Maple syrup candy making will be one of the sweet treats at the Williams Lake Winter Carnival coming up in Boitanio Parkthis weekend.
“It’s a pretty basic Canadian technique of heating the maple syrup to candy temperature,” says event organizer Deanna Phillips.
She says tables will be set up to hold snow or possibly blocks of ice with a skiff of snow on top. The maple syrup is heated up then allowed to cool for just a few moments on the snow before being rolled onto a popsicle stick.
“The result is maple taffy on a stick,” Phillips says. “Having grown up outside of B.C. I used to get to do this every year through school and absolutely loved it.
“I hope it will be a great addition to the Winter Carnival this year and that people who have not had the chance to try out this great Canadian treat enjoy it as much as I always did.”
She says the maple taffy will be supplied free for the public with all of the syrup being donated by the Sugar Shack at 70 Mile House and other materials such as propane, tubs for snow, baby wipes and the like donated by Hytest Timber Ltd.
The Williams Lake Winter Carnival is coming up in Boitanio Park Saturday and Sunday Jan. 30 and 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
There will be all sorts of free activities for people to try from cross country skiing and snow shoeing, to sledding, horse-drawn sleigh rides and more.
There will also be free skating in the Cariboo Memorial complex next door and a chilli cook-off for professionals and home cooks.
Skates, skis, and snowshoes will also be rented free of charge for children and adults who don’t own their own equipment.
Phillips extends her appreciation to all the volunteers and businesses who are making the Winter Carnival possible.