EarthFest 2026 Celebration Wild River State Park (May 2, 2026)

View Wild River State Park page for location and contact information.

All details below copied from the Wild River State Park website.

2026 Theme: Conserving forests for Minnesota's bats.

Join the 43rd annual celebration of spring at the park! All ages are welcome and the event is free. with a $7 one-day or $35 year-round MN State Park Vehicle Permit. Here's an overview of the day:

Pre-Party

Bird walk guided by Dawn Doering of the Wild River Audubon Society (7:30-9 a.m.)

Festival of Activities from 9:30 AM - 12 PM

• Bat info table with DNR bat expert Melissa Boman. Try out your hand at being a bat researcher!
• Bat activities and crafts for kids.
• One-day opportunity to earn the throwback Junior Ranger hardwoods patch.
• Making buckthorn walking sticks with Friends of Wild River State Park.
• Self-guided bat walk through the forest.
• DNR Forest Stewardship Program table. Meet Wade Krueger of DNR Forestry, Practice tree ID, play a game, learn to care for forests.

Other Activities

• Outdoor lunchtime concert from 12 - 1 PM.
• Free snacks provided by Friends of Wild River State Park.
• Stewardship projects from 1 - 2:30 PM.

8 species of bats make their home in Minnesota. They are an important part of the ecosystem, and some species have suffered dramatic population declines in the past several years. They utilize prairies and wetlands, but are especially dependent upon forests. Discover how we can steward our landscapes to be good for bats.

View Wild River State Park page for location and contact information.