Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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Picture
 Autumn on the Prairie 2020 Cancelled 

Nachusa Grasslands regretfully announces that its annual Autumn on the Prairie festival scheduled for September 19, 2020, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Until a vaccine or highly effective treatment becomes widely available or no new cases occur over a sustained period, large gatherings will not be permitted in northern Illinois. These developments seem very unlikely by mid-September. This event involves several months of advance preparation, so cancelling now is the wisest option for conserving our human and financial resources.
Saturday, September 21, 10 am to 4 pm
   (note new ending time)
Nachusa Grasslands Visitor Center

2075 Lowden Road, ​Franklin Grove, IL 61031​
  • This annual event is open to the public.
  • To keep our guests safe while we set up, we will open the festival gates at 10 am.
  • Parking is $5 per car.
  • Donations will also be accepted at the Welcome Pavilion and Bison Tours Tent.
  • No Rain Date — Prepare for possible storms and schedule changes.
Picture
Riding Prairie Tours — Look for Bison
Departing from 10 am to 3 pm
  • Free tickets will be available only at the Autumn on the Prairie site.
  • Each person takes a number at the Bison Tours Tent.
  • The Bison Tours ticket supply may be limited, based on festival attendance and the location of the herd.
  • You can join a tour anytime your number is less than the one written on the white board.
  • When you are ready, walk to the path entrance, where your tickets will be collected.
  • Then walk west to the tent by the fence gate and get in line.
  • First come, first served for all numbers less than the one posted.
  • You will ride on a trailer through the preserve.
  • Visitors with low mobility must be able to walk to the path entrance, ride a UTV to the fence gate, and then climb a ramp or stairs into a trailer.
  • Finding the bison is not guaranteed, as they cannot always be seen from the lanes.
  • Usually, the herd is more visible earlier in the day.
  • The last tour will leave at about 3 pm, so please get in line before 2:45 pm.
Guided Hiking Tours
Departing from 10:15 am to 3 pm
  • Meet at the Hiking Tours Tent.
  • Experienced guides will lead walking tours of Nachusa's prairies, woodlands, and wetlands.
  • Details on the times, destinations, length, and difficulty of the hikes.
  • This information will also be posted by the Hiking Tours Tent.
  • Several tour groups will walk a loop departing from and returning to the AOTP site.
  • Shuttled tours will drop you off and pick you up at a place on the preserve and then return you to the AOTP site.
  • Meet at the Hiking Tours Tent at least 5 minutes before the scheduled departure.
  • Tours inside the Bison Unit will be limited to 12-15 people and will be cancelled or relocated if the herd is in the vicinity.
  • The number of participants for other shuttled tours may be limited, based on available transportation.
  • All tour length times are approximate.
  • Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended for the hiking tours, as most are off trail with hills.
Activities at the AOTP Site
10 am to 4 pm

  • Visitor Center Welcome Area and T-Shirt Sales (New Design and Prices!)
  • Catering by Oliver’s Market (11:30 am to 3 pm)
  • Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education Live Birds of Prey Program at 12:30 pm and Displays (all day).
  • Self-Guided Plant ID Walking Path
  • Books on First Sales
  • Discovery Tent Activities
  • Conservation Organization Displays
  • Interactive Experiences with Brian "Fox" Ellis at 11:15 and 1:45 pm
  • Live Music by Sláinte and Friends
  • Prairie Art and Photography
  • Native American Skills Demonstrations
  • Local Produce Sales
  • Franklin Creek Conservation Association Grist Mill Display
  • Shuttle Service by Gene and Diane Rod
All posted plans are subject to change.

UPDATED 05/2020

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2075 Lowden Road             |           Franklin Grove, IL 61031              |             Contact Us


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  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission and Leadership
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2022
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Teacher Resources
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Autumn on the Prairie
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Stewardship Teams
    • Workday Email List
    • Steward Login
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
    • Stewards and Staff
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Weekly Top Picks
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Links & Resources
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2023
      • Science Grants 2022
      • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2020
      • Science Grants 2019
      • Science Grants 2018
      • Science Grants 2017
      • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2015
      • Science Grants 2014
      • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Science Symposium 2022
    • Science Symposium Abstracts >
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2019
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2018
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2017
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2016
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Testimonials >
      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • 30th Anniversary Memories
    • Websites of Interest
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
      • Visitor Photos
    • Submit Your Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs