Jamestown, NY – If you’re looking for a way to chase away the winter blahs, the Audubon Community Nature Center has just what you need.

On Saturday, February 4, Audubon will present the 2017 Snowflake Sustainable Living Festival, a family-friendly event celebrating nature, living sustainably, and fun.

With its recent emphasis on learning to live lighter on the planet, this event continues to serve the community and is now in its 35th year.

You can experience hands-on activities that can be done at home to help have a smaller impact on the environment. These include making butter and soap, wool spinning, knitting, leather working, wheat grinding, drilling maple taps and syrup making. You can even make a wooden nest box or bird feeder.

You can get up close with owls and hawks when Wild Spirit Education present an owls program at 11 a.m., a meet and greet at noon, and a birds of prey program at 1 p.m.

Also indoors will be Chautauqua County Humane Society animals, a basket raffle, door prizes, great shopping at the Blue Heron Gift Shop, and the opportunity to win a handmade 100% repurposed braided wool rug.

Outdoors will be Magic Moments horse-drawn carriage rides, alpacas from Dun Roving Farms in a petting pen, Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue sled-dogs demonstrating their pulling power on the trails are expected, hikes with a naturalist, games, and demonstrations of snowshoes and winter camping and cooking, with free samples. If there is snow, you can try out snowshoes courtesy of Evergreen Outfitters or bring your own equipment for sledding and cross-country skiing.

New this year will be outdoor seating in a heated tent, where you can enjoy lunch or snacks purchased from the Busti Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts of any age group, and other interested boys and girls can earn a Winter Fun patch by completing activities at the Festival. Visit the Reception Desk at the Nature Center when you arrive for a list of requirements.

Click here to see a video of the 2015 Snowflake Festival on YouTube.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admissions are $6, $2 children 3-15, and free for children 2 and under.

With the exception of making a nest box or bird feeder, taking a wagon ride, participating in the basket raffle, or purchasing food, all activities described are included with the admission fee.

Note that credit cards cannot be used for admission or outdoor activities.

Audubon wants to thank its sponsors: United Refining Company, Herbs R 4 U Inc., Orkin Pest Control, Busti Cider Mill, Jamestown Awning, Ed Shults of Warren, Courier Capital LLC/Randy Ordines, James M. Smith, Knitting 4 Peace, Busti Historical Society, Girl Scouts of Western New York, Warren County Master Gardeners, and Dun Roving Farm and Alpaca Store.

To learn more, call (716) 569-2345 during business hours or visit the event’s page.

The Audubon Community Nature Center is conveniently located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, New York, and Warren, Pennsylvania.

Audubon Community Nature Center builds and nurtures connections between people and nature by providing positive outdoor experiences, opportunities to learn about and understand the natural world, and knowledge to act in environmentally responsible ways.