Maple syrup jugs are seen inside the Heaven Hill Farm’s sugarhouse on Tuesday in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

LAKE PLACID — It’s a short-lived season, but one that’s oh-so sweet.

New York state Maple Weekend is once again on the doorstep, with several local opportunities for people to savor the genuine flavor of one of the region’s most iconic products: maple syrup.

Despite the nomenclature, the annual event is stretched out over not one, but two weekends, with participating maple syrup producers showcasing their processes and offering tours to the public. This year’s dates are March 22, 23, 29 and 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

In Lake Placid, there are two venues for folks to visit — and they just so happen to be on the same road — the Cornell University Uihlein Maple Research Forest, at 157 Bear Cub Lane, and the Uihlein Foundation’s Heaven Hill Farm, at 302 Bear Cub Lane. Both offer free admission.

In Tupper Lake, the Wild Center, located at 45 Museum Drive, is participating, with admission included with a museum ticket or membership. On March 22 specifically, the Wild Center will host a Maple Pancake Brunch, which features live pancake art demonstrations, as artists shape batter into an array of artistic renderings. One flapjack per person is included with admission, time and supplies pending, according to the Wild Center.

Sarah Manitta was busy early Tuesday afternoon preapring wood — used to provide heat for boiling sap — and getting the Heaven Hill Farm’s sugarhouse ready for production. She said it has been a slower start to the season than many recently because of the hearty winter locally. Last year, for example, she said the farm fired up at the end of February.

Manitta said a later start wasn’t necessarily going to lead to a slower season overall. She said what’s more important for the year’s overall production is when it ends, which is generally marked by when nighttime temperatures cease to dip below freezing.

“In the event that things do slowly thaw like they should, we could go for a couple more weeks,” Manitta said.

She added that it’s always tough for producers to know how long their seasons will last. For instance, she said even though maple syrup production started earlier than normal last year — at the end of February — it did not also end earlier than normal. Rather, below-freezing low temperatures persisted, leading to an extended season.

“Very, very yearly-dependent,” she said.

In an ideal weather setup, Manitta said consistency is key.

“You really need a slow progression thaw,” she said. “So freezing temperatures at night and then thawing during the day. The sun really helps a lot.”

For more information on Maple Weekend, including a comprehensive map of participating locations across the state, visit mapleweekend.com.