The Friends of the St. Catherine Creek Refuge had great weather Saturday for the first-ever Wild Things Environmental Education Festival at the Riverview RV Park.

“The Lord blessed us with good weather, and I am very pleased with the turnout,” Jack Cupit, president of the Friends of St. Catherine Creek Refuge, said. “We tried hard to diversify exhibits and demonstrations.”

The festival had activities aimed at a variety of interests for people of all ages. There was face painting, car bashing, helicopter rides, an archery tournament and a youth turkey and duck-calling contest.

The Wildlife Outreach Foundation was on hand giving live hawk demonstrations, and the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit gave demonstrations as well. Patrons even had an opportunity to hold live baby alligators.

Cupit said the festival replaced the Miss-Lou Wildlife Expo that has been at the Natchez Convention Center for the past six years, and said the goal of the festival was to raise money to construct an educational building on the refuge. An auction was also held at the festival to assist in generating building funds.

Cupit said the building’s purpose would be to offer a place where children from the Miss-Lou can come and learn about wildlife and gain exposure to the numerous opportunities the outdoors offers.

“There are so many jobs with the federal government that work with the outdoors. We want to educate (children) on that and about wildlife in the area,” he said.

Cupit said constructing the building would be investing in the future.

“Our children are our future. If we can be a mentor and save one child from heading down the wrong way in life, then our time and effort will have been worth it.”

He said the cost of the new building is around $500,000, and that the planning phase is nearly completed.

With the nice weather and many activities, many people enjoyed the atmosphere and all that the festival had to offer.

“It was a good learning environment. It was a chance for kids to learn about plants and animals,” Susan Groh of Ferriday said. “It is also good for kids to just be outside.”

Dr. Pam Felder of Natchez was on hand with her three-year-old grandson, DeNorris Sanders, and said the festival offered a great, family-friendly atmosphere.

“I am so pleased and excited to be here. This is our first time coming, but we will be back next year,” she said.

Ashton Cupit, 20, of Vidalia, took her first-ever helicopter ride with her husband, David, at the festival.

“It was definitely interesting,” she said. “It was nice seeing the houses of Vidalia from above.”

Jack Cupit said the festival would not have been a success without all the sponsors and volunteers who helped make everything happen, and added, “From the looks of things, we will do this again next year, but probably add more arts and crafts.”