Parks and Recreation

July 24, 2014 by Staff Report

GEAUGA PARK DISTRICT

For more information, contact the park district by phone at 440-286-9516 or visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org.

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Nature Arts Festival

Geauga Park District’s Nature Arts Festival is known for every variety of fine arts on display and for sale by regional artists. Every member of the family, every friend leaves refreshed and inspired in some way.

The 23rd annual Nature Arts Festival takes place Aug. 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The West Woods, 9465 Kinsman Road in Russell Township.

The popular and free indoor-outdoor festival features: an entirely nature-focused juried art show; for-sale art by regional and national woodcarvers, painters, potters, jewelry-makers and other artisans at a variety of price ranges; food for sale by The Reserve House; ice cream and nuts by Nick Reiter; kettle corn by Look What’s Poppin’; all-day entertainment by the Western Reserve Artist-Blacksmith Association; and free parking.

This year’s event will not have People’s Choice voting. However, more than 10 new vendors will show a variety of mediums.

Saturday will feature live music from some of Geauga Park District’s Maple Town Tune Traders, and Sunday will feature the event to celebrate the 19th annual Nature Writing Contest winners, featuring readings of their award-winning works, explanations from judges and an opportunity to read your own Nature writing for an audience.

The park district’s Shutterbugs Camera Club will also be featured as club president Bruce Bennett presents on honing nature photography talents.

Visitors totaled more than 2,000 last year despite morning rain and heat.

In addition, the 34th annual Chardon Arts Festival will be held Aug. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Chardon Square. The juried, outdoor show is free to attend and will host more than 100 artists, both local and out-of-state, providing a wonderful opportunity for a day of shopping and dining in a park-like setting. Sponsor is Chardon Square Association.

As needed, a free shuttle will run from ASM at 9639 Kinsman Road.

Call 440-286-9516 with questions about the Park District festival, or call Mariann Goodwin at 440-285-8686 with questions about the Chardon festival.

Bat Spectacle

As white-nose syndrome continues to decimate area bat populations, Geauga Park District is offering a special opportunity to watch little brown bats’ “flight into the night” on property it protects behind South Newbury Union Chapel.

Bat Spectacle: Flight into the Night is July 31 from 7:30-9 p.m. at South Newbury Union Chapel, Route 44 in Newbury.

Bats will emerge from a “bat condo” roosting structure, built over a decade ago as an Eagle Scout project, which is capable of housing hundreds of bats at once. As dusk proceeds, the bats begin leaving the condo for an evening of food foraging, using echo-location to catch flying insects such as moths, beetles and flies.

White-nose syndrome is a cold-tolerant fungus that continues its rampant spread to caves and rock shelters throughout eastern North America, moving west, killing hibernating bats by the millions since 2006. Marked reductions have already been observed in Geauga County summer bat populations, with the syndrome found in local rock shelters where bats usually hibernate.

Registration is required by phone at 440-279-0880. Parking is very limited; registration is by number of vehicles, not people, so carpooling is encouraged.