Lippold Park and Red Oak Nature Center will both host Bug Fest on Saturday.
The half-mile stretch of the Fox River Trail that connects Lippold Park and Red Oak Nature Center will also be utilized for the event. The free event will feature bug-related activities, demonstrations and crafts.
“Bugs hold a bit of intrigue for everybody, and they’re often misunderstood,” said Red Oak naturalist and facility supervisor Margaret Gazdacka. “They’re actually pretty amazing creatures that play a huge role in nature.”
Attendees will learn about the benefits of bugs and their role in pollinating plants and flowers, aerating the soil and their role in the food chain.
Red Oak Nature Center will feature presentations by entertainer and educator David Stokes and his “Arthropods for Fun” show. The Waxed Hands artists will also be at Red Oak to create wax molds of hands and babies’ feet for $5.
Local beekeeper Harry Patterson will also be at Predator Pavilion to present how bees make honey and explain their importance in nature. Various honey varieties will be for sale.
Lippold Park will feature an extensive bug exhibit, “The Hive,” presented by Terminix. The Mealworm 500, a bug-themed race, is among the main features, along with displays and insect collections.
Bug Fest is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Lippold Park, 2001 S. River St. in Batavia, and Red Oak Nature Center, 2343 S. River St. in Batavia. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit foxvalleyparkdistrict.org or call 630-897-1808.
Heirloom garden show Sunday
The 26th annual Heirloom Garden Show is scheduled for Sunday at Garfield Farm Museum on Garfield Road in LaFox.
The show will feature local exhibitors and three heirloom gardens, one of which dates back to the 1860s.
Organizers said the show seeks to increase public awareness about the loss of genetic diversity in plants. Members of the Seed Savers Exchange will exhibit their produce and flowers. The group preserves seeds in a collection of over 25,000 plant varieties.
Increased rains this season provided a hard year for gardeners, and this year’s show will focus on hardy vegetables and rare flowers, organizers said.
Exhibitors include one Wisconsin family who will display and sell over 70 tomato varieties. Local botanist Jack Shouba will host guided walks among giant ragweed, which approach 10 to 12 feet tall.
The show will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Garfield Farm Museum. Admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 13 years old. For more information, contact 630-584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org.
Paddleboard and yoga topics of class
Rocktown Adventures in Aurora and Yoga in Motion are partnering to offer Stand Up Paddleboarding and Yoga. The two-hour class is set for Sunday at Jericho Lake Park, 39W365 Jericho Road in Aurora.
The class will begin with an overview of stand up paddleboarding and yoga on land. After the 30-minute overview, instructors will lead the class out to the water for an hour of yoga. The class will end with an exploration of stand up paddleboarding.
The Stand Up Paddleboarding Yoga class is from 9 to 11 a.m. at Jericho Lake Park. Registration is $50 and includes paddleboard, paddle, life jacket, instruction and an after-class snack. Class size is limited to 10 participants. Call 630-506-5706 to reserve a spot.
Farm in Montgomery to host activities
A special Day at the Dickson-Murst Farm will be held Sunday.
Activities will include a petting zoo, kiddie tractor pull, hayrides and more.
Demonstrations of old farm implements including corn shellers and cob grinders will be held as well.
Live music will be presented by the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Association. Food will be sold at the Country Kitchen, and all raised money will support the maintenance of the farm.
Day at the Dickson-Murst Farm is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Dickson-Murst Farm, 2550 Dickson Road in Montgomery. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 630-272-0686.
Got Pulse? Columnist Joy Davis is looking for interesting, quirky and just plain funny stories about people and places in the Fox Valley. Email her at joydavis234@gmail.com.
