It’s maple syrup time again at Federal Grove in Auburn!

This weekend, the restaurant/bed and breakfast will be hosting its fourth annual Federal Grove Maple Syrup Festival on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 22-23.

At the festival, the public can view maple syrup production, including sap collection and the boiling/evaporation process, and sample the syrup at a pancake breakfast.

“This is a great opportunity for folks to see how maple syrup is made,” said Terry Blythe, Owner, Federal Grove. “The festival is also a unique opportunity to buy other Kentucky-made products.”

Local craft and food vendors will also be at the festival including South Union Shaker Village and Shaving Horse Crafts. The festival is free and open to the public. Federal Grove Restaurant will be serving a pancake breakfast on Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Federal Grove’s lunch menu is available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner menu available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tent vendor hours are Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free parking is available at Federal Grove, 475 East Main St. in Auburn.

Maple syrup is made from the sap of sugar maple, red maple or black maple trees.

Trees are tapped and the sap collected is heated and boiled to evaporate the water content. The end result is maple syrup. Maple syrup season is mid-January to mid- March when temperatures are at or below freezing at night and rise to above freezing during the day.

Federal Grove Maple Syrup is a member of the Kentucky Proud program. Federal Grove has been featured in Kentucky Monthly, Kentucky Living, SOKY Happenings and Prep magazines. For more information, contact Terry Blythe at (270) 542-6106 or www.federalgrove.com