It's said that cold weather makes blood run slower. While that's not technically true for people, it is true for the trees.

With Maine Maple Sunday planned for this Sunday, March 23, the sap has been slow to flow.

This will be the 31st Maine Maple Sunday, which is held on the fourth Sunday of the month. The event gives the public a chance to tour where the syrup comes from and taste the product of Maine's maple trees.

Because sap needs to warm up before it can be coaxed out of a tree, the season has been in a holding pattern as the trees wait for warmer weather to return.

But, this Sunday should still be sweet, Tim Chase of Tim's Sugar Shack in Whitefield said.

Chase said the cold weather has made it tough for the sap to flow and the snow has made it tough to get around in the woods.

But, the show must go on, and the syrup will flow at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Sugar Shack.

“We'll have free ice cream and we'll put a little maple syrup on it,” he said.

The Chases will also give out recipes and maple-flavored appetizers.

“It's made the season very late,” he said. “Most years people are tapping around the first (of March), or even late February if it's been warm enough.

“It may just be coming later than usual. It might still warm up.”

Chase said that despite the late start, the Sugar Shack will still have pints, quarts and jars of syrup for sale.

For a list of farms, sugar houses and other businesses that will be participating in the Maine Maple Weekend, visit the Maine Maple Producers website.