Wild Rice Festival September 18, 2010

The Friends of Roseville’s Harriet Alexander Nature Center (FORHANC) is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Wild Rice Festival on Saturday, September 18, 2010. This admission-free, family-friendly celebration of wild rice, Native American culture and Minnesota’s fall season will be held on the grounds of the nature center at 2520 North Dale Street, Roseville, Minnesota.

The event begins with a fundraising pancake breakfast from 8-11 am. The breakfast, served up by members of the Kiwanis, features delicious wild rice sausages, wild rice pancakes and pure maple syrup. Lunch starts around 11 am and includes Native American fry bread, wild rice sausages and soup and more.

Informative exhibits will open at 9 a.m. with the free entertainment, demonstrations and activities begin by 10:00; all activities continue until the event closes at 4 p.m. A group of Native American dancers and storytellers from the University of Minnesota Council of Nations will be performing. The Ojibwe Language and Cultural Immersion Center returns to provide wild rice harvesting demonstrations and traditional crafters will demonstrate their work. Our resident bee-expert will show you how honey is harvested, honey which you can purchase (while supplies last). Everyone will want to take a turn at the cider press machine and kids will want to try out the games. Around noon the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center will do a bird release, setting free some of the birds that they’ve been caring for this summer. There is also a silent auction and the FORHANC Store, both which are to raise funds to support the nature center and its mission of environmental education and outdoor recreation.

More information about the Wild Rice Festival can be found at www.forhanc.org or by calling the Harriet Alexander Nature Center at (651) 765-HANC (4262).

Official Website: http://www.forhanc.org