Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Wildwood Park, Harrisburg
Best For: Families, nature lovers, curious kids, bird nerds, and stroller adventurers
Weather: Rain or shine
A Spring Festival for Families Who Love Nature... or at Least Need to Get Outside
Wildwood Park’s 26th Annual Wetlands Festival is back with a full day of free, family-friendly fun built around one of the most beautiful natural spaces in the Harrisburg area. This event blends hands-on kids’ activities, guided nature walks, environmental exhibitors, live music, and food vendors into one very solid Saturday plan.
It is educational, yes. But in a sneaky way. Your kids will be making crafts, spotting wildlife, meeting live animals, and walking the trails while you casually pretend this was all part of an intentional parenting vision board.
What to Expect at Wetlands Festival
Expect live animals, nature activities, environmental exhibits, local music, guided walks, and enough outdoor magic to make everybody feel just a little bit more wholesome than usual.
Festival Highlights
Kid-Friendly Fun That Does Not Feel Like a Lecture
There will be hands-on nature activities and crafts for kids throughout the day, which is excellent news for families hoping to mix fun with a little accidental enrichment.
This is a great event for kids who love animals, hands-on discovery, and wandering around asking questions faster than adults can answer them.
Guided Walk Schedule
Meet in front of the Nature Center
Search for unique birds along the park’s boardwalks.
Another chance to spot birds with Appalachian Audubon and Wildwood volunteers.
Learn what is blooming around the park.
Learn tree identification tips and meet the trees of Wildwood.
Live Animals, Music, and Snacks... Say Less
11:00 AM | 1:00 PM | 2:30 PM
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Neidig & Koretzky
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Williams Catering
Environmental Exhibitors
One of the best parts of Wetlands Festival is the huge variety of environmental organizations represented. Families can meet local experts, discover community resources, and explore everything from birds and beekeeping to watersheds, wildlife rescue, hiking trails, and pollinator education.
A Few More Reasons to Make the Trip
- Art in the Wild trail installations for a little extra magic along the way
- Nature crafts and activities for kids who need to touch, build, or create something
- The Wandering Woodcraft as this year’s featured vendor
- Wildwood Park itself, which is already one of the best places in the area to wander with kids
Parking + Shuttle Details
Additional parking is available nearby at HACC lot #4. Follow the signs to the designated parking area. Families can either walk the Capital Area Greenbelt trail to the festival, about 0.7 miles, or hop on the shuttle.
Last shuttle at 3:45 PM
Last shuttle at 4:00 PM
Festival Partners
Title Sponsor: Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority
Presenting Sponsor: UPMC Health Plan
Supporting Sponsor: Visit Hershey & Harrisburg Trails & Experiences
Media Partners: WITF, abc27, and CBS 21 News
Plan Your Day
Wetlands Festival
Saturday, April 25, 2026
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location:
Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood Way
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Pack the stroller, wear shoes you do not mind taking on a trail, and prepare for your children to come home with crafts, wildlife facts, and a sudden deep commitment to birds.
