Iowa Lakeside Laboratory Regents Resource Center at West Okoboji will celebrate the winter season on Saturday, Jan. 27 with its Lakeside Winter Family Fest.

Participants in the former People’s Art event of 2010 are dressed to form a cardinal on the ice of West Lake Okoboji and hike from Lakeside Lab to the frozen lake. Many other activities in the Lakeside Winter Family Fest now take the place of this event.

A full slate of activities are planned for the day, including a “Life in the Snow” exploration, sledding, birdwatching and many other activities held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The festival is part of the annual University of Okoboji Winter Games. The public is invited to attend.

“We're excited to have people come out and see Lakeside Lab,” said Lakeside Executive Director Mary Skopec. “We have had a good snowfall, so bring your own sled or skis, and come out to try our hill.

“We'll also have a bonfire going, and we have self-guided nature tours. People can walk around and see what sort of animal tracks are out there on the property, or if they want, do some birdwatching.”

Local birding enthusiast Skip Perkins will lead the Bird Hike beginning at 1 p.m. Binoculars will be available to help hikers spot snowy owls, crossbills and common winter birds that make their homes at Lakeside.

The Lakeside dining hall, which gives visitors a beautiful view of West Lake Okoboji, is the starting point for many activities. Homemade soup and treats also will be available for purchase between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in the dining hall.

Lakeside Laboratory is the only Regents Resource Center field station in the state.

The State Hygienic Laboratory operates a water chemistry laboratory at the Lakeside Laboratory to provide water quality testing for residents, businesses, agencies, schools and colleges in the northwest Iowa region.

For more information, call 712-337-3669, extension 7 or visit the Lakeside Facebook page.