Twenty years ago, random word associations during a Woodson Art Museum staff meeting led to our creation of OctoBIRDfest.
This annual bird-related family festival took place Saturday, October 2, to chirps and tweets of delight among fledglings, older siblings, parents, grandparents, and extended family members and friends.
OctoBIRDfest 2010 was most certainly our biggest and birdiest family festival!
The weatherman and Mother Nature delivered a classic Midwestern fall day: brilliant blue sky, interrupted by occasional clouds and a few intermittent sprinkles and a chill in the air to remind us that winter is just around the corner.
Participants came in droves. Well over 1,500 people enjoyed bird-themed games and arts 
and crafts galore; the Wausau Noon Optimists’ Pumpkin Patch; face painting; Matthew Morgan’s magic act; balloons by Dizzy D. Clown, Agape Magic, Mr. C. Story, and Wayne the Wizard; and food prepared by Wausau Community Theatre.
New at OctoBIRDfest this year was the opportunity to win one of multiple giveaways generously provided by the Museum’s community partners. Upon arrival, all children received a lanyard and colorful tag that resembled an iTouch with distinct apps. Each icon represented an OctoBIRDfest activity.
The challenge was easy: complete six activities, including the Pumpkin Patch, and you could sign up to win one of the following prizes:
- Wausau YMCA Passport to Wellness passes
- Grand Lodge by Stoney Creek waterpark passes
- Marathon County/Wausau Parks and Recreation Department tubing hill passes
- City of Wausau t-shirts
- Grand Theater performance passes
- Dale’s Weston Lanes bowling passes
- 2510 Restaurant gift certificates
- Wausau Dance Theatre Thriller passes
- Noodles gift cards
- Granite Peak ski passes
Congratulations to the lucky winners and hearty thanks to our partners for their generosity!
OctoBIRDfest 2010 is a sweet memory for all of us at the Woodson Art Museum. Log on to the Museum’s Facebook page to see more photos and also to share your OctoBIRDfest experiences. And if you’re not yet following the Museum on Facebook, click here and “like” us to keep up to date on cool Woodson Art Museum happenings.
P.S. I understand there’s a long-standing, very famous festival with a similar name!
