Bernhardt Family Bird Sanctuary.

PROCEEDS

All proceeds from the event go directly towards the work of Wesselman Woods—the largest urban old-growth forest in the United States. The Nature Center is home to numerous educational programs, research opportunities, and animal ambassadors. Wesselman Woods relies heavily on donations, memberships, volunteers, and events like the Maple Sugarbush Festival to support these important animals and programs.

PLEASE NOTE

Wesselman Woods will be CLOSED on Friday, March 6, to prepare for the big event. We will only be open to the public during event hours on March 7-8 (7 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and all guests must pay event admission, whether they eat breakfast or not.

Further Frequently Asked Questions are answered on our website, wesselmanwoods.org/msb

QUESTIONS?

Contact Director of Marketing and Community Engagement, Kristina Arwood, at 812-479-0771 or via email (kristina@wesselmanwoods.org).