Step into the embrace of Mother Nature and experience the magic of community healing at our Greater Austin YMCA's event! Join us for a soul-nourishing day amidst the serene beauty of the great outdoors, as we unite to honor the profound connection between humanity and the natural world:

Yoga Under the Trees: Find your inner tranquility as we gather under the canopy of gentle trees for a peaceful yoga session. Our experienced yoga instructor will lead you through calming poses and mindful breath, allowing you to fully embrace the serenity of the natural surroundings.

Our other free YMCA For All events happening during the Roots & Wings Festival:

Oct 21 - Guided Trail Run with Ashlee (10am)

Oct 28 - Nature Scavenger Hunt (10am)

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to be part of the Greater Austin YMCA's events celebrating the healing power of community in nature with the Roots & Wings Festival! See you there!

Stay connected at: https://www.austinymca.org/

JOIN US TO CELEBRATE TREES, POLLINATORS, AND MORE!

Heartwood Community Garden is excited to be hosting an official Roots & Wings Festival Event!

We will be planting, crafting, creek stomping and cleaning, and learning together!

We will have new plants and pollinator garden materials for our pollinator garden, family friendly arts and crafts, and a talk about pollinators and native plants from our neighbor and Master Naturalist Alice Mabry. We'll also be doing a creek clean-up. There will be something for everyone!

There will also be goody bags for kiddos and snacks for all.

Bring all your elem kids to get a FREE mask & cape to become a Superhero for the park! They will help pick up trash and learn about nature & why it is important to clean this park for them to enjoy. Food/drinks will be provided at the park. 

What you'll need:

• Colored pencils, markers, or crayons

• A printout of your Super Sapling adventure

Choose your Super Sapling Adventure!

Artist Scientist: Do you like noticing the world around you and using your imagination? The Artist Scientist Activity Book invites you to explore shapes, colors, and more in the outdoors.

Rain Date: Saturday, Nov . 11th from 3-5pm

Join us for a day where we collaborate to promote wellness, horticulture and gardening with beauty, vitality and healthy lifestyles. This will feature a lecture by Master Gardener Harvé Franks of “Gardening for Life” as she teaches how to bring the beauty of horticulture into your life through various gardening and nature activities.

Also enjoy a Fall gardening demonstration, a “Taste and Tour of the Garden” with hors d'oeuvres from the garden, herb infused teas, and other fresh garden snacks. The event will continue with a planting where the community can plant and take home a veggie, flower, or sapling to start their own garden.

The program concludes with a Wellness Meditation and Healing Sound Bath. People who want to receive this need to be prepared with something to lie down on such as a yoga mat, along with any other items, like a pillow for under the knees, to be comfortable. If people cannot lie down, chairs will be available.

This is a multi-generational planting and wellness event, and we encourage families to come out and plant a seed for wellness together!

Rain Date: Sunday, Nov. 5, 2pm - 5pm

Join us in planting for pollinators! Austin Davenport, local gardening guru and native plant pro, will provide a hands-on workshop where attendees get to plant their own pollinator garden with native seedlings grown right here in Austin! Each attendee gets their own grow bag and gets to select and plant fall blooming seedlings to support local pollinators.

You're Invited to Easton Park's Green Celebration!

Join us for Arborist Day and Monarch Day Extravaganza!

Explore, Learn, and Preserve! Calling All Nature Enthusiasts! Embark on an Eco-Adventure!

Easton Park is thrilled to invite you and your family to our inaugural event celebrating environmental education and practices in honor of Arbor Day and Monarch Day. Get ready for an unforgettable day of fun, learning, and fostering a deep appreciation for Mother Nature!

Exciting, Family-Friendly Activities!

• Tree-mendous Exploration: Join our knowledgeable arborists on guided nature walks and learn fascinating facts about our precious trees.

• Monarch Magic: Witness the awe-inspiring spectacle of monarch butterflies and discover their incredible journey.

• Nature Crafts: Create beautiful eco-friendly crafts to cherish and take home.

• Green Workshops: Engage in interactive workshops on composting, sustainable gardening, and more!

• Green Marketplace: Explore local eco-friendly vendors and discover sustainable products.

Be the Change - Together!

Easton Park's commitment to environmental stewardship starts with this event, as we come together to learn and embrace practices that safeguard our planet's future. Let's sow the seeds of sustainability and watch them bloom!

Bring your family, friends, and neighbors for a day of eco-adventure and learning. This is an opportunity to deepen your connection with nature and make a positive impact on our community.

This event is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors who share our passion for a greener future.

Note: Your safety is our top priority. We will be adhering to all health guidelines to ensure a secure and enjoyable experience for everyone. Together, let's be green ambassadors!

Easton Park - Where Nature and Community Thrive!

Bring your family out to an event where we will start a community garden at a local resource center that will be accessible to all. One of the major milestones in todays' economy is to purchase healthy food. The Village Place will serve as a site for perishable foods and foods that you can help nurture and grow through our community garden.

Our event will include lessons from master gardeners and show us how to cultivate the land and begin our community garden. All ages will get to take part in creating this garden and shaping it into a place where all generations no matter their income will be able to access healthy fruits and vegetables. This event will bring the black culture together around the basic need of food security in central Austin.

Rain or shine, we will be providing seeds, soil and planters to help families learn to grow their own food. We will have active demonstrations and guides on how to care for your plants and even a community tree planting and blessing of our new community site!

Join us for a lovely fall day at Blair Woods Nature Preserve, a 10-acre preserve in East Austin with wheelchair- and stroller-friendly trails, historic buildings, and beautiful natural features. Explore the trails and learn about the wide diversity of plant and animal life found in Central Texas, as well as the unique history of this urban green space.

We'll have guided walks to observe the fascinating worlds of fungi and insects, hear stories about the history of Blair Woods, and a walk led by Latino Outdoors focused on recharging and relaxing in nature (¡Paseo disponible en Español!). These walks are free to attend and require advance registration to reserve your spot. Visitors are encouraged to register for as many walks as they’d like. Visit Travis Audubon’s website to register here.

Travis Audubon birders will be available to discuss fall migration, including binocular tips and recommendations for the best birding spots around Austin. There will also be a kid-friendly scavenger hunt (offered in English and Spanish), and native flower seed balls.

Weather permitting, Austin Wildlife Rescue's Tortellini the tortoise will be there to greet you!

Join us for a day celebrating mushrooms, worms and birds! Central Texas Mycological Society will host their scarecrow mushroom cultivation workshop and bucket tek workshop. Enjoy a presentation by the Travis Audubon Society to learn which native plants attract birds to your yard along with a fun craft activity to take home. Then discover how red wiggler worms help the soil and composting with hands on activities presented by Keep Austin Beautiful throughout the day.

10am – Central Texas Mycological Society

Lo-tek Mushroom Cultivation Scarecrow Workshop

Join us for a workshop that combines a bunch of spooktacular things we love about fungi! First, fun with fungi while learning basics of mycoremediation growing mushrooms outdoors, and creating a scarecrow to protect your garden. Since it’s okay to decay, we will be building scarecrow together that will decompose over the fall and winter with the help of recycled oyster mushroom blocks.

11am – Travis Audubon Society

Gardening for Birds with Native Plants

Do you want to attract more birds to your yard or neighborhood greenbelt? In this talk you will find out how native plants help birds, and get acquainted with several easy to grow native plants that appeal to birds and other wildlife.

12pm - Central Texas Mycological Society

Bucket tek Workshop (Registration Required)

Learn how to recycle mushroom blocks to build healthy soil, sequester carbon, increase water retention and divert organic matter from the waste stream. *The Bucket tek Workshop requires registration and for you to bring your own container.*

10am-2pm – Keep Austin Beautiful

Wormy Composting

We will bring our vermi-compost bin and youth will have the opportunity to explore the wonders of our red wiggler worms!

Click here for more information and to register for Bucket tek!

Come visit North Oaks Park for a Roots and Wings Festival! We will have kids activities like rock painting and planting native plants.

We will have an educational table hosted by Balcones Canyonland Master Naturalists, and much to learn about native trees and pollinators.

Help us establish the new Pollinator Garden area near the community garden. Learn about plants and fruit trees and help us plant some!

This is a public event at Mariposa to continue the contribution of their school community and install a Native Four Directions plant bed, including pollinator plants, medicinals, and edibles!

Join us for an environmental stewardship service event, supporting Roots & Wings Festival 2023! Attendees will be outside planting trees and Texas native plants to attract pollinators.

Participate, discover, and learn the importance of creating sustainable habitats for butterflies and other pollinators.

There will be an opportunity to plant TX native trees, perennials, and spread wildflower seeds. All are welcome for this life changing adventure!

Come spend the day and learn about our local ecosystems. We will discuss native trees and shrubs, native pollinator plants, as well as Monarch butterflies and their role through their annual migration. We will also be talking about our campus bee colony and enjoy a day of planting, socializing, and enjoying refreshments.

Get ready to celebrate live oaks (Quercus fusiformis), pecans (Carya illinoinensis) and cedar elms (Ulmus crassifolia) — Texas Arbor Day is Saturday, Nov. 4!

We’re offering FREE admission all day and special activities from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Texas Arbor Day Schedule

In addition to ongoing events like Fortlandia and Power the Migration: A Monarch Exhibition, Texas Arbor Day guests are invited to: 

9:30 a.m. — Meet our friends from organizations like Bartlett Tree Experts and the Texas Military Environmental Department as well as members of our Science and Conservation Department, in house arborists and horticulturists in the Courtyard.

10:30 a.m. — Take a garden tour with Bartlett Tree Experts and learn all about cultural practices and structural pruning for young trees.

10 a.m. — Learn how to age trees at an extra-special Drop-in & Discover

11:45 a.m. — Enjoy a tree planting demonstration with Bartlett Tree Experts

TBD a.m. — Tour the Arboretum with Kelsey, one of our skilled Wildflower Center Arborists.

1 p.m. — Learn how evolution influences the form and structure of trees at our Morphology of Oaks and Trees class (FREE! Space is limited, pre-registration is encouraged but not required)

Join us at Laguna Gloria for an evening of exploration and celebration! We are excited to be part of this year’s Roots and Wings Festival! While here, make art inspired by the rich flora and fauna of Laguna Gloria, learn more about how you can help support the pollinators in our city, and enjoy exploring all the art and nature Laguna Gloria has to offer!

Check out TheContemporaryAustin.org for more information on what the evening will hold!

We can't wait to see you!

Monarchs on Manor is back again this year more to celebrate butterflies, trees and other pollinators. It will be held on Día de los Muertos, the traditional Mexican holiday that was based around monarch migration.

There will be seed pod giveaways, a reading from the book Skydancer: Adventures of a Monarch Butterfly, and much more. Free and open to all ages.

In case of rain, this event will be held inside the Butterfly Bar or Vortex theatre.

Event hosted by Full Gallop.

Learn about the Mexican tradition of Dia de los Muertos with this fun storytelling program of flannelgraphs, shadow puppet show, La Catrina song and dance, followed by butterfly puppet and skull mask-making crafts.

Rain or Shine!!! The Healing with Horses Ranch Trick or Treat Trail is a free, open-to-the-community event to celebrate Halloween in a safe, fun environment along the beautiful forested area of our property. This year, we are a proud partner with the City of Austin's annual Roots and Wings Festival.

Attendees will be able to join us on our 47 acres of preserved land just outside the city, meet members of our therapy horse herd, participate in nature/wildlife themed activities, join in a raffle, and take home a plentiful bounty of treats! If it rains, we’ll be in our covered arena, but bring raincoats & umbrellas, just in case!

The Trick-or-Treat trail is approximately 1 mile long. A decorated “Trick-or-Treat" stop is located approximately every 12 - 20ft down the trail. At each stop you can pick up a sweet treat and/or participate in an activity. This year, we are excited to provide a scavenger hunt, face painting, wildflower “seed bomb" making, temporary tattoos, and bat box painting. Costumes are encouraged, but not required! Our staff and volunteers will be in costume and we would love to see you in costume too. Please note this is a family friendly event and we ask all attendees to choose a costume suitable for all ages.

This is a “BYOBasket" event. Bring your favorite basket, bucket, pillow case, shopping bag, or other container for all those sweet treats you will pick up along the trail.

RSVP Required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trick-or-treat-trail-an-official-2023-roots-wings-festival-event-tickets-716167776097

We strive to be an accessible event. For accessible parking please talk to a volunteer when you arrive. We can direct your vehicle to a park arena that best meets accessibility needs.

Please note that our property consists of manicured natural trails that are free of large debris and mowed. However, there are still some hills, uneven ground, and natural obstacles. Most individuals using motorized wheelchairs, all terrain walkers, crutches, and/or other mobility aids have been able to navigate the hills, uneven ground, and natural obstacles. Additionally, most strollers fare just fine on the trails. This event has minimal potential to have flashing lights, loud sounds, and/or other sensory elements that may be more intense for some.

For more info about this org, visit: healingwithhorsesranch.org &

serenitygardens.org

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED.

Join the Dr. General Marshall Middle School students, staff and families for a Community Roots and Wings Bike Ride to enjoy Austin's bike-friendly trails and lanes in a supportive environment!

We will have a pre-ride ceremonial planting of herbs in one of our new raised bed gardens, then we will ride out together to Ghisallo's “Trick or Treat on the Trail” event.

Along the way we will provide native wildflower seeds to “seed bomb" our path.

Costumes representing your favorite root or wing organism is highly encouraged (fungi, pecan tree, hummingbirds, monarch, bumblebee riders unite!)

We will return back to Marshall to enjoy refreshments inspired by herbs and plants from local gardens!

Join Bee City Austin at Two Hives Honey, a real honey bee ranch, for a family-friendly Pollinator Carnival! Dress as your favorite pollinator for this family-friendly fun-filled day for kids of all ages. Activities include making native seed packs to take home, a native bee scavenger hunt, observe a real observation hive, make your own bee antennae, and more!

This is a great opportunity for kids to learn all about our native pollinators. Plus, Adults can register for a FREE workshop on native bees! In this one hour workshop you will learn all about the thousands of species of bees that call Texas home and how we can support them. Every participant will go home with a fun, free tool to help identify native bees in their own backyard.|

Patterson Park Community Garden invites the community to a Saturday morning full of family-friendly fun!

We will have a fall plant giveaway with native flowers and vegetables to support our pollinators before they hibernate for the fall. The first 100 people will get free ice cream from a local vendor. We will have booths set up to learn about backyard honey beekeeping, the Austin Butterfly Forum, and the Austin purple martin group.

Our event will start at 10am and end around 12pm. Come out and meet fellow community garden members and explore our community garden!

Step into the embrace of Mother Nature and experience the magic of community healing at our Greater Austin YMCA's event! Join us for a soul-nourishing day amidst the serene beauty of the great outdoors, as we unite to honor the profound connection between humanity and the natural world.

Nature Scavenger Hunt for Families: Calling all families, rain or shine! Embark on a thrilling and educational scavenger hunt through the heart of nature. Assemble your teams and explore the wonders of the great outdoors, discovering hidden treasures and fascinating insights along the way. This engaging activity is perfect for fostering community, sparking curiosity, and creating memories with loved ones.

This event serves as a powerful reminder of the healing potential that blossoms when we come together as a community, embracing the richness of the natural world. Let's celebrate the bonds we form with nature and with one another, as we strengthen our collective commitment to nurturing a healthier, happier, and more sustainable planet.

Our other free YMCA For All events happening during the Roots & Wings Festival:

Oct 21 - Guided Trail Run with Ashlee (10am)

Nov 5 - Outdoor Yoga with Scott (10:30am)

Don't miss this incredible opportunity to be part of the Greater Austin YMCA's events celebrating the healing power of community in nature with the Roots & Wings Festival! See you there!

Stay connected at: https://www.austinymca.org/

Looking for a garden pick me up after a long hot summer? Look no further! Fall back in love with gardening at the Grow Green Fall Garden Party on 10/28!

Come chat with horticulture professionals that focus on creek-friendly gardening and take home a plant, a tree, a mushroom block, and more! Bring your dull & dirty tools to learn how to sharpen & clean them at our tool tent. And don’t forget your kids at home – we will have plenty of crafts & activities for all ages including a seed ball making station.

For those of you with specific plant issues, a Master Gardener will be available to answer your questions at our plant clinic. And for folks interested in attracting more pollinators to their own garden parties, we will have a “Gardening for Pollinators” presentation at 10:30am. Refreshments, snacks, & good gardening vibes will be plentiful. Costumes are always encouraged, especially plant themed. See you there!

The closest parking for attendees is in the lot at 2714 ½ Webberville Rd.

Drizzle or shine, join the South Austin Creek Alliance to learn more about urban waterways and their surrounding ecosystem. Meet and learn about some of the main characters in our streams and using the waterways: fish, amphibians, and bats. Be sure to wear outdoor, covered shoes and bring a rain jacket and a reusable water bottle.

10am: Indigenous American Four Directions blessing by Daniel Llanes

10:30-11:30am: The Larry Harris Band live music unplugged

10am-12pm:

·  Creek Walks - Walk the creek and learn how to identify flora and fauna with Tom Heger (riparian ecologist), Caitlin Gabor (conservation biologist) and Smitty (creek activist)

·  Try to find the most plants, insects, and animals to win the Nature Scavenger Hunt!

·  Explore the pop-up labyrinth while spreading wildflower seeds

·  Twirl Glider Race

·  Nature Bingo

·  Life Cycle Table Exhibit

·  Additional science lessons throughout the day by professional ecologists, biologist & activists

Daytime turns into night at the Caretaker’s Cottage while we explore the wide world of pollinators beyond butterflies and bees! Learn how bats, beetles, and more help make Austin the beautiful green city that it is, using a tactile matching game created by Park Rangers.

Give yourself “monarch vision" by using UV flashlights. Finally, leave the event with seed packets of night-blooming plants, and give those amazing nocturnal pollinators an excuse to visit your backyard or community garden.

Join Zilker Botanical Garden in our Roots and Wings Festival Celebration! Visit the Garden to celebrate trees, pollinators, and our community where you can learn how to maintain trees, tag butterflies for scientific research, build homes for local pollinators, and much more. This large festival features crafts, activities, and workshops throughout the day, so be sure to check our website for the day’s schedule.

Crafts and activities will be available in the Oak Grove from 10am-2pm with workshops throughout the day.

All festival events included with Admission, free for Conservancy members, and Museums for All.

Join our Tree Planting on the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve to celebrate the 6th annual Roots & Wings Festival! We will be planting trees and scattering seeds to restore the degraded habitat into a diverse, healthy woodland at the JJ&T and Medway tracts. All experience levels are welcome as we will teach you everything you need to know the day of.

We'll provide tools and gloves for you to use, though you're welcome to bring your own if you'd prefer. Please bring plenty of water and wear closed-toe shoes or boots and long pants for this activity. There will be off-trail hiking over rocky, uneven, and steep terrain and no bathrooms or running water available. Click here to register.

If you are a new volunteer to the Travis County BCP, please fill out a waiver using this link.

Wing your way to the Southeast Branch Library for our first ever Butterfly Festival, a family event where we will be celebrating the butterfly and its connections to Dia de los Muertos. Take a look at our butterfly habitat where painted lady butterflies are growing, make butterfly crafts, and learn about the butterfly life cycle with Texas Master Naturalists. Then, enjoy a butterfly-themed Día de los Muertos performance and refreshments.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Annual Flu-a-palooza event, hosted at IDEA Bluff Springs, is proud to include a Roots and Wings Festival activity! Everyone is invited to learn about interesting trees and plants, create plantable seed paper to take home, participate in the trunk-or-treat event, and take photos with Blue Bear!

Flu and COVID vaccines are available for everyone, and children's vaccines, provided by Austin Public Health, are available to the uninsured.