Dandelion Festival

This is a combined idea between Anne Strom and Hannah Grise:

Why: The Dandelion Festival would be a new spring-time event to bring the community together for fun, and educational experiences that promote outdoor recreation and showcase the Bolingbrook Park District's ecologically and fiscally responsible park/land management. 

When: The event would be hosted during the peak-season for dandelion blooms, approximately mid-April to mid-May of 2025 

Where: Volunteer Park South

Who (Target Audience): All ages-- Families, Adults w/ no children, Seniors 

How (Funding): 

• Sponsorships from new and established community partners such as Meijer, Menards, Tim Wallace Landscape Supply
• Low admission for residents 12+ ($3-$5) advertised as funding future free events
• Invite a variety of vendors to set up booth spaces with no charge to them
• Partner with the Village for tents 

What: 

Booth run by our BGNR team to promote and educate residents

• What chemicals we do or don't spray and why
• Controlled burns
• Shore erosion prevention
• Native plantings in the parks
• Art and crafting stations
  • Face painting
  • Flower crowns
  • Dandelion pressing 
• Flower and pollinator inspired games
• Food trucks
• Area to educate about importance of pollinators and dandelions as wild animal food
  • Feed a bunny (Cooper- Lindsey's son)
  • Collab with Will County Forest Preserve to bring apiary (bee) boxes
  • Honey tasting station
    • Different kinds of flowers have different flavors
• Silent disco area
• Butterfly habitat tent/station 
  • Maybe a release?
• Local artisan vendors selling wares
• Local farmers market
• Bingo tent
  • Yellow blotters
• Costume contest
• Uses for dandelions
  • Food dishes
  • Traditional medicine
  • Beverages
  • Attracting pollinators to vegetable garden