Hackmatack Monarch Coalition hosts Monarch Fair for families Aug. 11
The population of the Monarch butterfly, Illinois’ state insect, has declined precipitously in recent years. Mexico, Canada and the United States are all collaborating on a North American strategy to conserve and recover this iconic species; our state hosts the Illinois Monarch Project; and local communities are doing their part.
Learn what families can do to help monarchs and other butterflies and pollinators at the ninth Monarch Fair, hosted by the Hackmatack Monarch Coalition, on Sunday, Aug. 11.
This year’s fair will be 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Main Beach Pavilion, 300 Lake Shore Drive in Crystal Lake.
Members of the public are invited to migrate to the beach and get in free for a family afternoon and learn all about monarchs, with butterfly and pollinator plants information, a monarch art show, science and art activities, and loads of information from 17 exhibitors!
Pollinator plants will be available to purchase from Countryside Flower Shop & Nursery. Everyone who completes the Monarch Quiz will get a free ice cream token, redeemable at the Crystal Lake Culver’s restaurant.
A Community Band Showcase will fill the afternoon with music at the band shell starting at 1 p.m.
In Illinois, McHenry County is a leader in the state in showing up to help monarchs, with county entities representing over a third of all Illinois signers of 2024 Mayors’ Monarch Pledge organized by the National Wildlife Foundation.
Fifty-two Illinois units of government signed this year’s pledge with 20 of the signers based in McHenry County. Signers include the towns of Algonquin, Bull Valley, Crystal Lake, Harvard, Hebron, Holiday Hills, Huntley, Johnsburg, Lakemoor, Marengo, McCullom Lake, Oakwood Hills, Port Barrington, Trout Valley, Union, Wonder Lake and Woodstock; Coral and Nunda townships and the Crystal Lake Park District.
The Monarch Fair is sponsored by Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Crystal Lake Park District featuring activities from numerous conservation, education and arts groups involved in the Hackmatack Monarch Coalition.
Other participating organizations include Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Conversación de Conservación, Creative Arts Fine Arts School, Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, McHenry County Conservation District, McHenry County Master Gardeners McHenry County Schools Environmental Education Program (McSEEP), Small Waters Education, The Land Conservancy of McHenry County’s Conservation@Home, Sierra Club, the Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee, and the Xerces Society.
For more information, contact Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge at (262) 448-3558 or visit hackmatacknwr.org/monarch-family-fun-fair-2024/.