On Saturday, October 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Minor Park on the Blue River Parkway, Heartland Conservation Alliance (HCA) will host the 2nd Annual Blue River Discovery Days Festival. The festival coincides with the South KC Block Party at the Red Bridge Shopping Center down the road.
The Blue River Discovery Days Festival is a free family-friendly one-day event open to all that highlights and appreciates the Blue River by offering educational and interactive nature-based activities, including guided hikes, kayaking, river-side yoga, macroinvertebrate sampling, and more. The funds raised from Blue River Discovery Days social media fundraiser and limited edition festival t-shirt (designed by KC artist, Jamie McClead) donations play a vital role in supporting HCA’s mission to protect and restore the beautiful Blue River, while also helping to sustain HCA’s Blue River Nature Guide program.
Blue River Discovery Days is an annual awareness and fundraising campaign organized by Heartland Conservation Alliance that celebrates Kansas City’s Blue River, the largest watershed in Kansas City. Typically scheduled during the fall, the awareness campaign kicks off with engaging and interactive media promotions and/or small events that culminates in a free, family-friendly celebratory festival filled with nature-based activities in and along the Blue River.
“Blue River Discovery Days encourages Kansas Citians to reconnect with nature by celebrating the Blue River, one of our city’s most vital natural resources,” Dr. Jess Hartel, HCA’s Senior Director of Conservation and Education, said. “We hope this event inspires watershed residents to learn more about protecting, conserving, and enjoying the river that flows through their neighborhoods.”
The Blue River is over 40 miles long, beginning near the Overland Park Arboretum and ending at the Missouri River. It touches the lives of communities in both Kansas and Missouri, but many aren’t aware it exists or the impact it has on daily life. The upper watershed, which runs from Wolf Creek to Indian Creek, is considered relatively healthy and supports diverse wildlife and habitat, but the health declines farther along the watershed due to urbanization and neglect.
HCA aims to reconnect people with the Blue River through engaging events like the Blue River Discovery Days Festival.
Hannah Vander Meulen, HCA’s Blue River Nature Guide and Outdoor Education Coordinator, serves as the lead festival planner.
“Blue River Discovery Days festival is an important opportunity to unite people with the wonders of nature, especially the Blue River,” Vander Meulen said. “This event empowers our community to explore and appreciate the Blue River, inspiring stewardship and awareness of our natural environment. Together, we can cultivate a lasting love for the outdoors and ensure the protection of our precious ecosystems.”