Be a Bigfoot on snowshoes or tackle the sled hill at Forest Preserve's 2020 'Snow Day Festival'

Mix together some snow, fire and ice, and sprinkle in a bit of movie magic and you'll come up with the recipe for wintertime family fun at the Forest Preserve District of Will County's annual "Snow Day Festival" on Saturday, Jan. 18.

The fest takes place from noon-4 p.m. at Plum Creek Nature Center and the surrounding Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve in Crete Township. This 2020 fest's theme is inspired by the animated movie "Smallfoot."

"The movie tells a story about big-footed yetis discovering that small-footed humans exist," said Suzy Lyttle, an interpretive naturalist for the Forest Preserve. "So we are using the Bigfoot vs. smallfoot theme to encourage visitors to take their small human feet and strap them into snowshoes for some big-footed action."

If there is snow, the preserve's sled hill will be open for business. Bring your own plastic sled or use one of Plum Creek's sled tubes to glide down the 40-foot slope. If Mother Nature fails to cooperate, there will be plenty of other activities at the fest to keep you busy. The fest will feature ice carvers, an outdoor campfire with s'mores, a snowball fight arena (with real or faux snowballs), free popcorn and showings of the movie "Smallfoot" inside the nature center and snowshoes that can be used without snow.

A restoration activity complete with burn piles also will be taking place during the fest. Visitors can help remove invasive species and learn more about the District's volunteer restoration opportunities.

After experiencing all of the winter fun, fest-goers can head into the visitor center to explore nature exhibits and take part in Bigfoot/smallfoot-related arts and crafts projects. Food also will be available for purchase. And keep an eye out for Bigfoot Willy, the Forest Preserve's woodchuck mascot, who will be stomping about the festival site to amuse and inspire visitors to take part in all of the fun activities.

The first 200 visitors to the 2020 "Snow Day Festival" will receive a free winter giveaway.

For more information on "Snow Day Festival" and other Forest Preserve District programs and events, visit ReconnectWithNature.org.