MUDPUPPY FESTIVAL

Mudpuppy in shallow water, by Alex Lourash

Bring the Family and Celebrate the Sangamon River's Coolest Creature

LCF's family-friendly annual Mudpuppy Festival is a lively way to learn about the fascinating foot-long mudpuppy salamander —and the lands and wildlife that LCF works to protect.

Monarch Events Center, in downtown Monticello, provides a colorful and welcoming setting. The City of Monticello has proclaimed the day of the festival as “Mudpuppy Day.”

Mudpuppy at Allerton Park. Photo by Alex Lourash

All About Mudpuppies

Learn what makes mudpuppies so uniquely weird and wonderful. And see how researchers are counting mudpuppies in the Sangamon River — while mudpuppies are counting on us to keep their rivers clean!

LEARN MORE >

Marissa Jones works on a 2021 mudpuppy survey in the Sangamon River at Allerton Park. Photo by Alex Lourash

Marissa Jones holds a mudpuppy salamander, by Alex Lourash

Sat 10 Sep
Meanderings at Mettler Woods
Mettler Woods Nature Preserve
Details
Sep 10, 10:00 AM – Sep 11, 11:30 AM
Mettler Woods Nature Preserve, 5991 500 E, Clinton, IL 61727, USA
Join Master Naturalist Chandler Womack on an entertaining and educational meander through Mettler Woods, located near Clinton in DeWitt County.
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Sat 22 Oct
Halloween on the Levee Trail
Monticello
Details
Oct 22, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Monticello, 802 Allerton Rd, Monticello, IL 61856, USA
Enjoy a spooky, nature-themed scavenger hunt on the trail and other kids’ activities to celebrate the natural spookiness of the floodplain forest. For all ages.
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Fri 25 Nov
Black Friday Tree ID Hike with Ryan Pankau
Sangamon River Corridor Reserve
Details
Nov 25, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Sangamon River Corridor Reserve, 802 Allerton Rd, Monticello, IL 61856, USA
Retreat to the woods on Black Friday for a Tree ID Hike with U of I Extension Horticulture Educator Ryan Pankau.
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Thanks to Our 2022 Festival Sponsors

$1,000 Sponsors

Ayers Farms

Beckett Law Firm, PC

Cim-Tek

Kirby Medical Center

Ted Rund—William Rund Subdivision

Bunny’s Tavern

Lott & SuAnn Thomas

$500 Sponsors

Jan Bahr & Ernie Hoffman

John Corley

Heidi Hurd & Michael Moore

Courier Cafe & Silvercreek,
Urbana

$250 Sponsors

Rosemary Costello

Piatt County SWCD Foundation

Bruce Hannon

Robeson Family Benefit Fund

Webber & Thies, PC

Rose Price—Landmark Real Estate

$100 Sponsors

Champaign County Asphalt Co.

Fasprint—Scott Hutson

Fran Harty

Little Bluestem Montessori

In-Kind Services

Melissa Records, Photographer

Teresa DeWitt, Photographer

Elizabeth Otto, Graphic Artist

Miriam Tworek-Hofstetter, Graphic Artist

Hundreds Attended 2020 Festival

The Land Conservation Foundation’s Mudpuppy Festival on February 1, 2020, was a huge success with 300 people attending, including over 75 children of all ages. LCF extends its thanks to the Monarch Brewing Company for co-hosting this event and Kirby Medical Center and CrossFit/KMC for serving as the lead sponsors.

This event included many kids’ activities focused on the Sangamon River and its wildlife, including mussels, birds, pollinators, and the state threatened mudpuppy, an aquatic salamander. Children had an opportunity to complete mudpuppy crafts and a scavenger hunt, have their wildlife passports stamped, faces painted, and to “fish” for prizes.

LCF also wants to thank Monticello Mayor Larry Stoner for his proclamation naming February 1 as Mudpuppy Day in Monticello. LCF also extends its thanks to the University of Illinois Extension, Master Naturalists; Champaign County Audubon Society; Illinois Natural History Survey; Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Illinois Nature Preserves Commission; and the many sponsors that made this event possible.

Photos by Teresa DeWitt