The Big 400 Maple Festival Comes to Manchester
It’s maple syrup time! The communities of The Big 400 are teaming up to celebrate maple syruping in southern Michigan with a festival on Saturday, March 8, 2014. The festival includes pancake breakfasts, tours of tapping areas and the syruping process, the release of a local maple wine, and lots of good things to eat.
In Manchester, McLennan’s is participating in this fantastic event.
McLennan Maple Syrup (Manchester), Stop by anytime on Saturdaybeginning at 9:00 am for a pancake breakfast with estate-made maple syrup. Cost: $6 for adults, $3 for children. Sides of sausage are available for an additional charge.
McLennan Maple Syrup, 10950 M-52, Manchester, MI 48158
734.428.7005
Proceeds from the breakfasts go to support The Big 400 in guiding tourists to our region.
MAPLE TOURS AND INTERPRETATION
McLennan Maple Syrup, tours: every two hours beginning at 9 am – take a look at the sugar shack process, handle tools and supplies, learn about tapping the trees, and take part in maple-related activities such as coloring and crafts. Taste testing of maple candy and McLennan maple syrup on ice cream. Local maple syrup, candy, and maple cream are available for purchase. Tours: $5 per person 10950 M-52, Manchester, MI 48158, 734.428.7005
For other locations and events in Dexter, Chelsea, and Jackson, visit the Big 400’s website here.
About The Big 400
The mission of the Big 400 is to prepare and execute plans which stimulate commerce in the communities sharing a common border local and state public lands, while concurrently partnering with the stewards of these public lands to promote and encourage their use and preservation.
History
The Big 400 began as a project spearheaded by the Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce seeking to establish an economic development strategy that linked the Waterloo Recreation Area to the business community of Chelsea, Michigan. A working committee was formed that included representatives from 7 key stakeholder organizations:
Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce, Chelsea Public Schools, City of Chelsea, Waterloo Recreation Area, Chelsea Center for the Arts, Legacy Land Conservancy, and The Conservation Fund.
A program developed by The Conservation Fund, “Balancing Nature and Commerce in Communities that Neighbor Public Lands” became the strategic road map for this endeavor. Once the Chelsea team completed the training, they understood the success of this project demanded expansion to other regional partners and organizations.
Neighboring communities of Dexter, Manchester, Stockbridge, Pinckney and East Jackson County were invited to join the team along with the Pinckney Recreation Area. Additionally, the Convention and Visitors Bureaus of Jackson County, Ann Arbor Area, and Ypsilanti joined the effort. The committee currently represents 4 counties, 4 municipalities, 3 Convention and Visitors Bureaus, 2 State Recreation Areas, land and nature conservancies.
It encompasses a 20 mile by 20 mile area, hence the term “Big 400.”
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