Sweetwater Harvest Festival
with the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
Celebrate the arrival of spring at both Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre and Sainte-Marie among the Hurons March 28 and 29!
Experience the joys of maple season with hands‑on demonstrations, outdoor activities and crafts for all ages. From tasting fresh maple taffy to shopping a vendor market, it’s the perfect family-friendly way to enjoy the season and explore two of Midland’s most iconic sites. Add to your experience with a pancake breakfast at Restaurant Sainte-Marie!
Dates and Times:
- March 28 and 29, 2026
- 9 am- 5 pm (Last Admission @ 2:30 pm)
Parking and shuttles:
With limited parking available at the Wye Marsh, we suggest you start your Sweetwater experience at Sainte-Marie to ensure accessible parking remains available at the marsh for those who need it.
From Sainte-Marie you can:
- Take the shuttle bus, which will run between the two attractions from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Walk 10 minutes between the two sites.
Tickets: Coming soon!
All sales are final.
For your convenience and to ensure a smooth experience, we kindly recommend purchasing tickets online. This helps us serve you better and reduces wait times at the venue. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
What to expect:
Use our new Sweetwater passport to explore several maple experiences! Pick yours up when you arrive at either location.
Start your Sweetwater Harvest experience at Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons:
- Swing by the Sweetwater Harvest Arts & Crafts Market, where you’ll connect with 25 local artisans selling one-of-a-kind products
- Explore historical objects and ancient artefacts by completing our indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts
- Enjoy fun crafts for the whole family:
- Create your own fishing net and play a fishing game
- Plant the three sisters for your home garden: corn, beans and squash
- Make three sisters art with mosaic tiles
- Taste sweetwater – delicious sap from maple trees – by an outdoor fire and watch a sweetwater cooking demonstration
- Try three sisters soup, sweetened with maple sap, and maple shortbread in the cookhouse
- Listen to First Nations stories in the longhouse
- Watch historical blacksmithing demonstrations
- Watch the 15-minute introductory film about the history of Sainte-Marie in the theatre
Visit Wye Marsh, the birthplace of Sweetwater, and fall in love with our natural heritage!
- Wander through the Sugar Bush
- Visit the Sugar Shack to see how sap is turned into liquid gold
- Roast some Bannock on a stick over an open fire
- Enjoy delicious maple taffy on snow
- Check out Swan Landing and swan stories
- Meet birds of prey including owls, hawks, and eagles
- Explore forested trails or head out on the boardwalk to see the marsh stir to life after a long winter’s nap
- Purchase your supply of local maple syrup and honey
- Visit our talented face painter
- Enjoy free samples of delicious maple products from local producers
Food Options:
Restaurant Sainte-Marie is hosting a delicious pancake breakfast on both dates.
For those seeking non-pancake options, the restaurant will be offering take-out fare (fries, burgers, and more!) on their patio!
More details coming soon!
In case of high winds or extreme weather
Note that outdoor programs at the Wye Marsh may need to be modified if the trails are closed due to high winds, thunderstorms, or other inclement weather. For example, birds of prey may move inside, sugar shack pans may be relocated to the pavilion, and bannock roasting will take place at Sainte-Marie.
Thanks to our program partners
Please click each image above to see a larger version.
Apply to be a vendor at our indoor Artisans & Food Market :
Our events feature handmade, one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts and artisan made products, as well as gourmet food products, tasty treats and baking.
Upcoming events at Sainte-Marie
Beyond the palisades
Step into a world rarely seen by the public. Beyond the Palisades is a one-night-only experience that invites you to explore Sainte-Marie among the Hurons in a whole new light—after hours, with exclusive access to hidden treasures, engaging speakers, live music, and a cultured atmosphere.
Adventures in Time Travel
Looking for family-friendly activities during March Break? Feed your curiosity and travel back in time at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons! With take-home crafts, historical demonstrations, storytelling and more, we guarantee your journey to the 17th century will be both educational and fun. No time machine, or reservations, required.
Sky stories
Let our most knowledgeable costumed interpreters share captivating stories of how the Wendat and French in the 17th century looked to the stars for guidance. Discover how constellations shaped travel, seasonal knowledge, and cultural traditions that connected communities to the land and each other. Add a touch of wonder to your Dinner Under the Stars or overnight cabin stay by gathering around a cozy fire inside a traditional longhouse as sparks rise toward the night sky.
While we love our furry friends, we are not able to accommodate pets at this special event (service dogs are welcomed of course). Thank you for your understanding.
- Admission to Sainte-Marie among the Hurons on March 28 or 29 is included in your Sweetwater Harvest Festival ticket, purchased online through the Wye Marsh.
- Sainte-Marie is a mask-friendly environment.
- Taking photos is encouraged.
- Smoking or vaping (including marijuana) is not permitted on Sainte-Marie property.
- Most Sweetwater Harvest Festival activities will take place outside so we encourage visitors to dress according to weather conditions.
- A yummy pancake breakfast at Restaurant Sainte-Marie is available at an additional cost.
16164 Highway 12 East, Midland, ON, L4R 4K8
Parking Info
There is ample parking for visitors including those with RVs and buses. Please park in the parking lot provided and make your way to the admissions entrance. We also have bike racks available for cyclists coming from the Tay Trail.
Need more info?
Please contact us at hhp@ontario.ca or (705) 526-7838 if you have any questions.
Ontario’s first European Community, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons was the headquarters for the French Jesuit Mission to the Huron-Wendat people. In 1639, the Jesuits, along with French lay workers, began construction of a fenced community that included barracks, a church, workshops, residences, and a sheltered area for Indigenous visitors. This community was abandoned and burned down in 1649.
After extensive archaeological and historical research, Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is now recreated on its original site, where the mission’s compelling story is brought to life with costumed historical interpreters, demonstrations and hands-on activities.
Located near Midland, on the Wye River, this world-renowned reconstruction offers visitors a unique opportunity to see the earliest Canadian pioneer life through self-guided visits, group tours, interactive education programs, and special events. Complete your experience by exploring our interpretive museum and themed gift shop.
Friends of Wye Marsh is a not-for-profit charitable organization taking care of 3,000 acres of provincially significant wetlands and federal forests in the Heart of Georgian Bay. This National Wildlife Area and recognized Important Bird Area (IBA) provides habitat for a number of significant species including provincially Threatened Least Bitterns, Species of Special Concern Black Terns, and the famous Trumpeter Swans.
Wye Marsh is the perfect place to Escape – Explore – Experience the area’s natural history as the site includes 25 km of all-season trails, a Birds of Prey field, and Visitors Centre!
For more information on the Wye Marsh, and its environmental education programs and stewardship initiatives, please call 705-526-7809 or visit: www.wyemarsh.com
