celebrate fourth of july in winnemac park!
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Winnemac Fourth For All (WFFA)
This Independence Day, Winnemac Park Advisory Council and Rogers Park Montessori School present our 2nd Annual Winnemac Fourth For All!
Join us in the park on Friday, July 4th for a day dedicated to community, connection, and celebration - without the fireworks. Here, you can expect a range of family-friendly activities, demonstrations, music, and of course, delicious offerings from local food trucks.
Once the sun sets, the fire starts with a captivating performance by Full Moon Jam that you do not want to miss! Below we have outlined the demonstrations and activities we have planned for the event, alongside the ability for you to sign-up for one of Full Moon Jam's free workshops ahead of their performance. No prior experience is required; continue reading below for more information and our sign-up link.
Demonstrations & Activities
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Disc Golf Chicago: Quick Course
3:00 - 4:00 PM
Yoga class by Bloom Yoga
3:15 - 6:00 PM
Soccer Activities by P2 Soccer Training ("score on a coach" games)
4:00 - 4:30 PM
Aikido Demonstration by Kiku Matsu
4:00 - 7:00 PM
Full Moon Jam Workshops (two 1.5 hours/sessions)
Full Moon Jam Workshops
Full Moon Jam will be joining us in the park on Friday, July 4th at our Second Annual Winnemac Fourth for All to provide a fiery spectacle in place of fireworks!
🐦🔥 Ahead of their 7PM performance, they will be hosting two FREE workshops that give participants the chance to interact with poi and staves while learning the fundamentals of movement with these tools. No prior experience is needed to join these workshops.
Registration will be required to secure your spot.
💥 Reserve Your Free Workshop Spot here!
https://forms.gle/Bxhod2LNw5DDy7bHA
Free Full Moon Jam Workshops at Winnemac Fourth For All
4:00pm - 5:30pm: Intro to Poi with Be Love
This class focuses on the basic foundations of manipulating two poi. It is designed for all ages, and no prior experience is needed. We will discuss the philosophy of Flow, timing, rhythm, and the mechanics of your hands doing opposite things at the same time. Fundamental techniques taught will include Pendulum swings, Extensions, Body Wraps, Weaves (Figure 8 pattern), Buzzsaws, Reels & Turning.
5:30pm - 7:00pm: Intro to Double Staves with Nancy FireFlower
Learn traditional baton spins and finger spins! Combine these with simple double-staff moves for a unique flow. Discover the tricks to toss and catch flawlessly. Many of the techniques can also be applied to other props, such as staff or even dragon staff. This workshop teaches beginners the fundamentals, key considerations, and drills to help them progress in their flow journey.
🌕 To learn more about Full Moon Jam, be sure to visit their site (www.fullmoonjam.org) and stop on by the show on the fourth!
We look forward to seeing you there!
- Winnemac Park Advisory Council
Fun for All Ages | 3-6 PM
PUPPET BIKE!
CARD MAGIC
Rob Mendell
FACE PAINTING
Fun to See Faces & Heart of Lincoln Square
LEGO BUILDING/STEM ACTIVITIES Snapology Chicago
NATURE EDUCATION
Chicago Ornithological Society
BALLOON ANIMALS
Jay Collen, Such Magic!
ACCORDIONIST
Light-Up Tunes
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Will Fancher, Wiggleworms
Food Trucks
Kona Ice
Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee
Cookies w/ Flavor
Taco Motora
5411 Empanadas
Reggie's on Wheels
Limoni Belli Pizza Oven
What to Know for WFFA
- This will be a firework-free event; fireworks are strictly prohibited.
- Portable bathrooms will be available on-site.
- Damen Ave. parking lot will be unavailable during the event.
- Dogs must be kept on leashes to ensure the safety of patrons.
- No alcohol | Non-alcoholic beverages are welcomed - be sure to stay hydrated!
- Food trucks will be present throughout the day; picnics are also encouraged.
- Respect for our community, park & natural areas are the core values of our event.
NESTING SEASON • 2025 PRAIRIE UPDATES
Our Prairies: An Urban Habitat | Red-Winged Blackbirds
After our late-season burn in 2024, you may see many of our wildflowers re-growing within our prairie patches, with quite a variety to be seen. Once we greet the initial days of March, these patches act as essential habitats for many of our birds and critters that call Winnemac Park home. Local and migrating birds, bunnies, squirrels, bats, butterflies all take refuge within the greenery not only for shelter and nesting, but for fresh greens and variable forms of sustenance.
It is absolutely necessary that we treat our prairies as the preserves that they are, which means stay on the paths and keeping our dogs out of these fenced zones.
We ask that you do this to respect the nature that resides within these prairies; a dog's scent can hinder or divert native activity and nesting, which works against our goal.
To articulate this point further, we can look to our native Red-Winged Blackbirds, who are well-known ground nesters. These birds surely use Winnemac's prairie patches to their benefit during breeding season. For frequent spring/summer park attendees, we know them well, as they let their presence be known from the branches above; however, once we gain a better understanding of their habits, we can learn to love these birds and their protective nature.
More about Red-Winged Blackbirds
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
The male Red-Wings arrive first to their breeding territories, which generally occurs in mid-late February. Their call is unmistakable once they have made their landing; a sign that spring is just around the corner. While it may seem like they are yelling at you as you pass by, it is nothing personal - yet. For now, they are simply staking out their preferred grounds for when the females arrive, which is about a month or so later.
These birds, along with other ground-nesting birds, are a crucial reason that it is essential to stay on prairie paths and keep pups out of our natural areas.
Once the females arrive, they will start constructing a nest in the zones that have been "dibbed" by the fellas; this will be done with prairie scraps, grasses, and of course, mud, for extra durability.
This is where things can get aggressive. Once that female has eggs in the nest, the males will loom overhead, ensuring no one gets too close.
Because their nests are on the ground, they are extremely vulnerable; they cannot tell the difference when someone is taking a leisurely stroll, or a potential threat to their eggs. To the bird, they can very much appear the same.
While males often act with a diving head-bomb, if a female does choose to attack, it will often be in a more extreme form than the male exhibits.
So this year, let's try to cut our Red-Winged Blackbirds some slack, and be sure to play your part to keep their nests safe.
💚 Thank you!
🪶 @fromwinnemacpark
A male Red-winged Blackbird in Winnemac Park • Spring 2025 📷 Tessa