2020 Annual Events
Maple Sugaring Festival
Late February-Early March
Every winter, in late February or early March, we host a Maple Sugaring Festival. Guides take groups through the woods at Four Mills Nature Reserve to see the tapped maple trees and then watch the sap get boiled into sugar. This event is ideal for families, scout groups, and anyone curious about the maple sugaring process. End your walk at the historic Four Mills Barn with hot cocoa, waffles, and maple syrup. Registration will open January 2021.
Creek Clean Up
[Postponed to 9/12/20 due to COVID-19, stay tuned for updates]
The pandemic might have delayed us but it won’t stop us from cleaning up the Wissahickon Creek. Volunteer for the 50th Annual Wissahickon Creek Clean Up on Saturday, September 12. This is the perfect outdoor event to show your support and love for a clean Wissahickon watershed, while keeping safely physically distant from others.
All volunteers are pre-assigned to sections of the Creek, its tributaries and the trail.
Stay tuned--registration will open in mid-August.
Birdathon Virtual Edition
May
The 26th annual Wissahickon Birdathon will take place from Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m. to Saturday, May 2 at 5 p.m. Create your own team or join Wissahickon Trails’ team. Teams explore the Wissahickon Valley to identify as many species as possible during this 24-hour fundraiser, collecting pledges for each species to help support our conservation efforts. Birders of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to bird as much or as little as they choose on Friday and Saturday. Birdathon registration fee includes a t-shirt and a future celebration gathering.
Tex Mex 5k Race - 2020 Event Cancelled
June
Join Tex Mex Connection restaurant and Wissahickon Trails for the 31st annual Tex Mex 5K Race for Open Space on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. in North Wales. Register to run or volunteer and enjoy dinner, music, and a Tex Mex Connection margarita (21+). Form a Green Ribbon Fundraising Team and enjoy the party at your own team table under the Big Top Tent with a full dinner, margaritas, and photo booth. Proceeds support Wissahickon Trails’ mission.
Walk the Wissahickon
Last Sunday in September
Held the last Sunday in September, Walk the Wissahickon offers people a chance to experience the beautiful Green Ribbon Trail that follows the Wissahickon Creek from North Wales and eventually connects with Philadelphia’s Forbidden Drive. Participants can choose to walk 5, 8, 13, or 21 miles of the trail. All of the walks are guided, lunch and snacks are provided, and participants are bussed back to the starting point. All hikes begin at Parkside Place in Upper Gwynedd Township.
Craft Beer by the Creek
October
Typically held in October, this family (and dog!) friendly event features food trucks, local craft beer and cider, and live music. Attendees park in Ambler Borough and take a 15-minute walk along the Green Ribbon Trail to the historic Four Mills Barn. Relaxing with friends and family while enjoying food, drinks, and music is the perfect way to spend a fall afternoon in nature.
Green Ribbon Gala
October 11, 2020
Enjoy the Green Ribbon Gala, Wissahickon Trails' biggest fundraiser, in the comfort of your own home. The Green Ribbon Gala to Go will bring you some of the best parts of the evening while still being mindful of the health and safety of our supporters. Mark your calendar for a memorable event.
Contact Anna Marchini at anna@wissahickontrails.org for more details and sponsorship opportunities.
5-Mile Green Ribbon Trail Race
First Saturday of November
Challenge yourself on the beautiful Green Ribbon Trail. This 5-mile race is held the first Saturday of November and is ideal for both experienced and new trail runners. Runners will start at Parkside Place and follow the Green Ribbon Trail downstream, then turn onto Swedesford Road at Wissahickon Trails’ Evans-Mumbower Mill. Run up Evergreen Drive, then circle through Natural Lands' Gwynedd Preserve. Reconnect with the Green Ribbon Trail and finish back at the Park’s pavilion for the award ceremony and brunch.