The leaves have started changing on the Gustavus campus and the temperature has been dropping, which means it’s time for the Linneaus Arboretum’s annual Fall Fest. The festival has been growing and improving each year, and this year is no exception. The Lind Interpretive Center scheduled the event over family weekend, on Saturday Oct. 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. “We’d like to encourage friends and family to come … it’s beautiful here right now,” Shirley Mellema, administrative assistant at the arboretum, said.
The first event will be the chimney tower blessing and presentation at 10:30 a.m. “It’s actually a giant birdhouse,” Arboretum Naturalist Bob Dunlap said of the chimney tower. The chimney swift, as its name implies, nests in chimneys, which are becoming outdated. Thus, the chimney swift population has been decreasing rapidly. Kraus-Anderson, the company building the new academic building on campus, built the tower in the Linneaus Arboretum to house the birds. “It’s such a beautiful reason for putting up the building,” Mellema said.
Other events visitors can participate in include pumpkin decorating, hayrides and guided tours of the arboretum led by Dunlap, which will take place at at 11:00 a.m., 12 :00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. There will also be live music by a jazz trio made up of three Gustavus students starting at 1:00 p.m., pottery making demonstrations, and pottery and hand-felted crafts for sale. Also, Designs by Staci will offer a Hand-Felted Scandinavian Slippers Class from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. for a fee of $30, which includes supplies. Anyone interested can contact kerlands@gac.edu to register. “I am most excited about adding the arts and crafts to the festival,” Mellema said.
Nils Anderson, student worker for the environmental studies department and junior environmental studies major, will be leading a scavenger hunt. Anderson is also an outdoor educator at the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minn., so participants in the scavenger hunt should be prepared for a challenge. “I’m excited to see how many people turn out, and hopefully it’s a beautiful day and everyone can enjoy the activities,” Anderson said.
