Schaumburg Monarch Initiative hosts annual art fest, family fair Saturday

The Schaumburg Monarch Initiative is holding its second annual Monarch & Art in the Park Craft Show & Family Fun Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, at 1942 E. Algonquin Road in Schaumburg, adjacent to Finn McCool's and Moretti's restaurants.

The free event will a mix cultural, educational and creative activities, with 100% of the proceeds dedicated to creating monarch and pollinator habitats, rearing monarchs, establishing monarch waystations and providing educational programing for the public and community organizations.

The craft show will feature local artisans offering an array of handmade items, many of which reflect nature, garden and sports themes. The artisans have donated samples of their work to be included in a raffle.

Finn McCool's is offering Lunch Specials and Moretti's is serving its rib special for lunch and dinner.

The Schaumburg Township Library and the Schaumburg Monarch Initiative will provide a selection of kids crafts and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District is giving away garden supplies, including tree saplings and compost. Ballet Folklorico Girasol will perform Mexican Dances at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., to highlight the cultural connection monarchs share with Mexico, U.S. and Canada.

Live monarchs will be released at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., accompanied with a brief educational program.

Monarch experts from the Schaumburg Monarch Initiative, MonarchWatch and the Monarch Mommas of the Midwest will be on hand to show live samples of monarch development from eggs to caterpillars, and chrysalises. They will answer questions and provide educational literature on various areas of butterfly, pollinator and waystation development.