MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Department of Parks and Recreation invite families with children of all ages and adults to celebrate wildlife and embrace environmental conservation at an exciting event at Trailside Nature and Science Center in Mountainside on Sunday, April 26.
The annual “Wild Earth Fest” will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is $4 per person; children 6 years and younger are free. Admission includes entrance to the “Touch A Truck” event being held concurrently in the Watchung Reservation lower loop parking lot. No pets will be permitted to these events.
“The Wild Earth Fest event is an entertaining way for families to celebrate the Earth,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, “People of all ages can learn to become eco-friendly and increase their awareness of wildlife conservation.”
Featured this year, Jennifer Pena of “Flight of the Raptor” will present the natural history of birds of prey. Learn about their nesting habits, hunting adaptations and flight patterns. LIVE raptors displayed may include a peregrine falcon, kestrel, owls and a Harris’s hawk.
Join Cyril the Sorcerer as he tells the tale of monsters, magic and too much trash during his magical, interactive performance “Recycling is Magic” in the auditorium offered twice during the afternoon.
Glenn “Wreckin Ball” Waldeck and daughter Holly will delight the audience on a musical journey that touches on an array of topics and encourages participation through singing, dancing and other antics. His songs have been heard on NBC, PBS, CNN and the Discovery Channel.
Back by popular demand, Vinnie Reo and his wolves from Wolf Visions, will dispel the myths of the “Big Bad Wolf” and explain their role in keeping a balanced ecosystem. Guests can meet a snake or turtle from Trailside’s reptile collection throughout the afternoon. Ongoing activities include Eco-Art for a nominal fee, free face-painting and Recycling Olympics.
Vendors and exhibitors include NJ Audubon Society, Newark Bait and Flycasting, NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife, GAIA Wildlife Center, Save Barnegat Bay, Sierra Club, AmeriCorps Watershed Ambassador, US Department of Agriculture, NJ Forest Fire Service and much more. Refreshments and wildlife-related art and gifts will be available for purchase.
Winners of the Environmental Hero Awards and the Wildlife Photography Contest will be honored at 2 p.m.
For more information about “Wild Earth Fest” or any other upcoming programs or events at Trailside, please call 908-789-3670 or visit www.ucnj.org/trailside. Trailside Nature and Science Center is located at 452 New Providence Road in Mountainside and is a service of the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
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