Put away your Gameboys for Lombard Prairie Days
State history will be living, breathing and swaying in the wind in Lombard Sunday, the result of years of hard work, said Lonnie Morris.
Prairie Days, a one-day festival, literally grew out of the work of Lombard Garden Club's volunteers to showcase the gradual transformation of Terrace View Park from, Morris said, "a traditional mowed grass park" to a reminder of how things used to be.
Sponsored by the garden club, the Lombard Park District and the Lombard Historical Society, the event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday will include a hands-on fishing clinic at Terrace View Park, programs on prairie plants and bugs, 19th century domestic arts and children's games, along with crafts, food and music.
For the first time in its four years, Prairie Days will feature the Illinois Natural History Traveling Science Center, a 320-square foot mobile classroom that focuses on bio-diversity education in the state.
"It's a marvelous resource for people who want to learn more about Illinois," said Morris, an event organizer.
Regular features return including outdoors guru Don Barg teaching kids the basics of fishing.
"We have to get the kids out from the Game Boys and back to Mother Nature," Barg said. "We want them to see the Monarch butterflies and the plants that are here."
Last year, the 102 people who drew fishing lines into the water caught 69 fish.
Unfortunately, weeds have been most active creatures under water, Barg said, which could mean his work will fall more on fishing skills than fishing unless a heavy downpour clears up space.
Still Barg, 74, said, "We concentrate on kids from about 5 to 10 years old. We want to get them interested in ponds throughout the county and let them know a lot is going on below the water."
Master Gardeners from the University of Illinois Extension again will be present to answer questions.
Village of Lombard arborist Steve Kremske also will be ready to receive tree-related inquiries.
The "Life of a Pioneer Child" historical program will include a school teacher in a period costume.
Though the event is scheduled to close around 3 p.m., late arrivers would be welcome to join the day, which Morris said, has "a natural, organic conclusion."
If you go
What: Prairie Days
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Terrace View Park, intersection of Elizabeth Street and Greenfield Avenue, Lombard
Cost: Free
Details: (630) 620-7322