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 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

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.

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!

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 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.

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!

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 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 us at Yarborough Branch for a morning of imaginative play! Designed for young learners, Imagination Station encourages learning through play. Discover the arts, practice your motor skills, and start your STEM exploration.

This month, learn about a variety of native pollinators, build a mushroom-based world-wide web, learn how trees carry water, learn to be a tree ID hero, and more!

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.

Join us at the Domain for a day filled with fun, learning, and Halloween spirit as we celebrate bats, pollinators, and the magic of nature!

Event Highlights:

Bat Education Booth | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

• Partner with Bat Conservation International and Austin Bat Refuge to educate visitors about the importance of bats.

• Learn about local bat species and their vital role in our ecosystem.

• Kids can participate in naming our symbolically adopted bat, represented by a stuffed animal and a certificate from Austin’s Bat Conservation.

Pollinator Garden Workshop | 2:00 PM

• Discover how to create pollinator-friendly gardens at home.

• Receive native plant seeds and step-by-step instructions to build your pollinator habitat.

• Enjoy Halloween-themed plants and decorations to enhance your garden experience.

Bat Crafts | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

• Create fun bat-themed crafts suitable for all ages.

Costume Contest & Trick or Treat | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM

• Join our Halloween-themed costume contest for kids and adults, featuring nature-themed costumes like bats, butterflies, and bees.

• Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes.

• Trick or treat with vendors throughout the market.

• Receive a FREE Trick or Treat bag!

Other dates:

Sunday, 10/20: Harvesting Roots & Fungi: A Farm-to-Table Celebration!

Sunday, 11/3: Birds and Bees Festival: Celebrating Our Pollinators and Feathered Friends!

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!

———————

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!

Celebrate “Over the Garden Wall!” at the Carver Library! We'll be doing crafts and activities centered around all the wonderful plants and critters in the show. Free baby trees and seeds will be available while supplies last.

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.

Celebrate nature at our Windsor Park Branch during the Roots and Wings Festival with Urban Forest Explorers! There will be a booth at their Un-BEE-Lievable Pollinators Festival featuring interactive nature play 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 Windsor Park Branch Library community at its Un-Bee-lievable Pollinators Festival!

This festival event will be a celebration of bees as nature's energetic little pollinators. Bee Keeper Konrad Bouffard, of Round Rock Honey will lead us in learning how bees make honey, how to identify pollens and nectars in honey by taste, and discovering meaningful ways to save bees.

Many other activities include Bee-themed art activities, felt insect masks, wildflower plantings, honey flavor pairings, face painting, seed bombs, Cheetos pollinating activity, fort building, seed/plant swap, bird houses, DIY bee windchime, scavenger hunt and an opportunity to receive a sapling from the Texas Forest Service, plus more! 

Honey Tasting starts at 12 PM

A-bbee’s Native Plant Musical Chairs at 1 PM

Join Zilker Botanical Garden in our Roots & Wings Festival Celebration on October 26th!

Visit the Garden to celebrate trees, pollinators, and our community and learn how to maintain trees, tag butterflies for scientific research, build homes for local pollinators, make seed balls, and much more!

This family friendly festival features crafts, activities, and workshops throughout the day!

This festival event is included with General Admission. Free for Conservancy members & those participating in Museums for All, which invites all families with an EBT card, WIC, STAR/CHIP, SNAP, Medicaid, or MAP identification card to gain free access to Zilker Botanical Garden!

Rain Date: Sat. Nov. 2nd, 10am

We welcome all to come spend the day and learn about the local ecosystem, participate in eco-art, and enjoy the beautiful St. Edward's, two year-old Food Forest. We will discuss how to get the absolute most out of plants, ranging from edible and medicinal uses, pollination science, cultural uses, and biophilic use through art.

The best way to learn about plants is by getting your hands dirty, so following our guest speakers, attendees will have the opportunity to plant pollinator plants and native shrubs.

We will also have kids activities, such as making seed balls, painting, and more! Bring your friends and family, and enjoy nature, socializing, and refreshments on the Hilltop!

Rain Date: Sat. Nov. 2nd at 10am