Get outside for WinterFest at Volo Bog
The annual WinterFest will be from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at Volo Bog State Natural Area, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside. The suggested donation is $5 for adults and $2 for children.
Visitors can enjoy an afternoon of music with Mike Reichart and friends. A Volo Bog favorite, Mike specializes in Native North and South American flutes, as well as indigenous wind pieces from the Middle East and Asia.
Mike also plays a variety of drums and string instruments influenced by Irish, Brazilian and Algerian roots. He hopes to be joined by a few friends from SacredHeartbeat Drum Circle of Palatine.
New this year is Nature Poetry & Story “Slam,” in which attendees are invited to take the stage to share a short poem, prose or story.
The piece should be nature-themed and can be an original or a recitation of another’s work. Preregistration for the slam is requested at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov — provide participant’s name and age if younger than 18, topic or title, and approximate time, 30 seconds to three minutes.
Woven between the music, stories and poetry, Volo Bog will be presenting photo contest awards. Twenty photographers entered 146 photos in eight categories.
Kids nature crafts will be ongoing throughout the afternoon upstairs in the Visitor Center. Adults are welcome to create, too. Donations of cardboard egg cartons and white tube socks are sought for crafts.
Guided tours of Volo Bog will be held throughout the afternoon beginning at noon.
There also will be a snow sculpting contest (if there’s packable snow) in five categories: youth solo, youth group, adult solo, adult group, and mixed ages group
Other activities include hiking and cross country skiing and snowshoeing, weather permitting. Bring your own skis or snowshoes and hit the trails; there are more than 5 miles to explore and hike.
Hot cocoa and cider, cookies and other snacks will be for sale by the Friends of Volo Bog.
No reservations or minimum age are required for this open house. Visit www.FriendsofVoloBog.org.
Volo Bog State Natural Area is an Illinois Department of Natural Resources site. Visit dnr.state.il.us/lands or call (815) 344-1294.