Sweetwater Harvest Festival
with the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
Join the Friends of Wye Marsh and Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons for an awesome maple syrup experience this spring. The Sweetwater Harvest Festival is the Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre’s biggest fundraiser of the year – and ONE ticket gets you access to TWO fantastic sites this March 25 or 26.
Tickets must be purchased online through the Wye Marsh website, but can be bought online on the day of the event.
Join us March 25 or 26!
Start your Sweetwater Harvest experience at Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons where you can:
- Swing by the Sweetwater Harvest Arts & Crafts Market
- Buy your lunch or snack to go! Check out the three food trucks located just outside Sainte-Marie’s main entrance.
- See how the local Indigenous People, the Huron-Wendat, traditionally welcomed spring
- Take part in awesome hands-on crafts
- Check out live historical demonstrations
- Explore Sainte-Marie’s award-winning indoor museum
*Note that there is no ATM on site and some vendors only accept cash.
Then visit the birthplace of Sweetwater, the Wye Marsh! Fall in love with our natural heritage and:
- Wander through the Sugar Bush
- Visit the Sugar Shack to see how sap is turned into liquid gold
- Warm up by an open fire
- Roast some Bannock on a stick
- Play games
- Visit the Birds of Prey Field and say hello to the owls, hawks, and Ravens
- Explore forested trails or head out on the boardwalk to see the marsh stir to life after a long winter’s nap
- Stop by the Woodcarvers booth to make and take home a free craft
- Purchase your supply of local maple syrup and honey
Please Note: Outdoor programs at Wye Marsh may be modified due to high winds on March 25 & 26.
- Bannock roasting may be relocated to Sainte-Marie
- Birds of prey may be seen in the Visitor Centre and/or around the pavilion
- Sugar Shack pans and interpretive items may be relocated to the pavilion
- Trails may be closed
Dates & Times:
Activities at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons will take place at the same time as those at the Wye Marsh
Dates: March 18-19 and March 25-26
Times: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – tickets must be purchased online
Tickets Details:
- Tickets must be purchased online through the Wye Marsh but can be bought online on the day of the event.
- Refunds and exchanges will not be issued.
- Tickets are transferrable between guests.
- Sainte-Marie/Discovery Harbour season passes aren’t valid for this event.
- Please read the information found under “Plan Your Visit” below for more details including what to expect.
Image Gallery:
Please click each image below to see a larger version.
Thanks to our sponsors!
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 18-19 and March 25-26 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.
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.
