ARLINGTON, Texas— Celebrate Earth Day with the River Legacy Foundation’s free festival scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, a family-friendly event slated to feature live animals and hands-on conservation activities.
River Legacy Foundation’s Earth Day festival, scheduled to be held at the River Legacy Nature Center at 703 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd., will feature free activities and experiences for attendees. River Legacy Foundation naturalists like Scott Matula will host guided nature walks and presentations showing all the fun creatures.
“We want to show people the wildlife we have here and how they can appreciate and preserve it,” Matula said.
He said the event will feature a Texas search and rescue group, along with a team of first responders who will be present to speak. Matula also noted that this year’s event will have a slightly different feel compared to last year, adding a unique touch.
The Nature Center’s unique location at the edge of 1,300-acre River Legacy Park provides a rare opportunity to see diverse wildlife, including bobcats, coyotes and raccoons, Matula said.
“Our idea is to create a habitat for these animals to thrive in,” he said.
Nestled and camouflaged to fit the nature area, the Nature Center will hold the Earth Day festival with select activities and tables of information from select groups.
“Every time people walk in the front door, you hear the same phrases of, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that, wow. I didn’t know that was there,’” Matula said. “All of those things are the little light bulbs that go off in people’s minds and they come in, and that’s the fabulous part about it.”
The event invites children to explore the outdoors through engaging stories that highlight the wonders of nature.
“The festival has something for everyone,” River Legacy Foundation executive director Shannon Porter said. “Whether you’re a dedicated environmentalist or just looking for a fun and educational day outdoors, this festival is the perfect way to connect with nature and celebrate our amazing planet.”
The event is scheduled to include engaging learning workshops and interactive demonstrations from leading environmental organizations, including U.S. Fish and Wildlife, the Native Plant Society of Texas, Trinity River Authority and Wild Birds Unlimited. Attendees can learn practical ways to help the environment with hands-on sessions covering water conservation, renewable energy and wildlife preservation.
Organizers said they hope these exhibits inspire sustainable habits attendees take home.
“River Legacy Foundation is dedicated to providing free education and preservation efforts to the public to deepen their understanding and relationship with our planet Earth,” Porter said.
