It’s Maple syrup time in Eastern Iowa

Two eastern Iowa cities on the Cedar River are hosting events this weekend celebrating the sugary substance made from tree sap. Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids are holding seperate Maple Syrup Festivals. In Cedar Rapids, Jan Aiels is a naturalist at the Indian Creek Nature Center, which can start your morning off right with a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, orange juice and homemade maple syrup. Aiels says there will be plenty of opportunities to get hands-on experience with syrup making. Aiels says taking sap from a maple tree that’s at least ten inches in diameter doesn’t hurt the tree at all. Breakfast starts at 8 this morning and the events run today until noon, and from 9 to 1 tomorrow. For more information on the Cedar Rapids festival, call (319) 362-0664. For details on the Cedar Falls Maple Syrup Festival, call (319) 277-2187.