BC Rivers Day Festival 2015

Photo submitted by Andrei Fejes, Lynn Valley Park, BC

By Sarah Atherton 

Save the date for Sunday September 27th, 2015

The BC Rivers Day Community Festival, an annual celebration of water and nature, will be held Sunday, September 27th, 2015, 11am to 3 pm, at the Derek Doubleday Arboretum. The free, family-oriented event, which enhances understanding of the environment and spotlights our water resources also marks the kick-off to WaterWeeks, a three week series of events across the Township of Langley.

The Derek Doubleday Arboretum is located in the 21200 block of Fraser Highway, and this central Langley location should make it easy for residents to stop in and explore. The area is flat and full of sturdy trails that offer access to those in wheelchairs or with strollers.

Guests can park on site or at the nearby overflow lot at Langley Secondary School. A free community shuttle will transport visitors to the Rivers Day site every 15 minutes.

As well, a bicycle valet will be offered to encourage residents to get to the festival using a mode of transportation that is good for their health and the environment.

During Rivers Day, visitors can enjoy more than 25 interactive displays and activity booths, featuring gold panning, Dreamfish painting, an animal costume parade, live owls, and a climbing wall. Live entertainment will be presented by Angela Brown (The Ta Da Lady), Tony Prophet, and the Genuine Jug Band. 

A free barbecue lunch will be provided from 11:30am until supplies last. Guest are encouraged to bring their own reusable water containers for drinks, and a concession will be available for those who would like to purchase refreshments.

The popular Upcycle Boat Build returns again this year, with participants invited to make creative and floatable boats out of recyclable materials for a chance to win a $100 term deposit from Vancity. Categories are available for kids aged three to six, seven to 13, and 14 plus.

Presented by the Township of Langley and the Langley Environmental Partners Society, WaterWeeks 2015 activities are designed to encourage environmental stewardship in residents of all ages. They are free and open to the public, but space is limited. To register, contact 604-532-3511 or exec_director@leps.bc.ca.

WaterWeeks events include a Farm Fresh Bus Tour on October 3, Dig In Tree Plantings on October 4 and 17, and a West Creek Wetland Walk on October 4. Activities continue with a film screening on October 7, Coquitlam Watershed Tour on October 10, Voyageur Paddle in Fort Langley on October 11, and an Invasive Species Pull on October 17.