Ontario’s beloved maple syrup season will soon begin, as the Grey Bruce and District Maple Syrup Producers prepare to host their annual First Tapping Ceremony on Sunday, February 8, 2026, in Grey Highlands. The event marks the symbolic start of the province’s first agricultural crop of the year, celebrating the moment when sap begins its early flow through Ontario’s sugar bushes.
Held this year at Nicholls Farms and Maple Products—operated by Sarah and Mark Nicholls alongside Doug and Donna Nicholls—the ceremony will begin at 1:00 p.m. at 267021 South Line B.
Each year, the First Tapping Ceremony brings together maple producers, local officials, and community guests to drill the ceremonial first tap and hang a collection bucket to welcome the new season’s earliest sap. Attendees will also enjoy an opportunity to tour a working sugar house and take part in brief 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,” said Steve Smith, Director for the Grey Bruce and District of the Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association (OMSPA). “The First Tapping Ceremony marks the formal start of Ontario’s first agricultural crop of the year. We look forward to another bountiful harvest.”
The Grey Bruce and District Chapter is one of 11 local chapters within OMSPA, representing maple producers across Grey, Bruce, northern Huron, and northwest Wellington counties. OMSPA acts as the provincial voice for over 600 maple syrup producers, all dedicated to delivering high‑quality, Ontario‑made syrup to consumers at home and around the world.
As producers prepare for the 2026 season, optimism is high that weather conditions will support strong sap runs and another successful year for this wonderful gift from nature.