Join the Chicago Park District and partners for the 5th Annual Birds, Bikes, and Beats (BBB) festival at Big Marsh Park on Saturday, September 24, 2022 from 8 am to 4 pm. Numerous events, resources, activities, and food will be available and running throughout the day ensuring something for everyone at this celebration of all things urban parks and nature. All parts of the festival are free and open to all, but some require pre-registration.
Festival Schedule:
7:30am – 10:00am: Mudhen 5K Fun Run — Join Chicago Park District, Friends of Big Marsh, and COS for the inaugural Mudhen 5k fun run/1 mile walk at Big Marsh Park! This will be the first event to utilize the newly installed 3-mile loop around Big Marsh Park, a 297-acre natural area and bike park.
Registration is required, here: https://www.chicagobirder.org/big-marsh-mudhen-2022
7:00am - 5:00pm: IOS Big Sit — Join IL Ornithological Society for the annual Big Sit! All weekend, teams of bird watchers are competing to see as many birds in a single day at select points across the state. The Big Marsh team will be counting from sun up to sun down and needs your help to win the golden binoculars.
Learn more here: https://pages.donately.com/illinoisornithologicalsociety/campaign/ios-big-sit-fundraiser-2022
10:00am – 1:00pm: BioBlitz — Join the Geographic Society of Chicago for Bioblitz: Big Marsh 2022!
Teams of volunteer scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members will work together to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible.
Learn more and RSVP here: https://www.geographicsociety.org/event/bioblitz-big-marsh-2022/
1:00pm – 4:00pm: Chicago Dancemakers Forum partners with M.A.D.D. Rhythms, [Un]commonGrounds, and We Are Collective for a day of improvisational dance practices in Tap, Contemporarydance, and Freestyle/Hip Hop. The Improvisers’ Dance Jam will take place outdoors at Big Marsh Park.
1:00pm – 5:00pm: Go Grind – Drop by one of these events and receive instruction from our expert skateboard and BMX coaches. Each clinic will also feature contests, graffiti artists, and music. Open to all ages. Equipment will be available for those who do not have their own. All clinics are free.