Wednesday Weekend Wind Up {St. Patrick's Day Fun and More}

We have made it half way through the week! Woo hoo! Looking ahead at the weekend, here are my picks for family fun in the Chicago suburbs:

Ongoing:

• February 10 - March 25 The Orchid Show, Chicago Botanic Garden, a much needed tropical infusion in the middle of winter, Tickets are:Adults: $10/$12 Seniors 62+: $8/$10 *Children age 3–12: $8/$10 Parking is $25 per car; Purchase tickets online to ensure availability
• January 20-March 30 XOXO An Exhibit on Love and Forgiveness, Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• March 17 - June 3 Simply Spring Butterfly Exhibit, Nicholas Conservatory in Rockford, enjoy butterflies flying freely in the conservatory, witness all of the butterfly life cycle, $6 resident, $8 non, $4 and $6 for seniors, kids 5-17 and veterans, Ages 3-4 $2, under 3 free, check website for times. ***Tropical Tuesdays Admission is $3.**

Friday, March 16:

• March 16-17 Celtic Fest, McGonical's, Barrington, Irish music and dance, Irish food, free admission, see schedule

Saturday, March 17:

• March 17 Maple Fest, Red Oak Nature Center, Batavia, 9AM-1:30PM, learn how people and woodpeckers tapped trees for maple sugar, maple tapping demos every hour, free, maple snacks and hot beverages for sale
• March 17 Get Sticky! Maple Syrup Day:  Fullersburg Woods, Oakbrook 10AM-2PM, 75-minute guided stroll through the woods to learn about how maple syrup is produced, $10 per person, must register--register online
• March 17 Green Living Fair, Libertyville Civic Center, 10AM-2PM, local environmental groups, businesses and youth share info on green living, speakers, recycling drop off, see event for more info
• March 17 Paint the Town Green, Palatine, 11AM parade, food, music, Irish dance and more at Durty Nellie's and Emmett's, see schedule
• March 17 Twisted Tales Theater Little Red Hen, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 11AM-12PM, theater students from  Rolling Meadows HS unfold this tail written by AHML's Teen Advisory Board, minimum age kindergarten, free, please register
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• March 17 & 18 Syrup Tree and Silver Dollar Brunch: March 17 & 18 Morton Arboretum, Lisle, on a guided like learn about maple syrup tapping and see how it is done, sample maple syrup, afterwards enjoy a brunch, $18 pp for members, $25 for non (fee includes Arboretum admission), must register
• March 10-25 Maple Syrup Hikes on weekends, Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods, 12PM-2PM every half hour, see tapping in process, see how tap turns to sap, $6 pp, children under 3 free, must register: 847-968-3321

Sunday, March 18:

• March 18 46th Annual Maple Syrup Fest, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook, 11AM-3PM, tree tapping hikes, maple syrup making, maple syrup history and more, free.