Wil Taylor, manager at Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township, stands in the prairie which will be highlighted Saturday at the first “Celebrate the Bloom” event.

BRADY TWP — This Saturday, Jennings Environmental Education Center is looking to “Celebrate the Bloom” for the first time.

Wil Taylor, center manager, said the main point of the event, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., is to attract more attention to the center's 20-acre prairie, which is the easternmost prairie in the U.S.

“We hope it to be an annual event,” Taylor said.

Although the center does hold many educational programs, Taylor said that it would like to reach a larger audience. So, he said the center decided to try an event that was more like a festival.

Taylor said that the center began planning the event in January. This did not leave much time to get vendors. There will be 10 food and craft vendors at the event.

“Which is what we wanted,” Taylor said.

Taylor said he is hoping to get about 15 to 20 vendors next year.

The event also will feature music, guided walks through the prairie and workshops. It will end with a bonfire.

Workshops include a wildflower identification workshop, a butterfly workshop and a beekeeping workshop. A “breakfast with the birds” also will be held.

Workshops and demonstrations will cost money and advance registration is required. Taylor said the easiest way to register is by calling the center at 724-794-6011.

The peak bloom period for the prairie is late July to early August.

“It's getting close,” Taylor said.

Although the prairie is green for much of the year, during bloom period, the flowers turn it into a mass of purple, orange, white and yellow.The event was designed to be held at the beginning of the peak bloom period. Taylor said that part of the reason for this was to attract guests to return to see the blooming flowers.Taylor said the center is expecting about 300 people to come to the event. If the event is successful, he said that it could become a two-day event.Parking will be available at the center and at the Old Stone House, with a shuttle available.If both areas are full, Taylor said that parking will be available at Slippery Rock University or Slippery Rock High School, with a shuttle provided.For more information, visit www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/jennings/ or www.facebook.com/CelebrateTheBloom.<bR></bR><bR></bR>

<bR></bR><bR></bR><bR></bR><bR></bR><bR></bR>

A bee looks for food at Jennings Environmental Education Center in the Prairie.

Flowers at Jennings Environmental Education Center in the Prairie.