Organizers of the annual Maine Maple Sunday event have decided to hold it a second time this weekend, after a severe late-spring storm put a damper on the official event last weekend.

“A lot of places weren’t able to open at all,” said Anna McDermott, the association’s spokesperson.

The association has been holding the annual celebration in March since 1983. Members, which include businesses ranging in size from full-blown farms to tiny mom-and-pop sugaring shacks, use the day to show off products made from sap they have harvested and processed. 

Attendees usually get to see how maple syrup is made, sample products, and purchase everything from jugs of the sticky brown stuff to maple candy, baked goods and other related products. 

The association’s members were supposed to hold the annual event last weekend, on March 23-24. A major storm struck the state, however, leaving deep snow to the north and nearly three-quarters of an inch of ice to the south, causing power outages and road closures.

McDermott said many sugarers were unable to open. That’s bad news for smaller operations, she said, as they often don’t remain open year-round like larger farm stands and markets do.

“For a lot of them, last weekend was their one shot at getting back into the black after collecting for a month and a half,” she said.

The official date for the second event is Saturday, March 30, but many producers will be open on Friday, March 29 and Sunday, March 31 as well. The association listed at least 25 different businesses that will be participating statewide, but added there will likely be more.  

The association urged anyone wishing to know more about who will be participating to visit its Facebook page. There, a post invites member businesses to announce if and when they will be open.