Lake Katherine to Welcome Families to WinterFest Feb. 4

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Children will get the chance to see a hawk close up and meet turtles and other critters at Lake Katherine’s Winterfest.

Lake Katherine’s annual winter celebration is on Saturday, February 4, from noon until 4.p.m. Animal and insects will make VIP appearances at the festival throughout the day.

Highlights include a visit from Sky, a female red-tailed hawk, from Pilcher Park Nature Center. There’ll also be an insect zoo hosted by the University of Illinois Extension. It will feature a variety of insects and bug-like creatures such as millipedes and spiders.

A Lake Katherine naturalist will also introduce turtles, snakes and salamanders and talk about their habits and habitat.

Other attractions include an ice rescue demonstration on the lake, hayrides, crafts for kids, face painting, snowshoeing, candle-making, food vendors and marshmallow roasting over an open fire.

Lake Katherine’s operations manager Gareth Blakesley will give a talk about how to find and purify clean sources of water in the wilderness. He will demonstrate how to make pine tea from pine needles and will be giving out samples.

“We have many interesting attractions, animals and insects at this year’s Winterfest,” says Blakesley. “We are particularly excited to welcome Sky the red-tailed hawk for her very first Winterfest. Red-tailed hawks are magnificent birds with wingspans of up to 57 inches. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to get up close and admire a bird of prey.”

Tickets to Winterfest cost $5 per person with children two and under being admitted for free. Early deals for up to 25 percent off can also be found on Groupon.com.

WINTERFEST TIMETABLE OF EVENTS

• 12.p.m. - 1.p.m. Dance with Waddles the Penguin in the Anniversary Garden.
• 12.30.p.m. Insect Zoo.1.p.m. Sky the red-tailed hawk.
• 1.30.p.m. Ice rescue demonstration by Palos Heights Fire District.
• 2.p.m. Meet Lake Katherine’s animals.
• 2.30.p.m. Hula Hooping in the Anniversary Garden.
• 2.30.p.m. Outdoor skills, learn all about water.
• 3.p.m. Winter seeding - when to plant your seeds and how to help native plants thrive.
• 3.30.p.m. Winter pruning - different types of pruning for plants.

PHOTO CREDIT: JACK MARTIN, FORESTERS CAMERA CLUB | Marshmallow roasting at Winterfest 2016.