Autumn on the Prairie Festival

The all-day event includes "Look for Bison" tours, guided hikes, live raptors, nature exhibits, children's activities, music, artists, local vendors, and more. Food will be available and Kettlecorn will be offered by Farming Heritage, Inc. The festival is free and open to the public and there is a $5 parking fee.

Riding Prairie Tours to look for bison start at 10:15 am and run until 3 pm. You will ride on a trailer through the preserve and finding the bison is not guaranteed, as they cannot always be seen from the lanes.

Guided Hiking Tours - Experienced guides will lead guided walking tours of Nachusa's prairies, woodlands, and wetlands from 10:15 am to 3 pm.

The 4,000-acre Nachusa Grasslands preserve consists of large remnant prairie, woodlands, and wetlands being reconnected through habitat restoration to create one of the largest and most biologically diverse grasslands in Illinois. In October 2014, 30 bison from three preserves owned by The Nature Conservancy were introduced to Nachusa Grasslands. Since that time the herd has grown to approx. 130. The Nature Conservancy is committed to keeping bison as wild as possible, within the constraints of available space and human safety, and with minimal veterinary care just once a year at the fall roundup. The animals breed, birth, feed, and care for themselves without human intervention. Weather extremes, parasites, potential predators, and herd social dynamics are all realities for Nachusa's bison.