Wild Things 2027

Wild Things is back! Join thousands of Illinois nature lovers, from experts to generalists, in a day-long celebration of everything wild.

Welc ome to Wild Things 2027 ! The Wild Things conference is a celebration of nature, wildlife, ecosystem restoration, birding, botanizing, networking and discovery – from as low as mushrooms to high-flying as butterflies and falcons. Come spend the day-long celebration with other people who care for ecosystems and the planet and find ways to help, here in our communities. We are stewards, advocates, and educators – volunteers and professionals – all coming together to appreciate and protect prairies, woodlands, wetlands, working lands, and wild yards.

This high-spirited biennial conference is one of the largest conservation gatherings in the Midwest, regularly drawing nearly 2,000 attendees for the single-day event. The 2025 Conference will take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on Saturday, February 27th, 2027.

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NOTICE: Please be advised that photos and videos will be taken during Wild Things 2027. By attending, you consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded. Your attendance on this event constitutes your agreement to the use of any resulting media by Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves for promotional, marketing, or any other purpose in perpetuity, without further approval or any compensation.