Prairie Fest

Celebrate nature with yoga, prairie tours, environmental education and art displays, short nature pop-up presentations, and more at this year’s Prairie Fest on Saturday, August 1, from 8:00 AM to noon at the beautiful Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum, adjacent to the Fond du Lac County Campus.

Prairie Fest is a FREE family-oriented environmental education event with activities for all ages. SCHEDULE as of 7/5/26:

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DISPLAYS from 8:00 a.m. – noon
Learn about native plants, butterflies, pollinators, cranes, small wild animals, the history of the area, and other nature & mindfulness-related topics from:
-Friends of the Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum
-Wild Ones Fox Valley Chapter
-FDL Area Bird & Nature Alliance (formerly Audubon)
-International Crane Foundation
-Marsh Haven Nature Center
-CSA (Congregation of Sisters of St Agnes)
-Oshkosh/Fond du Lac Citizens’ Climate Education
-Earth Justice Now
-InterTribal Lake Winnebago Mayom ~ Wild Rice Revitalization Project
-Fond du Lac County Historical Society
-The Arc Fond du Lac, Inc.
-Twisted Warrior Yoga
-Fond du Lac County Land and Water Conservation Dept.
-Native Niche (restoration services, tools, and plants)
-Local Legacy (native plant information and plants for sale)
-Prairie Revival (ecological services)

LIVE ACOUSTIC MUSIC from Edward Uttendorfer from 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. (sponsored by Fond du Lac Area Foundation)

NATURE INSPIRED ART AND FOOD TO PURCHASE 8:00 a.m.-noon
– Hand-carved birds, mystical cottonwood bark houses from Joe Longo
– Hand-painted drawings and crafts from Mary’s Crafts
– Nature-inspired themed gifts and décor from Two Bear Originals
– Nature-inspired wood burns from The Wooden Well
– Bakery, ice cold brew coffee, lemonade from Ripon Dough Company

GUIDED TOURS & YOGA
8:00 a.m. Yoga in the Prairie Featuring Lucy Mathers, Twisted Warrior
8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. – Guided mindful nature walk with Kelsey Beine, Lead with Light
10:00 a.m.: Native Plant ID Walk-Learn about native plants and how to identify them with Amanda Abramovich, Local Legacy LLC

NATURE POP-UP TALKS (20-30 mins):
-9:30 a.m.
Backyard Native Plants with Margie Winter, Friends of the Gottfried board member
-10:00 a.m.
Marsh Haven Nature Center presentation at booth – meet and greet animals
-10:30 a.m
Nature presentation for kids from Jackie Scharfenberg, retired DNR Environmental Educator/Naturalist

OTHER FUN KIDS ACTIVITIES from 8:00 a.m. to noon:
-Face/arm painting by Renee
-Kids’ arts and crafts featuring prairie hats and flower bracelets
-The Backyard Bug activity book for kids (limited supply, sponsored by the Fond du Lac Evening Optimists)
-Chalk zone
-Big bubbles

*FEATURE ENTERTAINMENT* Join us for Randy Peterson’s high energy concert at 11:15 a.m. His shows are a fast-moving mix of music, humor, and storytelling that are geared for kids, but which all ages enjoy! (Sponsored by the Fond du Lac Evening Optimists)