By Barbara Arnstein
On June 6th, the second annual SpringFest to benefit Buffalo Audubon, will take place from 11am-4pm in North Java, NY. Reflecting National Trails Day, there will be numerous themed hikes along with animal education presentations, live music, nature-based art projects for all ages, kids’ activities including lawn games and self-guided scavenger hunts, and more.
Regarding the live music performers, Communications and Visitor Experience Coordinator Sydney Bucholtz said, “Tony Blasting will play acoustic sets beginning at eleven o’clock, and. Skinny G & The Meatballs, a 60s and 70s cover band; will begin at 12:30”.
“The admission price includes a Krolick’s chicken BBQ lunch (a vegetarian option is also available) and complimentary snacks (granola bars, cheese sticks, and fruit). Other paid food options are available: s’mores, cookies, and other snacks”, she continued. Before the event, tickets purchased online cost five dollars less than they will on the day of the festival. The General Admission cost, for ages twelve and up, now costs $45, which covers not only food but all activities. Food is also included with every other paid admission. General Admission offers the choice of Krolick’s chicken or a veggie burger, plus two sides, and two snacks, while the children’s meal includes a veggie burg-er or a hot dog and as many sides and snacks.
“SpringFest truly has something for everyone to enjoy, including music, nature, art, and fun family activities”, said Lynn Westcott, Director of Development. “It also raises funds to advance the work and mission of Buffalo Audubon and Trillium Nature Center”. The nature activities include wildlife sculptures and cyanotype printing, which involves placing objects, such as leaves, on light sensitive paper and capturing their outlines on it. There will also be basket and 50/50 raffles.
“For music lovers, in addition to the bands, a guided music hike offers four musical performances along the trail, and for those who enjoy art, there are two participatory projects on the art hike.”, she continued. “Nature lovers will enjoy birding, native plants, and flip-a-log hikes, plus forest bathing, immersing people in nature to help reduce stress. Families will certainly enjoy the educational children’s hikes.”. Visitors can go along on any hike (participation in any of them is on a first-come, first-served sign-up basis), hike by themselves or choose to just take it easy. There are two different birding hikes, one for novice birders, and the other for more experienced birders. New this year: the Storybook Trails.
The flip-a-log hikes are just what they sound like: hikes in which nature experts flip logs and talk about whatever insects crawl out from under it. (Kids love this.) The educational children’s hikes are shorter than the others.
SpringFest will be at Buffalo Audubon, at Trillium Nature Center, located at 1610 Welch Road in North Java, NY. The event will happen rain or shine. Parking is free, beer and wine will be available for a fee, and a water bottle fill station will be available. No pets are allowed, or smoking, or vaping. Visitors should bring their own chairs. For more information, go to: buffaloaudubon.org. Note: thanks to generous donors, financial help is available regarding paying the admission price. To find out more about this, email: lynn@buffaloaudubon.org