The Walnut Creek Urban Waters Federal Partnership is hosting a celebration on Saturday, April 22 at the Southeast Raleigh YMCA. The Our Creeks, Our Communities Festival is free and open to the public; all ages are welcome.

The event will run from 11:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Earth Day and will feature a special musical performance, hands-on activities, exhibits, guided nature walks, demonstrations, and food from local vendors. It’s an excellent opportunity for the community to engage with one another and celebrate Walnut Creek and the surrounding communities. This event will commemorate the Walnut Creek Watershed’s new EPA designation as part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. 

“We are so excited to celebrate Walnut Creek’s inclusion in this exciting next step to the growing collaborative effort started by Partners for Environmental Justice in SE Raleigh decades ago, and supported by WRRI and NC Sea Grant since 2014,” says Christy Perrin, sustainable waters and communities coordinator for NC WRRI and NC Sea Grant and facilitator of the Walnut Creek Wetland Community Partnership.

Event Details

What

FREE Festival: Our Creeks, Our Communities, to celebrate Walnut Creek Watershed Urban Waters Federal Partnership

When

Saturday, April 22; 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Where

Southeast Raleigh YMCA, 1436 Rock Quarry Road

Schedule

Food trucks, vendor tables, and exhibits will be open from 11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Specific events are as follows:

• 11:30 a.m. – Opening Procession and Concert featuring Baba Teli and The Magic of African Rhythm
• 12:30 p.m. – Guided Bird Walk with NC State graduate student and urban birder, Deja Perkins
• 1:00 p.m. – Exploring Water Quality Indicators with Joyce Gaffney, City of Raleigh and Angela Allen, NC State University Forestry and Environmental Resources Department
• 2:00 p.m. – Tree Identification Walk with biological scientist Johnny Boggs of USDA
• 3:00 p.m. – The Value of Plants with Tiayonna Liska of Carolina Garden Coaching

For additional event details including a list of partners, please visit the Our Creeks, Our Communities Festival website. Volunteer opportunities are also available.