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)

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

ArtSmart is a series that looks at different forms of art and storytelling to deepen audiences' connection to their artistic creations. Join the Yarborough 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!

Session 1: 9:30 am - 10:30 am

Session 2: 10:30 am - 11:30 am

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

Cafe Librito: 2024 Dia de los Muertos Festival, Oct. 26th 7pm- 9pm Join us for an evening of honoring our ancestors and cultura! Bring the family to enjoy live music food & drinks, BIPOC vendor market, bilingual kid’s storytime, kid’s crafting, and a guided fungi UV night walk with Central Texas Mycology!

Guests will hand pick flowers from our very own Resistencia Community Garden. Together, the community will build an altar to our ancestors with cempasuchiles, mano de leon, and amaranth flowers.

Everyone is encouraged to leave pictures (copies) and offerings for their loved ones! Goodie bag giveaways include the books, “Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock” and “Lotli”, native pollinator seed mixes, & cempasuchil flowers for family altars at home.

• 7:00pm: Opening Ceremony

  • Guests can bring their ofrendas for the altar andcut fresh flowers from garden for altar

  • Goodie Bag Giveaway: children books, native pollinator seed mixes, and zines

• 7:30pm: Kids Bilingual Storytime (inside) with Lotli Illustrated Book about the origin of the Monarch Butterfly & “Papá's Magical Water-Jug Clock”

• 8:00pm: Bilingual Fungi UV Night Walk guided by Central Texas Mycology Jesus Garcia

• 8:30 - 9pm: Open Mic poetry

  Ongoing Activities!

BIPOC Vendor Market - Live Music - Arts & Crafts Tables - Mariposa Wings & Seedball Making - Painting Paper Mache Skulls - Baby Tree Giveaway!

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Celebrating Native American Heritage Month, November 2nd, 8:30am-11:30am: 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!

Experience "A Planting, Nature and Performance Journey" with Cosmic Intuition Productions at beautiful St. Edward's University!

The journey begins with a drums-led procession to the trees to perform libations, and then a return to Jones Auditorium to enjoy the poetry and music from Stevie Wonder's "Secret Life of Plants" and naturistic covers from Marvin Gaye, performed by local artists. Lastly, guests can participate in a tree transplanting workshop led by Master Gardner Baba Ifalade with free tree saplings to take home!

Co-sponsored by Museum of Human Achievement and St. Edward's University

ArtSmart is a series that looks at different forms of art and storytelling to deepen audiences' connection to their artistic creations. Join the Milwood 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!

BLACK LIVES VEGGIES is a local organization that addresses food insecurity by providing disenfranchised communities with gardening education & resources!

For the Roots & Wings Festival, BLACK LIVES VEGGIES will educate and provide resources to our East Austin and North Austin communities that stimulate the planting and nurturing of trees that are native to Austin, with the Mexican Buckeye baby tree as a gift to those who participate in this event!

What to expect today: The simplest lesson ever created to plant your own tree and instruction on how to nurture your tree as it matures. Materials provided, but space is limited, so please be on time and ready to learn!

Also on Oct. 19th at 2pm at St. John Branch Library!

Rain date for this event is Sat. Oct. 26th, same time.

descripción en ingles y español 

Join Latino Outdoors Austin at Guerrero Park in learning about bats through this engaging Read Aloud of "Amara and the Bats".

Throughout this story we will learn all about bat conservation and how amazing they are! We will be reading this story in Spanish and English so bring the whole family to enjoy this bat-tastic tale!

☕️🍪 We will have coffee and treats for the whole family

🦇 There will be activities about bats and more information about these lovely creatures for you to take home after the story

🌳 We will have blankets and chairs for you to be comfortable but please feel free to bring your own

We are excited to host this event and look forward to meeting you soon! 

Please RSVP HERE to attend and receive more information.

¡Únete con Latino Outdoors Austin para aprender sobre los murciélagos a través de esta fascinante Lectura en Voz Alta: "Amara y los Murciélagos"! Durante esta lectura, aprenderemos todo sobre la conservación de los murciélagos y lo increíbles que son. Leeremos esta historia en español e inglés, ¡así que trae a toda la familia para disfrutar de este cuento murciélago-tástico!

☕️🍪 Tendremos café y antojitos para la familia

🦇 Habrá actividades sobre murciélagos y más información sobre estos adorables seres para llevar a casa después del evento

🌳 Tendremos cobijas y sillas para que estén comodos pero estan bienvenidos a traer las tuyas

¡Estamos emocionados por organizar este evento y esperamos conocerte pronto!

Por favor REGÍSTRESE AQUÍ para asistir y obtener mas información.

Come see our forest grow! Join Festival Beach Food Forest as we celebrate the inaugural tree planting of our 2 acre expansion. Our forest garden has been growing for 9 years and is now a thriving ¾ acre of outdoor community learning and gathering space. We are excited to celebrate the beginning of our forest expansion onto the remaining 2+ acres of adjacent parkland!

East Austin community leader and D3 Council Member José Velásquez will speak to our community about the importance of food producing public parkland spaces in East Austin and Jesús García of The Herbal Action project will lead a tree meditation before the tree planting ceremony. In additional to planting trees, we will plant pollinator attractors and seed wildflowers in our meadow. We will also offer a tree education workshop and guided plant walks through our existing and expanding forest. All attendees will learn about the various trees and plants growing together to create a thriving and diverse ecosystem, and our guides will discuss the regenerative practices that help us build healthy soil and fungal network. Register here!

• 2:00pm: Opening Circle and Remarks

• 2:30pm: Mini Plantwalks

• 3:30pm: Tree Planting Ceremony Begins - Tree meditation & honoring the 4 directions

• 4:00pm: Tree Panting in Small Groups

• 4:30pm Ceremony ends - Begin Live Music, Festivities & Activities

• 5:00pm: Words From our Partners & Community Leaders

• 6:00pm: Closing Remarks and Community Celebrations

Activities include: - Make your own wildflower seed balls - Enjoy teas made with forest plants - Grapevine crowns or wreaths - Kids Nature Play Activities & Art - Learn more about our co-host’s tabling!

Please wear light, comfortable clothing and a sun hat/sun protection. Hand tools and gloves are provided for anyone participating in tree planting. Bring your water bottle. Register here and see you there!

Rain Date: Sat. Oct. 26th at 2pm

BLACK LIVES VEGGIES is a local organization that addresses food insecurity by providing disenfranchised communities with gardening education & resources!

For the Roots & Wings Festival, BLACK LIVES VEGGIES will educate and provide resources to our East Austin and North Austin communities that stimulate the planting and nurturing of trees that are native to Austin, with the Mexican Buckeye baby tree as a gift to those who participate in this event!

What to expect today: The simplest lesson ever created to plant your own tree and instruction on how to nurture your tree as it matures. Materials provided, but space is limited, so please be on time and ready to learn!

Also on Oct. 20th at 2pm at Rosewood Park!

Rain date for this event is Sat. Oct. 26th, same time.

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 Jo 11:11 - 11:50am

• Restroom and Snack break 12 - 12:20pm

• Scavenger Hunt 12:22 - 1:11pm

• Plant Seeds 1:15 - 2:00pm

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

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

Join the South Austin Creek Alliance to learn more about urban waterways and their surrounding ecosystems!

After a creek clean-up, we will have an Indigenous American Four Directions blessing by Daniel Llanes. Explore the creek while learning about the main stream characters and the effects of urbanization on creek life. Explore the pop-up labyrinth and visit our many table exhibits where you can learn about fish, amphibian, and butterfly life cycles along with much more!

Get science lessons from professional biologists and activists while contributing to the Texas Pollinator Bioblitz by finding and taking pictures of pollinators and nectar-producing plants and posting them!

Enjoy this interactive family friendly event that will include activities for kids, music, native plant and baby tree giveaways, making wildflower seed balls, raffles, and taking photos at the selfie butterfly booth!

Join Patterson Park Community Garden as we celebrate our annual Roots and Wings Festival!

This family friendly event will combine all things nature, gardening and pollinators into a fun, educational and community building experience. Learn about bee keeping, mycology, native plants and so much more while you mingle with neighbors and enjoy kids crafts, live music and a Monarch butterfly puppet show!