Interactive Ecology Emporium
Popular nature education festival returns to Elachee Nature Science Center, on September 11, with an outdoor, expanded scope and something for everyone.
September 1, 2021 (Gainesville, Ga.) – Elachee Nature Science Center invites the public to get up close and personal with creatures who slither, crawl, flap, caw and more, at the 2021 Snake Day Wildlife Festival on Saturday, September 11, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Elachee is pleased to offer ecology programming in an outdoor festival setting to help children and nature lovers learn more about the natural world and to gain a healthy respect for the important role a variety of animals and plants play in local ecosystems.
Elachee’s 2021 Snake Day Wildlife Festival is presented by Northside Hospital and event sponsors Hoschton Animal Hospital, Jackson EMC, Lanier Federal Credit Union, McDonald’s NEGA, Inc., New Urban Forestry, Syfan Logistics, Tipton Construction Company and Whitehead Die Casting Company. Elachee is very grateful to these incredible community partners for making this popular and expanded family-friendly festival possible for 2021.
“We are so thrilled to welcome the community back to Elachee and to share the wonder of Georgia’s wildlife with our guests,” comments Maranda McGaha, Elachee’s Interim Director of School and Public Programs. “I’m very excited for this year’s Snake Day Wildlife Festival, not only because of last year’s unfortunate hiatus, but because of the wide diversity of exhibitors this year’s festival will showcase.”
Not only will regional herpetology experts engage guests with native and exotic species of snakes, lizards, turtles, tortoises, toads, frogs and crocodiles, audiences will meet birds of prey and a menagerie of mammals to cuddle. Other conservation-minded organizations will also be on site with tree climbing demonstrations, and to share updates on active projects and to impart ecology tips. Partake of food truck fare and shop for Snake Day Wildlife Festival souvenirs. Don’t be surprised to run into special visitors walking among the crowd!
“Plan to join us for this amazing outdoor event,” encourages Sarah Bell, Elachee President and CEO. “We are looking forward to the 2021 Snake Day Wildlife Festival with great excitement! Our team has worked hard to plan an event that will be a fantastic opportunity to learn about and see new things, and to experience the wonder of all that this area has to offer.”
This family-friendly festival will take place outdoors at Elachee’s main campus, 2125 Elachee Drive in Gainesville (Exit 17 on I-985, off Atlanta Highway, near the Chicopee Woods Golf Course). Bring the family, but not your dogs! Pay at the festival entrance. General admission is $10 per person for ages 2 and older, and $5 per Elachee member. Parking is free. Guests may catch a shuttle to/from designated parking areas. Masks will be required on the shuttles and to visit Elachee’s indoor Live Animal Exhibit.
Bell shares, “In these challenging times, we can all use a little fun. We hope that for families and our community, the Snake Day Wildlife Festival will provide a chance to enjoy time together while staying safe outdoors.”
Elachee and the 2021 Snake Day Wildlife Festival sponsors are pleased to welcome these exciting exhibitors: Aware Wildlife Center, Blue Ridge Raptors, Chattahoochee Nature Center, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, Dunwoody Nature Center, Georgia Audubon with Corina Newsome, Georgia Mountain Falconry, Smithgall Woods State Park/Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Hall County Mobile Library, Herpetologist Andy Howington, Jefferson Middle School with Jennifer McAuley and 7th Grade Science Students, Lozano Farms Petting Zoo, Monarchs Across Georgia, Morgan Swank (author and creator of the children’s book Mort), New Urban Forestry, Scalebrations, and the University of North Georgia (UNG) Box Turtle Project.
Other special guests include David Court the One Man Band and UNG’s Nigel the Nighthawk. Food vendors are Double Cakes, Frozen Frenzee and Hot Dog Ninja.
While at Elachee, enjoy strolling among the ecology, children’s art and live animal exhibits. Spend time hiking along the 8-mile Chicopee Woods trail system or return for that adventure another day. Hiking trails are open daily to the public from 7 a.m. to sunset. Elachee Nature Science Center is open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and for general admission each second Saturday for Discovery Saturdays programming. Learn more at https://www.elachee.org or call 770-535-1976.
About Elachee Nature Science Center
Elachee Nature Science Center is a private, independently owned and operated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Nestled in the 1,440-acre Chicopee Woods Nature Preserve, one of Georgia’s largest protected and most ecologically diverse green spaces, Elachee is the only SACS/COGNIA-accredited nature center in the southeastern United States. For four decades, Elachee has been promoting environmental understanding through education and conservation. Elachee engages tens of thousands of visitors annually with quality nature programming through PreK-12 field trips and outreach, Camp Elachee, and seasonal ecology encounters for children and adult learners. The campus is also home to the accredited and licensed Elachee Nature Academy offering nature-based Preschool to 3rd Grade. With help from a dedicated volunteer corps and community partners, Elachee maintains and operates the Chicopee Woods hiking trail system along with related conservation initiatives in this urban woodland. Visit www.elachee.org to learn more.