
Visitors of all ages can enjoy nature exploration, dancing, stewardship and more at the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Party for the Preserves events on Sept. 23.
Submitted by Forest Preserves of Cook County
The annual Forest Preserves of Cook County’s Party for the Preserves on Saturday, Sept. 23, checks a lot of boxes: it kicks off fall forest fun events that run through November, marks two historic anniversaries, and — most importantly — offers a full day of fun, from a bilingual bird walk at 8:30 a.m. to a Funkadesi concert followed by s’mores and night walks 12 hours later.
“As the seasons turn, there’s even more to see and do in the Forest Preserves, and that deserves a party,” says Forest Preserves General Superintendent Arnold Randall.
“This year we are also marking the 30th anniversary of National Public Lands Day and the 60th anniversary of the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. We have a lot to celebrate.”
Six events — all free and open to the public — will be held as part of this year’s Party for the Preserves:
- Bilingual Bird Migration Walk/Caminata Bilingüe Sobre la Migración de Aves: 8:30 a.m. at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont.
- Bike Ride: Party for the Preserves: 10 a.m. at Beaubien Woods in Chicago.
- Salsa Dance: 11 a.m. at Thatcher Woods Pavilion in River Forest.
- Party for the Preserves Program: noon at Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington.
- Fourth Annual Fall Nature Fest: noon at LaBagh Woods, Foster and Cicero in Chicago.
- Party for the Preserves: 4 p.m. at Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs. Includes paddling on the lake, food and more, to be followed by a Funkadesi concert, ending with optional night walks and s’mores.
Additional details on all six events are online at fpdcc.com/events/category/party or at each preserve’s web pages. Fall events through the end of November are available in the Fall 2023 Guide.