Metroparks' Nature Festival combines art and education

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Cleveland Metroparks "North Coast Nature Festival," a free, weekend-long event for nature lovers, will start April 25 and run through April 27.

"The Nature & Art Show," on April 26 and 27 will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, and will include a variety of programs and activities for nature enthusiasts at Rocky River Nature Center in Rocky River Reservation in North Olmsted.

Guest speakers featured on Saturday and Sunday include: Andy Jones on "Migration All Around Us: How Birds Navigate Through the Americas" at 10:30 a.m., "Amphibians of the Great Lakes" with Bill Flanagan at 12:30 p.m., "Modern Bird Photography Techniques'" with Rod Planck at 2 p.m., and "The Big Picture Through Little Eyes, A Truly Ribbiting Story" with Kathy Krynak at 4 p.m.

Mini-seminars are also offered on "Birding Optics" with Eagle Optics at 11 a.m., "EarthWords Birding Gadgets: Low-Tech to High-Tech" with Heidi Stelmach at noon, "Digital Nature Photography" with Dodd Camera at 1:30 p.m., and "Photoshop" with Dodd Camera at 3:30 p.m.

Additional programs and activities also take place at the outdoor Trailside Theater, featuring live music with Foster Brown and Mark Szabo and live animal programs presented by Lake ErieNature and ScienceCenter (Saturday) and Back to the Wild (Sunday).

Hikes are offered at: 8 a.m., Bird Hike with a Cleveland Metroparks Naturalist and Rod Planck (Saturday only); 10 a.m., Photography Hike with Cleveland Metroparks Photography Club; 11:30 a.m., Family Bird Walk with Cleveland Metroparks; 1:30 p.m., Family Amphibian Hike with Cleveland Metroparks; 3 p.m., Family Wildflower Hike with Cleveland Metroparks; and at 7:30 a.m. (Sunday only) - Bird Hike with a Cleveland Metroparks Naturalist and Rod Planck.

From sunrise to noon on Sunday, there will be bird banding demonstrations with Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

Visitors can also enjoy two nationally-known speakers during the free Special Evening Presentations on Friday night at 7 and 9 p.m. (presentation is repeated) and Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Friday evening presentations features photographer Rod Planck with "South GeorgiaIsland -- Antarctic Paradise." The Saturday night presentation, entitled "Wings of the Imagination: Why We Need Birds," with author and renowned birder Kenn Kaufmann.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and seating is limited for all presentations.

Rocky River Nature Center is at 24000 Valley Parkway, between Cedar Point Road and Shepard Lane in North Olmsted.

For more information and a complete list of speakers and activities, visit clevelandmetroparks.com or call 440-734-6660 or 216-635-3200.