The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Fall Migration Festival Saturday
CANASTOTA, N.Y. » The Great Swamp Conservancy of Canastota will celebrate its 17th annual Fall Migration Festival on Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The festival has a full day of environmental programs, wildlife artists, crafters, flea market vendors, butterfly release, Kids Fun Run, Kids Rock Climbing Wall, petting zoo, children’s nature crafts and games.
Hitch a tractor/wagon ride to a 30-acre wetland in search of migratory birds. Maple Hedge Farm will provide horse rides (weather permitting). Visit the Wetland Creature tent and the Great Blue Heron Booth. The butterfly tent will allow visitors to observe and feed the butterflies. Wanderers’ Rest will have pets for adop-
tion. The Madison County Health Department and Upstate New York Casting for Recovery will also be at the festival. Kids can fly cast and win prizes with expert fisherman Spider Rybaak. The Utica Zoo Mobile, a chicken BBQ, Pages Wildlife Center with Live Birds of Prey, and pond exploration are all on the agenda.
Music will be provided by Cindy and Sarah Wilson from the New York State Old Tyme Fiddlers Association. Mark Douglas will entertain with his Americana tunes. Go back in time by entering the 1840 schoolhouse to see the renovation accomplishments. The day will end with young fiddlers from the NYS Old Tyme Fiddlers Assoc., Fiddlin’ Future.
Schedule of events
10 a.m. - Gates open 10 a.m. to noon - Utica Zoo Mobile
10:30 a.m. to noon - Music by NYS Old Tyme Fid- dlers Assoc. Sarah & Cindy Wilson
11 a.m. - Kids Fun Run for ages
11 a.m. until gone - Chicken BBQ. Dinners will be $10 and include a half chicken, baked potato, baked beans, roll, cookies, water. Half chicken only will be $6. Take outs available.
Noon to 2 p.m. - Music by Mark Douglas
Noon to 3 p.m. - Pages Wildlife Center with programs at 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Live Birds of Prey
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Horse rides by Maple Hedge Farm, weather permitting
1 p.m. - Pond Exploration for all ages, catch, ID and release program
2 p.m. - Live butterfly release
2-4 p.m. - Music by Fiddlin’ Future, youth musicians All Day Artists, crafters, and flea market vendors 7 Trees Goat Farm Children’s nature crafts and games Petting zoo Wagon rides to Anne V. Pickard Overlook, weather permitting
Live butterfly tent observing and feeding butterflies Wetland Creature tent Year of the Heron booth with bird migration information
Basket raff le extravaganza
Lady Bug Café with Hofmann hot dogs, Angus burgers, and PBJ’s
Wanderers’ Rest pet adoption Kids rock climbing wall Madison County Health Department Lyme disease/ tick update info
1840 Messengers Bay School District No. 1, One Room Schoolhouse, open to the public
Upstate New York Casting for Recovery
Casting with expert fisherman Spider Rybaak
Admission is $ 4 per adult, $1 per child 12 and under, and $8 max for family. For more information, call the GSC office at 315697-295 or email greatswampconservancy@gmail.com.