Northbrook Park District hosting its first Paint the Prairie on Sept. 7-8

The Northbrook Park District’s newest event, Paint the Prairie, takes place September 7 and September 8, at Techny Prairie Parks and Fields, where community members can watch artists painting the splendor of nature all weekend.

According to a news release, the weekend-long event is presented by the Northbrook Park District and the Village of Northbrook’s Arts Commission. It will highlight the allure and beauty of “plein air” painting, meaning painting outdoors in French, which has seen a resurgence in recent years.

The event includes celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Trail Through Time at Techny Prairie Park and Fields, the release said. The festivities will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, and includes free art activities, music, a plein air painting demonstration for children and adults, giveaways, and a prize drawing. A nature walk with fun and educational activities along the Trail Through Time is also included.

Located on 14 acres along the West Fork of the North Branch of the Chicago River, the Trail Through Time pays tribute to the natural and cultural history of the land, showcasing a restored prairie, and wetlands home to mammals, birds and insects, the release said.

Opened in July 2004, the Trail Through Time was created with the help of two grants from the state of Illinois: $1.4 million from an Open Land Trust Grant and $200,000 from the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Program, according to the release. The next year, the Illinois Park and Recreation Association honored the project with an Outstanding Facility and Parks Award.

Capping off the Paint the Prairie weekend, the artwork submitted by the plein air painters will be judged at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 8, with awards for first place, second place, third place and honorable mention, the release said.

Visitors will be able to view the paintings at Techny Prairie Activity Center until 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 in a special Paint the Prairie gallery. The artwork will also be available for purchase.

For more information, visit nbparks.org.