A free festival that gets families outside and learning about animals, plants and the environment is returning to Chilliwack.
The annual Family Nature Festival is at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve on March 28 and 29.
"As always, there will be many family-friendly offerings, from heron-colony viewing to nature and wildlife art programs and a variety of tables hosted by the heron reserve (craft table, pond life table, pollinator table, touch table etc.), and visiting organizations like the Fraser Valley Conservancy and Wild Salmon Defenders Alliance," said Camille Coray, executive director of the reserve. "The Coastal Painted Turtle Project will be here with baby turtles, too."
The event includes several drop-in art classes with John Leflock, presentations by Western Preservation Canada, pollinator garden tours and more.
One possible change this year will be access to one area of the reserve.
A pedestrian bridge located on the centre trail at the reserve was recently closed due to failing infrastructure, according to a March 7 announcement. As such, the southern portion of the heron reserve was only accessible via the Vedder Rotary Trail.
"The heron viewing will be from the dike rather than the centre trail," Coray said, adding that it is unknown whether or not the bridge would be open for the Family Nature Festival.
The Family Nature Festival is a free event and it runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve (5200 Sumas Prairie Rd.).
For more, including a full schedule, go to chilliwackblueheron.com/events/upcoming-events.
