To celebrate National Public Lands Day Sept. 28, Thatcher Woods in River Forest will host a salsa dance party featuring a full schedule of family-friendly events. This is the second year Thatcher Woods, part of the Cook County Forest Preserves system, has hosted the celebration and organizer Justin Mercer, program coordinator for the region, said, weather permitting, he expects another big draw. “We had a wonderful turnout last year, about 350 folks came out,” he said. The dance party, which will run that Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., includes salsa dance lessons from some of the city’s top salsa dance teachers, bilingual informational hikes, yoga, a food truck and then salsa musicians who will provide music for anyone eager to try out their lessons. Mercer said he hopes area residents do more than appreciate the park but also what the space can provide. “We’re not only celebrating our public land but the users of our public spaces,” he explained. “It’s meant to be a celebratory day around National Public Lands day and a way of getting people outside and celebrating the outdoors.” Musicians from Latin Street dance studio in Chicago perform at last year’s Party for the Preserves at Thatcher Woods in River Forest, part of a wider celebration of National Public Lands Day. (Forest Preserves of Cook County) For families—and individuals—interested in knowing more about the preserve itself, Mercer said guides will be on hand to take small groups on short walks and teach visitors about the plants and animals located within the woods. “We’ll be talking about what animals and trees we can see in the forest,” he said. “These will be introductory walks to get people off of the grass and onto the trails. Then we’ll have some yoga that can be done before the salsa dancing and some general information about the forest preserves.” These walks are narrated in Spanish and English, and Mercer said visitors don’t have to be in peak trail shape to participate. “They’re easy walks,” Mercer said. “No more than a half hour tops. We’ve got enough folks on site so we can accommodate the different abilities.” Participants learn to salsa dance at last year’s Party for the Preserves at Thatcher Woods in River Forest. The event drew about 350 people, organizers said. (Forest Preserves of Cook County) Still, the big draw at this party is music and dancing. “The star of the show is, we will have (Chicago dance studio) Latin Street Dancing,” Mercer said. “They are going to come on and perform salsa dance lessons. We’ll have some salsa dance instructors out and then we’re going to have a nine-piece band out and invite people to salsa.” Thatcher Woods is located at the corner of Thatcher and Chicago avenues in River Forest. Other Forest Preserves of Cook County events happening Sept. 28 include a Community Powwow at Caldwell Woods in Chicago, an Ecological Restoration Weekend at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont, a Party for the Preserves Bike Ride at Beaubien Woods in Chicago and Party for The Preserves events at Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center in Willow Springs, Camp Bullfrog Lake in Willow Springs and River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook. Information is at fpdcc.com/events. Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.