Maple Boil Down Festival Scheduled for March 9

Groundwork Somerville's Maple Syrup Project is approaching the climax of the season with a boil down festival planned for March 9, according to the organization's website. 

At the boil down festival, residents can learn how to boil down sap, collected from local sugar maple trees, into pure maple syrup. It's done over a wood fire.

There will be children's activities, waffles, hot chocolate from Taza Chocolate and, most important, syrup tasting, according to the website.

It's all part of the Maple Syrup Project, where Groundwork Somerville works with local students in the Somerville school system to tap trees and collect the sap. The project includes a four-week curriculum with second graders, and the evaporator pan used in the oil down was built and maintained by Somerville High School students in the metal shop, according to the website.

The March 9 boil down takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 22 Vinyl Ave.