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 9/19/20 due to COVID-19, stay tuned for updates]
Volunteer on Saturday, September 19, 2020 for our 50th annual Creek Clean Up of the Wissahickon Creek and its many tributaries! This event was originally scheduled for April 25, 2020 but is postponed due to COVID-19. This program is great for families, friends, scouts, school groups and anyone who loves the environment and clean water. For the past several years, Wissahickon Trails has partnered with Friends of the Wissahickon (FOW) to clean the Creek from its headwaters to its confluence with the Schuylkill River! All volunteers are assigned to sections of the Creek in advance. Following the clean up, Wissahickon Trails and FOW invite all participants to join us at Fort Washington State Park for a picnic to “talk trash” and share stories.
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
We invite you to join us at historic Cedarbrook Country Club on Sunday, October 11 for this year’s Green Ribbon Gala. Enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live music as we celebrate our 63-year legacy of conservation. The Wissahickon Creek meanders throughout this verdant 225-acre property, sustaining lakes, ponds and abundant wildlife. The Green Ribbon Gala is a time to celebrate and support Wissahickon Trails’ work and gather with friends, new and old.
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.