Family-Friendly Events Include Healthy Living, Arts & Culture, and Educational Activities
Today, Waterloo Greenway announces the return of its weekly series of no-cost family-friendly community programs at Waterloo Park this summer, in collaboration with other Austin-based organizations, artists, and performers.
Hot Summer Mornings
Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Waterloo Park
Presented in partnership with Red River Cultural District & Downtown Austin Alliance
Each summer, the Red River Cultural District (RRCD) hosts Hot Summer Nights—a three-day weekend filled with free concerts and events, taking place across nearly a dozen iconic live music venues within the RRCD in an effort to provide additional revenue to district members, as well as local musicians and staff during the traditionally slower summer months. Join us for an active morning of wellness and exploration at Waterloo Greenway!
Event Schedule
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – Yoga & Sound featuring Kelly Bach and Snugg
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM – Wild Waterloo: BioBlitz presented in partnership with Families in Nature
1:00 PM – Lunch Pizza Party at Mohawk Austin with Rock and Roll Playhouse
Beat the heat with complimentary Mom and Pop’s All Natural Frozen Pops and refreshments by Waterloo Sparkling Water and Liquid Death.
Wild Waterloo
Presented in partnership with Families in Nature
Explores the rich histories and resilient natural features that shaped today’s Waterloo Park landscape. This series of science, nature, and environmental education events is designed to immerse participants in nature-rich exploration, dynamic community conversations, and stewardship projects throughout Waterloo Park!
BioBlitz
Saturday, July 20, 2024 | 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Meredith Heritage Tree Deck
Join Waterloo Greenway and Families in Nature for hands-on workshops and outdoor nature play activities including a “BioBlitz,” where citizen scientists of all ages will use iNaturalist to identify plants and wildlife within Waterloo Park. Participants might spot a blue heron fishing for lunch, a turtle perched on a log or a nutria out for a swim.
Sensory Science
Friday, August 9, 2024 | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Waterloo Park
Connecting to nature has well-documented benefits to physical and mental health, social well-being, and cognitive development. Wild Waterloo: Sensory Science is an environmental awareness program specifically designed for sensory learning. Every aspect of this interactive program has been thoughtfully designed to encourage people of all abilities, skills, and ages to engage their senses while at the park.
This project is supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
Self-Guided Experiences
The Ecologist School: Waterloo Park
Daily | Self-Guided
The Ecologist School: Waterloo Greenway is a collaborative project between Families in Nature and Waterloo Greenway Conservancy to help our community learn more about the ecosystem and history of Waterloo Greenway while getting outside into nature together! Participate in hands-on activities spanning across 16 different branches of science and across eight learning categories: S.T.E.A.M., Volunteerism, Outdoor Skills, and Leadership Development. Designed to be enjoyed by all ages.
Navigating Native Plants at Waterloo Park
Daily | Self-Guided
The importance of native species to an ecologically rich landscape can not be understated, which is why 95% of the vegetation in our park is indigenous to Central Texas. Scattered throughout each unique area of Waterloo Park, parkgoers can find Plant Wayfinder QR codes dispersed throughout our gardens. Each code has been strategically placed for visitors to use as a means of becoming acquainted with the many native plant and wildflower species that dwell and thrive within the park’s perimeters.
Art in the Park
Past Deposits from a Future Yet to Come
Teresa Hubbard / Alexander Birchler
On Display Nightly at Moody Amphitheater | View the Schedule
Buttons, plates, marbles, bottles, coins, bullets, keys and other historic artifacts are suspended in a rhythmic free fall in a new public video art installation exploring the ways in which these objects connect us to Austin’s past, present, and future, offering a glimpse into the daily lives of people who once lived and worked along the creek in the mid-19th to mid-20th centuries. The installation is free to the public.
Serpent of the Sun and the Moon
Guadalupe Maravilla
On Display Daily | Lebermann Plaza at Waterloo Park
Presented in partnership with Fusebox & The Contemporary Austin
Serpent of the Sun and the Moon is a sculptural artwork created specifically for the Austin solar eclipse by renowned international artist Guadalupe Maravilla. The bronze sculpture functions as vibrational healing instruments. It represents a serpent holding two gongs – a Sun Gong coming from the cloud, and Moon gong from the mouth of the serpent. Each gong resonates at the frequency of their corresponding celestial bodies. The installation is one of seven projects nationally supported by the Simons Foundation as part of their newly launched Triangle Program, which brings together artists, scientists, and producers to create new artworks and engage audiences in creative ways.
To view full details on upcoming programming, visit waterloogreenway.org, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for more updates.