Join The VORTEX for a Roots and Wings event featuring our beautiful Nationally Certified Butterfly Garden and celebrating the life cycle of the butterfly!

Kick-off community parade at 5pm, come dressed as your favorite butterfly or flower and join in! Costume contest at 6:30pm with a fun prize featuring a plant from Tillery Street Plant Company and goods from local businesses.

Enjoy educational fun-tivities for all ages, including making butterfly art, playing games, and more! Alex Cogburn, Keeper of the Butterfly Sanctuary, will unveil new educational placards for our butterfly plants, lead tours of the Butterfly Garden, and interview "The Egg, Caterpillar, Butterfly, and Plant" in a skit that's delightful and informative! Tillery Street Plant Company and They Might Be Monkeys will also talk about native plants and tree care.

Enjoy live music featuring Roland & the Roots Riddim, Tyagaraja Welch of SHE, and pop-ups including Save our Springs, Reggie Rap's Room, Girl Scout Troop 42121, and more!

Refreshments available from The Butterfly Bar @ The VORTEX and Patrizi's Italian Food Truck.

The Karst Preserve truly demonstrates how Austin’s Urban Trees work to help protect our caves and drinking water supply - along with having several unique Austin species to identify along the trail.

In addition to learning how to identify common Austin tree species, attendees will see first hand the significant tree canopy loss since the 2011 drought and other major extreme weather events.This will highlight how important ANNUAL TREE PLANTING and QUALITY TREE CARE are to keeping our water supply clean and our neighborhoods cool! Please bring water, comfortable walking shoes, and dress for the weather since we will be outside the whole time. You will learn how to identify native trees, and how to safely and ethically collect seeds to donate to the TreeFolks Seeds To Trees Native Nursery.

Click here to register!

The Central Texas Seed Savers is a growing network of people who love seeds with the mission of preventing the extinction of ecologically and culinarily important plants in the Central Texas Region. TreeFolks was founded as Austin’s Urban Forestry non-profit in 1989. Since then, TreeFolks has grown to work with communities throughout Central Texas in community tree planting, tree giveaways, education and urban-wildland reforestation efforts. Our mission is to empower Central Texans to build stronger communities through planting and caring for trees.

Karst Preserve Friends endeavor to increase the enjoyment of the Karst Preserve through stewardship, education and activities in support of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve mission.

Celebrate nature at Dottie Jordan Park during the Roots and Wings Festival with Urban Forest Explorers! This event offers interactive nature play stations where kids can discover the wonders of roots, mushrooms, rocks, fossils, and bugs. It’s a fun, hands-on experience that invites young adventurers to learn about the hidden treasures of the forest ecosystem!

Join the Neighbors of Dottie Jordan Park & Garden for the 3rd Annual Roots & Wings Festival celebrating pollinators and trees! Tour the community garden, find out where the birds live, and so much more:

• Tree Giveaway!

• Austin Public Library Bookmobile - Sign up for a library card and check out books!

• Austin Public Library Storytime w/ Mr. Gabriel & Ms. Aubrey

• Sing along with Joe McDermott!

• Community Garden Tour - Explore the garden and learn about local plants!

Join us at the Domain for a day of celebrating nature with engaging activities for all ages!

Event Activities:

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Soapberry Demonstrations!

• Hands-on Soap-making demos

• Take home a mini sample

• Free soapberries & recipe card with passport completion

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Cheerio Bird Snack Craft!

• Make bird-friendly snacks with fun shapes

• Grab a bird-watching guide

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM: Create your Herb Haven!

• Learn to grow herbs for winter

• Free herb seed kits for Central Texas

• Learn from kitchen garden expert & take home a care guide

• Mushroom-splent blocks & soil giveaway

Join the Bullock Museum for a pollinator-themed H-E-B Free First Sunday!

Enjoy FREE exhibition admission all day during H-E-B Free First Sundays, held the first Sunday of every month. Explore the Story of Texas through three floors of exhibitions that showcase and tell the history of artifacts from around the state!

Pollinator-themed activities are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, with so many things to do!

• Start your own Texas wildflower field by making pollinator-friendly seed balls with Zilker Botanical Garden

• Sample local honey, explore beekeeping equipment and see live bees up close in an observation hive with The Texas Beekeepers Association

• Learn about pollinator science and conservation with The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation • Make a pollinator-antenna headband and interact with beekeeping tools and bee products with Two Hives Honey

• Discover the connection between pollinators and plants through activities from the Wildflower Research Center

• Make a mushroom craft and learn about mushrooms in Texas, including the new state mushroom, the Texas Star Mushroom with Central Texas Mycology

• Learn about exploring nature in Austin with Whole Earth Provision Co.

• Join our friends at Girlstart for interactive STEM demos and hands-on activities for kids of all ages.

• At 11:30am & 12:30pm, come listen to pollinator-themed stories with Westbank Library

• Take home a baby tree sapling to plant, courtesy of City of Austin’s Community Tree Preservation!

Learn more at: https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/visit/calendar/education/free-first-sunday-20241103

Also, join us after the Roots & Wings Festival on Wed. Nov. 6 at 12pm for a lecture titled “High Noon Talk: The Monarch Butterfly Migration: The Rise and Fall”. The program is also free! Learn more at: https://www.thestoryoftexas.com/visit/calendar/programs/high-noon-talk-20241106

Join us at Chaparral Crossing Farmers' Market for a Nature Celebration event! We will have live music, fun activities and crafts for the entire family, and educational materials about pollinators! Take home a baby tree sapling to plant, courtesy of City of Austin’s Community Tree Preservation!

Chaparral Crossing Farmers’ Market is open every first Sunday, 10a-1p.

Join us for a celebration of Halloween, Day of the Dead, and our urban ecosystem at Healing with Horses Ranch! Explore our 47-acre natural landscape nestled on the edge of Austin!

As part of the City of Austin's Roots & Wings Festival, this family-friendly event invites the community to navigate our trails, engage in fun nature-themed activities, and gather plenty of treats along the way. The fest embraces the fundamental concept that we are all connected to each other and to our local ecosystem. Growing these connections creates a stronger, more resilient, and healthy community.

RSVP HERE!

Event Highlights:

• Meet the Horses: Get to know members of the Healing with Horses Ranch therapy herd, who will be mingling around the event in costume!

• Scavenger Hunt Safari: Learn about our native flora & fauna by spotting our staff in themed costumes.

• Face Painting: Festival-themed designs for all ages by Big Smiles Face Painting, LLC.

• Community Ofrenda: Honor past horses and pets in a special Dia de los Muertos display. We encourage our guests to bring their own contributions & photos to add.

• DIY Wildlife Treat Station: Make a special treat for wildlife to take home.

• Texas Wildlife Mask-Making: Craft masks using recycled materials.

• Owl Pellet Dissection: A hands-on activity to explore the food chain.

• Healing with Horses Ranch "Duck Derby": Participate in our exciting rubber duck races on Gilleland Creek! Ducks are available for "adoption" at $5 for one or $25 for six. The fastest duck wins fantastic prizes for their adoptive parents! Ducks are limited, and they may sell out, so be sure to adopt yours quack-ly! Race heats will be held throughout the event, so don't miss out.

• Community Market: Shop local vendors!

Costumes are encouraged! Whether spooky or silly, come dressed in your Halloween best (family-friendly, of course!). Don’t forget to bring your own basket for all the treats you’ll collect. Plus, we’ll be hosting local vendors and distributing 50 tree saplings (first-come, first-served) to help our community grow!

This is a “leave no trace” event, and we strive to make it accessible for all. Accessible parking is available—just ask one of our volunteers when you arrive to direct you. While our natural trails are maintained for easy navigation, please note there are small hills and uneven ground in certain areas.

Vendor Call: We are currently accepting applications from local vendors interested in selling goods at this event for a small fee. If you’d like to showcase your crafts, treats, or services, this is a great opportunity to connect with the community! Deadline for sign up is Saturday, October 19th. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/sgHvjZTC4UNAb7Z97

Please direct any questions to our Development Director: rebekah.fookes@healingwithhorsesranch.org

Full Gallop's event is back again this year at a new venue that prides itself on preserving its ecosystem and respecting the location and land, Cosmic Saltillo. This event will celebrate Texas Arbor Day and the monarch migration as well as the Dia de los Muertos tradition of Mexico and its ties to the migrating butterflies. Music by Mira Mira.

In case of rain, this event will be held under the awnings of Cosmic Saltillo. Produced by Full Gallop and hosted by Cosmic Saltillo @fullgalloparts fullgalloparts.com @cosmicsaltillo (instagram)

Are you a crafter? Do you wish you were a crafter? How does crafting while helping out the ecosystem in your community sound?

Join John Gillum Branch (formerly North Village) and other Crafty Adults as we create Bird Seed Balls at our monthly crafting program! We'll learn the basics, the ins and outs, and then we'll let loose!

Participants will not only learn about what bird seed and impact for the environment, we'll get a chance to take some home and share with the community. Learn with us!

Please join us at the John Gillum Branch (formerly North Village)!

12:30-4:30pm: Ongoing throughout the afternoon, the Garden Club Team Up Plant Show will allow all to see, learn, and ask questions about the unique and special plants of the members of the Austin Bonsai Society and the Austin Cactus & Succulent Society!

1-2pm: learn insider knowledge about beekeeping and honey production from pro beekeeper Konrad Bouffard of Round Rock Honey, followed by a hands on seed ball crafting session!

Also, take home a baby tree sapling to plant, courtesy of City of Austin’s Community Tree Preservation!

Join us at Brush Square in downtown Austin for "Page Turner Butterflies"! Craft your own origami butterfly from recycled book pages and take home a complimentary packet of pollinator-friendly seeds to plant in your garden or ours.

While you're here, take a glimpse into early Austin's history by exploring both the Susanna Dickinson Museum and the O. Henry Museum.

Do you have room to plant a shade tree at your home? Plant a tree and help lower the temperatures in your neighborhood. Combat the urban heat island effect and beautify your community.

Come to our tree adoption event at Bartholomew Park! We will be giving away up to 2 shade trees per household. Our tree experts will be on hand to demonstrate proper tree planting technique and answer any questions you may have about care of your newly adopted tree.

This event is part of the Windsor Park Eco Expo.

TreeFolks NeighborWoods is a partnership with the City of Austin and Austin Energy.

Join us for an exciting and educational event at the Austin Nature & Science Center, featuring D'Andra from Healthy Hive, the non-profit organization behind Me and the Bees Lemonade, and Konrad Bouffard, the founder of Round Rock Honey!

They'll be presenting all about the fascinating world of bees. Learn about these incredible pollinators and their vital role in our ecosystem. Enjoy hands-on activities like seed ball creation and a pollination simulator, get creative with art activities, and craft your own pollinator masks and antennae! Plus, take home a sapling and educational materials to help you care for your new plant! This event is free and open to the public and we'll have bilingual staff present for the outdoor activities.

Únase a nosotros para un evento emocionante y educativo en el Austin Nature & Science Center, con D'Andra de Healthy Hive, la organización detrás de Me and the Bees Lemonade, y Konrad Bouffard, el fundador de Round Rock Honey.

Presentarán todo sobre el fascinante mundo de las abejas. Aprenda sobre estos increíbles polinizadores y su papel vital en nuestro ecosistema. Disfrute de actividades prácticas como la creación de bolas de semillas y un simulador de polinización, sea creativo con actividades artísticas y cree su propias máscaras y antenas de polinizadores. Además, llévate a casa un retoño y materiales educativos que te ayudarán a cuidar tu nueva planta. Este evento es gratis y abierto al publico. Tendremos personal bilingüe presente para las actividades al aire libre.

Please bring your kids ages 5-12 and join Dove Springs Proud to learn about Franklin Park. Each child who attends will be given a cape and a mask to become a park superhero and learn about the butterfly life cycle, help plant trees, clean up the park & learn more about the type of trees in the park as well as enjoy the playground. There will be butterfly-themed art activities & more. Light food & water will be provided.

Rain Date: Sun. Nov. 3rd at 11am.

Dive into a day of discovery, fun, and eco-friendly excitement at Easton Park's Nature and Sustainability Fest! Connect with nature, meet local wildlife, and learn how you can make a positive impact on our planet. With hands-on activities, fascinating exhibits, and opportunities to meet passionate experts, there's something for everyone. Take home a baby tree sapling to plant, courtesy of City of Austin’s Community Tree Preservation!

Don't miss this chance to be a part of our vibrant, green community!

Rain or shine, come out to branch out and get rooted at Givens Park with The Healing Project!

Starting at 11:11, we will be offering fun and kid-friendly educational activities for all individuals interested in becoming more connected with nature and getting grounded within themselves.

Schedule:

• Yoga with Dani 11:11 - 11:50am

• Restroom and Snack break 12 - 12:20pm

• Art Therapy 12:22 - 1:11pm

• Nature Walk 1:15 - 2:00pm

Participants can receive seeds, community nature kits and even a baby tree!

November is the month to plant new trees.  We are giving away 800 trees at Windsor Park Eco Fest 2024, along with mulch and tree planting training! Any homeowner can get a tree! RSVP Here!

Eco Fest brings together various local climate and neighborhood organizations, along with science, art, entertainment, food and education.

The main program of the event is “Shade the Streets”, which is currently identifying locations in the neighborhood for shade trees, and then giving interested homeowners two native, drought tolerant trees. Our goal is to provide shade over the streets to reduce the heat island effect in Windsor Park. 

Eco Fest features Tree Folks, who are providing the free trees from a partnership with Austin Energy from noon to 3pm! Tree Amigos will be providing tree care and planting for the neighborhood bike lanes and trails, and Austin Energy will be promoting their many energy saving and renewable programs. Congressmen Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar will be on hand to promote federal tax rebate programs for energy saving appliances and systems, and Citizens Climate Lobby, Austin Sierra Club, Austin Climate Parents, and WP Climate Committee will be providing data and opportunities for involvement. If you are unable to plant a tree, there will be volunteers available to help you.

There will be lots of fun activities for the kids! Austin Creative Reuse will be hosting an arts table for children to make butterflies, Goodwill is hosting a gardening equipment shop, and Urban Forestry will be hosting a kids’ tree climbing and rappelling program! 

RSVP Here!

For more info about Shade the Streets: https://www.windsorpark.info/shade-the-streets/

Rain Date: Sun. Nov 3rd at 12pm

Join Concordia University for an environmental stewardship service event during the City's Roots & Wings Festival 2024!

Participate, discover, and learn the importance of creating sustainable habitats for butterflies and other pollinators! There will be opportunity to plant TX native perennial species and spread wildflower seeds to support and attract pollinators. All are welcome for this life changing adventure!

Join the City of Austin Park Rangers at the Zilker Caretaker Cottage for a Roots and Wings tabling event! This educational event will have activities such as seed ball making, butterfly-themed crafts and games. Come on out and learn all about pollinators!

Help to restore the Country Club Creek Greenbelt by planting native trees with the East Riverside/Oltorf Combined (EROC) Neighborhood Planning Area Contact Team!

We will assemble at the South Pleasant Valley Road Trailhead of the Country Club Creek Trail, and will provide the trees, tools, and supplies. This greenbelt is a wilderness area, so dress appropriately and bring a water bottle!

¡Ayúdenos a restaurar El Cinturón Verde de Country Club Creek! La Asociación de Vecinos de East Riverside/Oltorf Corridor (East Riverside-Oltorf Corridor Neighborhood Association) solicita su ayuda en plantar varios árboles nativos de Texas.

Nos encontraremos en el punto de partida de South Pleasant Valley Road Trailhead del Country Club Creek Trail adonde le proveeremos los árboles, herramientas, y suministros. Este cinturón verde es parte de una zona salvaje. Se les sugiere vestirse apropiadamente para el ambiente y traerse su agua!

Join Red Salmon Arts/ Casa de Resistencia Books for a Roots & Wings Festival Event Series!

During Native American Heritage Month, our Native Roots program activities will center around The Three Sisters/Milpa, (currently growing in our Resistencia Community Garden). We will intertwine indigenous storytelling centering, celebrating corn, harvest songs, and craft corn husk dolls in partnership with Central Texas Cherokee Township!

Join us at the Austin Nature & Science Center for a special volunteer day as part of the Roots & Wings Festival and It's My Park Day! Get your hands dirty and make a real impact on our local environment through hands-on activities. Help us remove invasive species to protect native plants, collect and organize seeds to learn about plant life cycles, and plant vibrant pollinator gardens to support butterflies, bees, and other essential pollinators.

This event offers a unique educational experience and a chance to connect with the community while caring for our natural surroundings. We will have bilingual staff present to lead some groups in Spanish. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance our urban forest and make a difference! Spots are limited, so head to the ANSC website to sign up.

Únase a nosotros en el Austin Nature & Science Center para un día especial de voluntariado como parte del Festival Roots & Wings y es el Día de Mi Parque. Ensuciarse las manos y hacer un impacto real en nuestro entorno local a través de actividades prácticas. Ayúdanos a eliminar las especies invasoras para proteger las plantas nativas, recolectar y organizar semillas para aprender sobre los ciclos de vida de las plantas, y plantar jardines de polinizadores vibrantes para apoyar mariposas, abejas y otros polinizadores esenciales.

Este evento ofrece una experiencia educativa única y la oportunidad de conectarse con la comunidad mientras cuidamos nuestro entorno natural. Tendremos personal bilingüe presente para liderar algunos grupos en español.||¡No pierdas esta oportunidad de potenciar nuestro bosque urbano y marcar la diferencia! La disponibilidad es limitada, así que visite el sitio web de ANSC para registrarse.

Join us at Brush Square in downtown Austin for "Page Turner Butterflies"! Craft your own origami butterfly from recycled book pages and take home a complimentary packet of pollinator-friendly seeds to plant in your garden or ours.

While you're here, take a glimpse into early Austin's history by exploring both the Susanna Dickinson Museum and the O. Henry Museum.

ArtSmart is a series that looks at different forms of art and storytelling to deepen audiences' connection to their artistic creations. Join the Central Branch for two sessions that look at how butterflies influence many designs and artforms you see throughout Hispanic and Latino cultures, especially during the Dia de los Muertos time of the year! Come ready to create and appreciate the beauty that butterflies bring to art!

Join us at Brush Square in downtown Austin for "Page Turner Butterflies"! Craft your own origami butterfly from recycled book pages and take home a complimentary packet of pollinator-friendly seeds to plant in your garden or ours.

While you're here, take a glimpse into early Austin's history by exploring both the Susanna Dickinson Museum and the O. Henry Museum.

ArtSmart is a series that looks at different forms of art and storytelling to deepen audiences' connection to their artistic creations. Join the University Hills Branch for a look at how butterflies influence many designs and artforms you see throughout Hispanic and Latino cultures, especially during the Dia de los Muertos time of the year!

Come ready to create and appreciate the beauty that butterflies bring to art! And parents, take home a free baby tree sapling to raise with your family!

Come to the Terrazas Branch and make your very own ecosystem in a jar!

Learn about plant and environmental stewardship by making a beginner terrarium. A terranium is a glass container containing soil and plants that can be opened for maintenance to access the plants inside. You'll get to make your own terrarium to take home with provided supplies and plants, plus take home a baby tree sapling to plant, courtesy of City of Austin’s Community Tree Preservation!

*This is event is limited to 15 Adults (1 terrarium per household) and is first come, first serve.

Join us at Brush Square in downtown Austin for "Page Turner Butterflies"! Craft your own origami butterfly from recycled book pages and take home a complimentary packet of pollinator-friendly seeds to plant in your garden or ours.

While you're here, take a glimpse into early Austin's history by exploring both the Susanna Dickinson Museum and the O. Henry Museum.