This weekend, you can get a taste of -- and a smell of and a good long look at -- how maple syrup is made in this region. The Northwest Pennsylvania Maple Association is once again inviting the public to visit local "sugar shacks" during its Taste & Tour Weekend, which comes in the heat of maple sugaring season this month.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, maple syrup producers will show "how it's done," from tapping the maple trees and collecting sap to boiling it down to make syrup. You can sample and purchase syrup and other confections.

A dozen producers in Crawford, Venango and Erie counties are participating. But the group has members as close to Pittsburgh as the New Castle area. For that list and more information, visit pamaple.org or call 814-796-3699. President Gary Bilek says last season was a great year for local producers, even though it wasn't so good for the Northeast and Canada.

The following two weekends, March 21-22 and March 25-29, is the Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale, Somerset County, where a lot of syrup also is made. Pancakes with you-know-what and sausage ($7) are the stars at this 62nd annual event, but there is lots and lots more other fun, from a parade to the Maple Queen. Admission to Maple Festival Park is $4, or $1 for children ages 6 to 12. Get all the details at pamaplefestival.com or call 814-634-0213.

A sweet March 21 event not so far from Pittsburgh is the fourth Annual Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugaring Celebration at Fern Hollow Nature Center in Sewickley Heights. The regular and buckwheat pancakes are served that Saturday with real maple syrup from the Beaver County Conservation District (reservations are needed for seatings at 8:30, 9:15 and 10 a.m. and then it's open seating until 1 p.m.) There's a maple sugaring exhibit, a bonfire and children's activities. Tickets -- $7, or $5 for children starting at age 2 (nature center members get a $2 discount) -- can be purchased by calling 412-741-6136, e-mailing fhnc@verizon.net or visiting fhnc.org/publicprograms.html.

There's also a March 21 Maple Sugar Festival at Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople ($5 for ages 12 and up (724-452-4453, ext. 1137 and gladerun.org).

Also on March 21, Washington County's Mingo Creek Park holds its Sugarbush Tour and Breakfast, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take the tour, learn the techniques and then sit down for a breakfast made in part from those trees ($2 per person; 724-228-6867).

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 28, it's Maple Madness at Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in Fox Chapel ($9 or $6 per member; 412-963-6100 or aswp.org).

At 2 p.m. March 29, Jennings Environmental Education Center near Slippery Rock, Butler County, holds its free maple sugaring presentation (724-794-6011, visitpaparks.com).

On April 4-5, celebrate the Maple Syrup Festival at Beaver County's Bradys Run Park, which is thickly planted with sugar maples. This 32nd fest (from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days) features all-you-can-eat buttermilk or buckwheat pancakes for $6, or $4 for children, and you can buy maple syrup and cornmeal, buckwheat and wheat flour (724-378-1701 or beavercountyconservationdistrict.org).