During the month of April, Central Wisconsin will be celebrating grasslands during the 2014 Central Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival. This month-long event is a way to educate the public on the importance of grasslands. Grasslands provide a home to the greater prairie chicken, and the Central Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival is a way to celebrate the conservation of these grasslands.
This Saturday, April 5th, the festivities will kick-off at the Central Wisconsin Children’s Museum. The “Grassland Gala” begins at 3:00pm and is fun for the entire family. Admission will be free and there will be a variety of activities. There will be live music, a poster naming competition, movies, trivia, and a silent auction. Kids can enjoy a variety of arts, crafts, games, prizes, and sing-a-longs. There will also be an opportunity to shop for arts, crafts, and food that is all supplied by local vendors.
Next weekend, April 11th-13th, you will be able to explore the Buena Vista Wildlife Area in Kellner, WI. Participants will meet at the Kiwanis Lodge at 4:00 am and will be led through the Buena Vista Grasslands as they get a firsthand view of the greater prairie chickens. Following the tour of the grasslands, participants will head back to the Kiwanis Lodge to enjoy a brief presentation and delicious hot breakfast.
On April 12th and 13th, there will be an event following the hot breakfast. From 7:30 am to noon there will be grassland bird tours and demonstrations throughout the Buena Vista Grasslands.
To top off this already awesome event, there will be more festivities at the Central Waters Brewing Company on Saturday, April 12th. Starting at 3:00 pm, there will be live music by Joe. E and the Sand Prairie Band. There will also be a poetry slam and jam session. Tours of the Central Waters Brewing Company will be at 5:00 pm. Attendees will also get to shop for arts, crafts, foods, and more from local vendors. There will plenty of great beers to sample, including a special-labeled “Boomin’ Brew”.
If you have any questions about the Central Wisconsin Prairie Chicken Festival, you can visit their website.