Mother Nature provides the perfect setting for Volo Bog Winterfest

Posted January 12, 2025 5:25 pm

Daily Herald report

The Holmes family of Ringwood starts a bog walk with other event attendees of Winterfest on Sunday at Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside. Karie Angell Luc for the Daily Herald

The Volo Bog State Natural Area draws about 200 visitors Sunday for its annual Winterfest, which had a key participant on its side: Mother Nature.

A morning snowfall and idea mid 30s temperatures greeted attendees of the fest, which featured live music, children’s crafts, bog tours and other activities.

“I love it so much,” Stacy L. Iwanicki of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, said of the yearly gathering. “I want people to get outside. I want people to come and learn a little bit about Volo Bog, even if that’s just to know that it exists so they want to come back.”

Irish Stew, formerly known as the Bridgeport Ramblers, was the featured group, performing a repertoire ranging from traditional Irish reels, jigs and dance tunes as well as Irish and contemporary music.

Martin Holmes, 4, of Ringwood visits the craft table with parents, from left, Epiphany Holmes and Jacob Holmes during Winterfest on Sunday at the Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside. Karie Angell Luc for the Daily Herald

Deborah Hostetler of Crystal Lake performs on fiddle Sunday with Irish Stew during Winterfest at Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside. Karie Angell Luc for the Daily Herald

Kim Vavalle of Lakemoor, left, finishes a walk with her dogs at Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside, which hosted its annual Winterfest on Sunday. Karie Angell Luc for the Daily Herald

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