ARLINGTON, Texas — The crunch of leaves and the laughter of children filled the air at River Legacy Park on Oct. 11 as families gathered beneath the trees for the annual Fall Festival—a celebration of community, creativity and nature.
The festival, hosted by the River Legacy Foundation, serves as an annual fundraiser supporting environmental education at the River Legacy Nature Center. Each October, the park transforms into a family-friendly fairground where pumpkins, music and hands-on activities meet a shared mission: connecting Arlington residents with the outdoors.
Hayrides as shuttles
Visitors arriving at the park were greeted by hayrides that shuttled families from distant parking lots to the main festival grounds. Near the entrance, larger attractions such as trampolines, bounce houses and a towering rock-climbing wall drew eager crowds of children.
Deeper into the park, along winding wooded trails, informational booths and interactive exhibits lined the path. Organizations like the Arlington Public Library, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, and various local environmental groups offered activities to engage children in hands-on learning.
At one booth, a volunteer named Kaylen demonstrated how to turn discarded items into seasonal decorations — a lesson in both creativity and sustainability.
“Showing a sustainable way of doing art,” she said, holding up a small pumpkin crafted from recycled mason jar lids. “It’s about creating new things out of old things instead of throwing them away.”
She explained that simple projects like her mason jar pumpkins help families learn to reuse materials they already have at home.
“It’s about being creative,” she said. “Saving money instead of buying new décor.”
Creativity and environmental awareness
That blend of creativity and environmental awareness reflects the heart of the River Legacy Foundation’s mission. The organization works year-round to inspire appreciation for the natural world through programs at the River Legacy Nature Center, school partnerships and outdoor activities for children. The Fall Festival serves as one of its largest fundraisers, helping sustain those educational efforts.
Proceeds from ticket sales and activities go directly toward supporting environmental education programs, from nature camps to wildlife exhibits. The festival not only brings the community together for a weekend of fun but also reinforces the importance of conservation and sustainability in everyday life.
The festival offered something for everyone. Children painted pumpkins and played games for prizes, while parents browsed craft vendors and sampled local food. The smell of corn dogs and fresh coffee drifted through the crisp October air as live music played in the background.
For many families, the festival was an opportunity to slow down and enjoy the outdoors—a reminder of how valuable Arlington’s green spaces are. River Legacy Park, one of the city’s largest, stretches along the Trinity River and connects urban residents to trails, forests and wildlife habitats.
The setting provided a fitting backdrop for a day dedicated to celebrating nature. Even the design of the festival encouraged visitors to explore deeper into the park, where winding paths revealed new activities around every bend—from craft tables and educational displays to quiet picnic areas shaded by trees.
As the afternoon sun filtered through the branches, children raced from booth to booth clutching painted pumpkins and homemade crafts. Parents snapped photos, and volunteers continued to guide visitors through art projects and nature exhibits.
The combination of fun and environmental awareness left a lasting impression. For many attendees, the event was more than a festival—it was a reminder of the beauty and importance of preserving the natural spaces that make Arlington unique.
By the end of the day, the trails were scattered with happy families, the scent of funnel cakes still in the air, and a sense of community that lingered even as the festival began to close.
Amid the crowd, Kaylen’s simple message summed up the event’s spirit: “Creating new things out of old things,” she said, smiling as she placed another mason jar lid pumpkin on the table. “That’s what this is all about.”
