Family Fall Festival & Plein Air Painting Contest

Celebrate the arrival of autumn with art and nature fun for the whole family! Festivities include Naturalist-led hikes, children's games and crafts, hands-on activities at the Hobbs Observatory and Citizen Science Center, and much more. There will be live music and food served by the Wildlands Charter School at the Main Lodge. (Please note: food is not included in the event cost and all food proceeds will benefit the Wildlands Charter School). The festival will also be hosting the Eau Claire Regional Art Council's (ECRAC) first ever Plein Air Painting Contest. Artists will set up easels and canvas and paint the beautiful landscapes of the Reserve that may be viewed throughout the day. ECRAC's ARTmobile will be there to provide art activities for kids and adults. Judging and prizes for the contest will be awarded at 4 p.m. in the Nature Center's auditorium. After visiting our Family Fall Festival, be sure to drive 5 minutes down the road to visit the Manyfires Art Fair for art, food and family activities going on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (In the event of inclement weather, festival activities will move inside our facilities.)