Cold Blooded Celebration
Scales, Tails & Imagination Expo
Live Animals • Wildlife Marketplace • Hands-On Science
📅 April 11, 2026 (10am-7pm)
April 12, 2026 (10am-5pm)
📍 Burpee Museum of Natural History.
The Rockford region has never seen a wildlife expo like this before.
The Scales, Tails & Imagination Expo brings together live animals, scientists, conservationists, and a vibrant marketplace of artists and vendors celebrating reptiles, amphibians, spiders, fish, invertebrates and other remarkable creatures.
From rare species to fascinating everyday wildlife, this two-day event invites visitors to explore the animals that quietly shape the ecosystems around us.
Meet the Animals Most People Never See
The natural world is full of creatures that are often misunderstood, ignored, hidden from view, or quietly disappearing.
- Softshell turtles that disappear beneath river sand.
- Snakes that, while misunderstood, play critical ecological roles
- Ancient fish whose lineage stretches back to the age of dinosaurs.
- Amphibians whose sensitive skin reveals the health of entire ecosystems.
At the Scales, Tails & Imagination Expo, these hidden animals step into the spotlight. Some are surprisingly common in Illinois, but rarely seen. Others are rare species conservationists are working to protect.
All of them have remarkable stories to tell!
About This:
Explore the world where curiosity meets conservation at the Scales, Tails & Imagination Expo featuring live animal encounters, conservation stories, creative exhibits, and innovative vendors celebrating reptiles, amphibians, and the power of imagination. Grab your camera: you’ll want to capture these hands-on demonstrations!
EXPO DETAILS
The Scales, Tails & Imagination Expo transforms Burpee Museum into a full WILD expo for one incredible weekend.
Plan Your Visit
- Date: April 11, 2026 (10am-7pm)
April 12, 2026 (10am-5pm) - Location: Burpee Museum, 737 N. Main Street, Rockford, IL
- Tickets: $17 Adults; $15 ;Children FREE FOR MEMBERS
Explore:
• live reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates
• expert talks and demonstrations throughout the museum
• hands-on science experiences
• a curated wildlife marketplace featuring animals, terrariums, art, books, and rare finds
Whether you’re a reptile enthusiast, a curious kid, or simply fascinated by nature, the expo offers something you won’t find anywhere else in the Rockford region.
🐍 Live Animal Encounters
Meet reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates up close while learning from the keepers and scientists who work with them every day.
🐢 Animal Talks & Demonstrations
Throughout the weekend, Burpee experts will host engaging presentations exploring animal behavior, conservation, and surprising evolutionary connections.
🛍 WILD Marketplace
Browse a curated vendor hall featuring:
• ethically sourced insect art
• terrariums and bioactive habitats
• living specimens
• books, apparel, and unique curiosities
It’s a marketplace unlike anything else in the Rockford region.
💡 Hands-On Discovery
Explore interactive learning experiences designed to spark curiosity for visitors of all ages.
Meet the Stars:
Get a chance to meet Burpee’s collection of cold blooded creatures. Grab your camera! You’ll want to capture these hands-on demonstrations and meet and greets within the museum! Some of our museum friends inclue:
Meet Tortilla: African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata).
One of the largest tortoise species on Earth, Tortilla now calls Burpee home. While we are Tortilla’s third home, the museum is proud to be the forever home for this remarkable reptile.
Meet Spot: Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata).
Rescued through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. In the wild, these tiny turtles live in wetlands where their bright yellow spots help camouflage them among sunlit plants. Illinois state conservation status: endangered.
Meet Houdini: Blue death-feigning beetle (Asbolus verrucosus).
When frightened or threatened, Houdini performs an incredible trick—he flips onto his back and plays dead, sometimes remaining motionless for several minutes to fool predators (and guests).
Meet Kevin Bacon & Miss Piggy: Western Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus)
When afraid, these snakes put on one of nature’s best performances: flattening their necks, hissing dramatically, and even playing dead to fool predators (and guests)! Illinois state conservation status: threatened.
Meet Patricia: Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).
Her pale pink leucistic color is not the natural for this species. Her roommate, Batman, displays the wild-type coloration that axolotls have in nature. Axolotls are critically endangered in the wild and nearly extinct in their native habitat.
Meet Woody and Buzz: Wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta).
These fascinating turtles are opportunistic omnivores, feeding on plants, insects, worms, and other small creatures. Wood turtles live along forest streams and are considered state-endangered in Illinois, making them one of the region’s most vulnerable turtle species.
Why These Animals Matter
Cold-blooded animals are some of the most ancient and resilient lifeforms on Earth.
Many lineages have survived multiple mass extinctions.
Some species living today closely resemble animals that lived alongside dinosaurs.
Yet today many of these animals face enormous threats:
• Habitat loss
• Pollution
• Climate change
• Invasive species
• Misunderstanding and fear
By helping people meet these animals face-to-face, we hope to replace fear with curiosity and respect!
Because conservation begins with connection.
Meet Pancake!
The newest resident at Burpee and a living link to the age of dinosaurs! As a Spiny Softshell turtle (Apalone spinifera), Pancake belongs to a lineage that has remained nearly unchanged since the Cretaceous period. Her ancestors once shared the waterways of the Hell Creek Formation with giants like T. rex and Nanotyranus.
The Ghost of the Rock River
While these turtles live right here in the Rock River, you’ll rarely see them on a nature hike. They are masters of disguise, using their flat, leathery shells to bury themselves in the riverbed. With their long, snorkel-like snouts, they can breathe while staying completely hidden underwater. If they do come out to bask, they are incredibly shy and can bolt into the water at speeds up to 15 mph!
Pancake’s Journey
Pancake was rescued with shell rot, a serious condition that affects the unique, skin-covered “shell” of her species. Because her original wild home is unknown, she cannot be released safely. Originally scheduled for euthanasia due to her injuries and “unknown” origin, she has found a permanent sanctuary here at Burpee.
Now well on the way to recovery, Pancake serves as an ambassador for Illinois’ ancient waterways, teaching us about the incredible prehistoric survivors hiding just beneath the surface of our local rivers.
Ectothermic Heaven
Explore live reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates from around the world, meet expert speakers, and experience hands-on learning throughout the Burpee Museum.
Pop-up exhibits will feature incredible creatures—from axolotls to snapping turtles, rare fish to conservation comebacks, and even extinct giants that inspire today’s research.
Shop and explore the vendor hall filled with live exotic animals, terrariums, books, art, apparel, and innovative products for animal lovers of all kinds.
Whether you’re a reptile enthusiast, a budding scientist, or simply curious about the cold-blooded world, this brand-new expo promises discovery, excitement, and inspiration for all ages.