Palm Beach County Natural Areas Festival March 9

Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) invites the public to get out and explore Palm Beach County’s natural areas at the third annual Natural Areas Festival. This family-friendly celebration will encourage youth and adults of all ages to get outside and discover the beauty and wilderness found throughout the 31,000 acres of Palm Beach County’s Natural Areas System.

The Natural Areas Festival will take place on Saturday, March 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Winding Waters Natural Area (6161 Haverhill Road, West Palm Beach).

The festival will showcase the beauty and importance of natural areas through fun and educational adventures. Guests can explore the marvels of the natural areas through a 5K trail race, hands-on exhibits, wildlife presentations, a kids’ zone, guided hikes, kayak tours, a prescribed fire demonstration, food trucks and more. There is a fee for the 5K run. Register at www.sandspurultra.com/natural-areas-5k.

The celebration doesn’t stop there. ERM will host smaller events at other natural areas from Boca Raton to Jupiter.

Palm Beach County natural areas are home to hundreds of plant and animal species, such as the gopher tortoise, alligator, snail kite and numerous wading birds. With endless hiking, biking and waterway trails, come and discover the best places for birdwatching, paddling, stargazing and nature photography in Palm Beach County.

To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/pbcerm/events and https://pbcerm.eventbrite.com for the full lineup of events. For more information, call (561) 233-2400 or visit www.pbcerm.com.