EarthFest 2024

Mark your calendars for a day of nature walks, speakers, live music and service projects. The 2024 EarthFest theme is “Why do we care about prairies?” and will highlight the almost 500 acres of restored prairie at Wild River State Park.

April 27, 2024 is a free entrance day and the 41st annual celebration of spring at the park! All ages are welcome, but this event is geared toward ages 8 and up. Pick and choose from activities or come to them all. Final activity locations will be posted here and at the park the day before the event.

7:30-9 a.m. Bird Walk (Meet at Boat Launch Parking Lot) – Join Joe on a journey through a variety of habitats in search of our feathered friends. Compare prairie, wetland and forest birds. Bring binoculars or borrow a pair of ours.

9:30-10:30 a.m. Prairie Walk: What’s happening in our grasslands? – Take a stroll through some of Wild River’s 500 acres of prairie with Park Naturalist Sean Hoppes and Native Cultural Teacher Hope Flanagan. This walk will be an open discussion on prairie ecology and stewardship.

10:45-11:30 a.m. Keynote Presentation – Hope Flanagan is the native cultural teacher at Dream of Wild Health. She is from the Tonawanda Band of Seneca and has a strong cultural relationship with plants. She teaches people about the importance of culture, language and identity, and shares her knowledge of Indigenous foods and medicines.

Noon-1:30 p.m. Lunchtime Concert with AJ Spoff – AJ frequently entertains with a variety of country, rock, pop and original music. Bring your lunch and enjoy!

1:30-3:30 p.m. Connect with Local Conservation Groups – Drop by for informal chats with an array of conservation organizations.

2-2:30 p.m. The Bullsnake Program – Dave Crawford loves to talk about snakes. This former park naturalist will present what we’ve learned at Wild River from studying bullsnakes for the past 20 years.

2:30-3 p.m. Bluebirds on the Prairie – Gloria Peterson has been monitoring bluebird activities at Wild River for years. She will share engaging stories and beautiful pictures of bluebirds.

3-5 p.m. Prairie Stewardship Projects – Discover your own connection to the prairie and give something back through stewardship projects. There are several options for various ages and abilities.

This event is sponsored by the Friends of Wild River State Park.