In its 5th year, Rockton Pelican Fest is back with favorite and new experiences

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and the annual return of the American White Pelicans with other migrating birds to the Rock River region when you attend Rockton Pelican Fest, a free, family friendly festival on Saturday, May 17, 2025, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Natural Land Institute, Sinnissippi Audubon Society, the Village of Rockton and JR Finally Art Studio & Gallery present a day filled with activities and sights sure to delight everyone. Visit several educational, historic, nature themed, and environmental booths in downtown Rockton. Stroll along the historic streets to visit shops and restaurants, which will have pelican-themed specials, for an entertaining day. Attend presentations held at Talcott Free Library and Village Hall. Visit nearby Nygren Wetland Preserve to look for the American White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, other birds and wildlife.

“We’re thrilled to bring Rockton Pelican Fest back to the community for the fifth year with favorites returning such as “Hoo” Haven and their live rescue pelican, the Traveling Science Center, the Whitman Post Elementary School art exhibit, the bird card collection at participating locations and several presentations at Rockton Village Hall and the Talcott Free Library,” said Jill Martin-Golden, one of the event organizers and business owner of JR Finally Art Studio & Gallery. “This year’s event is even more exciting with some new features including more booths – some with food options, face painting by Pickles and Company, a birdhouse decorating contest, a bird calling contest, and bird trivia game at our new stage. Also, celebrity entomologist Kevin Wiener from All Bugs Go to Kevin will be giving a program at Village Hall and leading a hike at Nygren Wetland that will be especially delightful for kids.”

Nygren Wetland Preserve – Wildlife Overlook (3714 W. Rockton Rd., Rockton)
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. (arrive at 7:15 a.m.) - Early Bird Hike – Led by birding expert, Joel Neylon, presented by Sinnissippi Audubon Society.

10 a.m. – 4:00 – p.m. – Visit anytime throughout the event. Volunteers will be there to help identify birds and other wildlife that will be seen. Drive to the Overlook on your own or Stateline Mass Transit District (SMTD) will provide a free shuttle from downtown Rockton to and from the Wildlife Overlook on an ongoing basis. Pick it up in downtown Rockton at the corner of W. Main and N. Prairie Streets.

Guided tours of the preserve start at the Nygren Wetland Wildlife Overlook at:
11:00 a.m. – led by Rick Barton, NLI Volunteer
12:30 p.m. – led by Rob Clark, NLI Trustee and volunteer
2:00 p.m.  – Jewels of the Undergrowth – An Arthropod Hike led by Kevin Wiener, creator of All Bugs Go To Kevin

Downtown Rockton 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Stroll the shops and restaurants, see booths at the corner of W. Main and N. Prairie Streets and in the 200 block of W. Main St.

• Visit the Traveling Science Center at the corner of Main & Prairie Streets.
• Collect bird cards - collect all of them from the participating locations to enter to win a LEGO ICON Kingfisher. Other prizes also available.

JR Finally Art Studio & Gallery (210 W. Main St.)
• See an art exhibit by 3rd-5th graders from Whitman Post Elementary School called “Pop and Parody”.
• View art demonstrations throughout the day.
• Participate in a make and take craft with handcrafted wooden birds ($10 fee).
• Register for a free pelican painting by noted watercolor artist Jean Apgar (through 3:15 p.m.).

Stage (in the parking lot of Rockton Food & Spirits, corner of W. Main & Prairie Streets)
10:00 a.m. - Welcome
Announcements throughout the day.
2:00 p.m. - Bird decorating contest winners announced, Bird Trivia Game, Bird Calling Contest.
3:30 p.m. - Bird Card Collection winners and Pelican Watercolor Drawing Winner announced.

Presentations

Rockton Village Hall (110 E. Main St.)
10:00 a.m. – “Hoo” Haven - See a live American White Pelican and hear about important the work of this wildlife rehabilitation center.
11:45 a.m. – “Hoo” Haven – second presentation
1:00 p.m. – Jewels of the Undergrowth – An Arthropod Program by Kevin Wiener, creator of All Bugs Go To Kevin.

Talcott Free Library (101 E. Main St.)
12:15 p.m - Peregrine Falcons by Sinnissippi Audubon Society, Jennifer Kuroda
1:30 p.m. - Paleoart Talk: Hear how live animals like pelicans are used as a reference for reconstructing extinct dinosaurs by Ryan Dewey, educator and paleo artist, Burpee Museum of Natural History
2:15 p.m. - See and learn about the birds of Sand Bluff Bird Observatory through the photography of John Longhenry

Outdoor Booths (*11 new booths this year)
*All Energy Solar, Burpee Museum, *Discovery Center, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, *Green-Rock Audubon Society, “Hoo” Haven, JR Finally Art Studio & Gallery, *Karenke Candle Co., Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, *Macktown Living History, *The Migration Climate Booth, Natural Land Institute, *Nature at the Confluence, Northern Regional Groundwater Protection Planning Committee, *Our Family Product LLC, *Pickles and Co., *Rockton Township Historical Society, Sinnissippi Audubon Society, *Truly Treasured Gift n Thrift Inc.

EVENT SPONSORS

Sandhill Crane ($500): Northern Regional Groundwater Protection Planning Committee; Great Egret ($250): Downtown Rockton, JR Finally Art Studio & Gallery, Karenke Candle Company, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful, Natural Land Institute, Pheasants Forever Winnebago County, Sinnissippi Audubon Society, Wild Birds Unlimited.

PARTICIPATING BUSINESS SPONSORS ($100): All Energy Solar, Balsley Printing, Buckets n Blooms, DairyHäus, Dee Dee’s Main Street Coffee, Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, Green-Rock Audubon Society, Healing Touch Acupuncture, “Hoo” Haven Wildlife & Education Center, KISS Glass, M & M Dari Ripple, Pick-A-dilly Antiques, Pickles and Co., Positive Changes Chiropractic, Rockton Inn Pub & Grub, Sugar Britches Old Fashioned Candy, and Truly Treasured Gift n Thrift Inc.

For more information about the Rockton Pelican Fest, visit https://rocktonpelicanfest.weebly.com/ and on Facebook search for Rockton Pelican Fest.