Blue River Discovery Days Festival

Blue River Discovery Days returns to Blue Valley Park on Saturday, October 10, from 9 AM to 2 PM. It's the fourth year of the festival, which the Heartland Conservation Alliance runs as part of a larger annual awareness and fundraising campaign for the Blue River—Kansas City's largest and most populated watershed. The festival first launched in 2023 and usually lands in the fall, culminating in a day of outdoor activities along the river.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon, guided activities kick off every half hour, and they're open to all experience levels, so you don't need to be an expert to join in. The lineup includes guided hikes, kayaking, birding, foraging, and nature crafts. If you're not sure where to start, you can just drop in and pick whatever looks good to you as the day unfolds.

Much of the day centers on Renewing the Blue, a collaborative project working to transform the urban river corridor by removing invasive species, restoring native habitats, and planting a new community food forest. Sponsorships and donations support the alliance's mission and its Blue River Nature Guide program. There's also limited-edition "The Heart of KC Runs Blue" merchandise available with a donation, designed by in-house artist and Conservation Land Steward Christian Holderby. The campaign uses the hashtags #BlueRiverDiscoveryDays and #RenewTheBlue.

It's free for everyone, though donations are welcome. You'll find it at Blue Valley Park, 6899 23rd St, Kansas City, MO 64126, on Saturday, October 10, from 9 AM to 2 PM.