Put on a hat, slap on some sun screen and pack up the family to enjoy the great outdoors on the banks of the Tres Rios, at the 14th Annual Spring Tres Rios Nature Festival.   Nature lovers, visitors and families can look forward to another outstanding weekend long spring outdoor event at the Tres Rios Nature Festival, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 4-5, 2017 in Avondale, AZ.

For the past fourteen years, thousands of people have descended upon the confluence of the Gila, Salt and Agua Fria rivers for the annual Tres Rios Nature Festival, a celebration of the plants, animals, ecological relationships, as well as many recreational opportunities of the area. Kid-friendly activities, educational displays, entertainment and vendors make this a great event for the entire family. Attendees will be able to see wildlife up close, go canoeing, try a hand at archery, fish, view local birds, hike, and learn all about STEAM opportunities in the Southwest Valley.

HANDS ON EXHIBITS: A variety of outdoor, nature and history organizations will showcase informative exhibits.  The most popular are the wildlife encounter exhibits.   Experts on these topics will be available to answer questions and tell you about their organizations.  Featured organizations include:  Sonoran Audubon, Arizona Game and Fish, and Arizona Audubon to name a few. 

GO FISH!:  Bass will be spawning so your chances are really good at catching the ‘Big One’.  No license required. Bring your own or use our fishing gear. 

SPLISH & SPLASH: Free access to canoes and kayaks to explore the water ways of the safe and wildlife friendly river.

BIRDS EYE VIEWING:  Take a try at one of the most popular hobbies in the world, bird watching! Audubon experts will provide guided tour of the local bird watching opportunities.  Some of the birds you may see include osprey, red-tailed hawk, peregrine falcon, and orange-crowned warblers. You may get lucky and spot one of the Bald Eagles that ventures down to the festival.

BULLS EYE: Visit the beginner archery range and learn about shooting a bow and arrow in a safe setting, instruction provided my Arizona Game and Fish.

ENTERTAINMENT: Be entertained by folk, blue grass and country talent at the main stage throughout the weekend. Pull up a chair, or bring your own, as entertainment continues all day each day. Featured entertainment for this year’s festival include renown local and regional acts.

FOOD:  There will be great food to tease your taste buds. Burgers, BBQ, and fry bread are some of the food options to quench the appetite that you build up participating in all of the fun outdoor activities.

STEAM: Kids can learn and  use Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM), as the Tres Rios Nature Festival is excited to be a Signature Event of the Arizona SciTech Festival.

RECYCLING FASHION SHOW: The search is on for America’s Next Top “Recycling” Model to show off this season’s “trashiest” outfit created from recyclable materials. The Fashion Show will be hosted Saturday of the event at 12pm at the Festival. Any interested child in grades Kindergarten through 6th Grade may enter this fun competition. Visit the website listed below to obtain your entry form.

Event hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The event is hosted at the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area. located adjacent to Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, five miles south of I-10 on Avondale Boulevard (7602 S. Avondale Blvd., Avondale, AZ 85323). The event is free. The Tres Rios Nature Festival will still go on, RAIN OR SHINE. See you there!

For more information, visit  www.tresriosnaturefestival.com or call 623-333-2400.