Southwest Projects

Rio Community Festivals

Our Goals
Reconnecting people and nature through free community festival events.
What We’re Doing
Rio Community Festivals bring together local partners, community organizations, and the public to celebrate nature, conservation, culture, art, music and more.
Liberty Wildlife Presentation. Photo: Danny Roper-Jones/Audubon Southwest

Connecting Community Through Nature: Rio Community Festivals

Throughout the year, Rio Salado Audubon Center hosts free Rio Community Festivals featuring music, art, culture, or food, while also celebrating our shared connections to nature. The festivals are built on strong partnerships, helping uplift both incredible community organizations and Audubon's conservation partners. Activities may include live animal workshops, conservation action tables, bird walks, arts and crafts, and other family-friendly fun. From Indigenous music, art, and culture in the fall to Valentine’s Day–themed festivals in the winter, each festival offers a unique and engaging experience for all, while offering ways for people to engage in conservation and community science.

Explore our upcoming events to learn more about the next Rio Community Festival.

Upcoming Events
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Latino Conservation Week: Papermaking & Seed Harvesting
Sep
19
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Rio Salado Audubon Center
Latino Conservation Week: Papermaking & Seed Harvesting
Phoenix, AZ
Celebrate Latino Conservation Week with Audubon Southwest, Arizona State University (ASU), and AZ Land at the Rio Salado Audubon Center! Spend the...
Art, Culture & Community In-Person
Desert Rivers Audubon: Higley Ponds Monthly Bird Walk
Sep
21
7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Audubon Community Chapters
Desert Rivers Audubon: Higley Ponds Monthly Bird Walk
Gilbert, AZ
Join us for this urban wetlands bird walk! Wide, flat trails parallel the groundwater recharge ponds for easy viewing and comfortable walking. These...
Art, Culture & Community In-Person
Desert Rivers Audubon: Upper Beeline Highway – Sycamore Creek
Sep
28
5:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Audubon Community Chapters
Desert Rivers Audubon: Upper Beeline Highway – Sycamore Creek
Fountain Hills, AZ
Upper Beeline Highway – Sycamore Creek is a high elevation riparian area northeast of Fountain Hills with willows, cottonwoods, sycamores, pines...
Art, Culture & Community In-Person
Saturday Guided Bird Walk
Oct
3
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Rio Salado Audubon Center
Saturday Guided Bird Walk
Phoenix, AZ
Join our local bird enthusiasts for a guided bird walk through the Rio Salado habitat! These walks are for everyone: experts, novices, and people who...
Birding & Community Science In-Person
Thursday Guided Bird Walk
Oct
8
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Rio Salado Audubon Center
Thursday Guided Bird Walk
Phoenix, AZ
Join us for a walk through the Rio Salado habitat. Together, we’ll explore the trails, enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, and observe the...
Birding & Community Science In-Person
Saturday Guided Bird Walk
Oct
17
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Rio Salado Audubon Center
Saturday Guided Bird Walk
Phoenix, AZ
Join our local bird enthusiasts for a guided bird walk through the Rio Salado habitat! These walks are for everyone: experts, novices, and people who...
Birding & Community Science In-Person
Desert Rivers Audubon: Big Sit at Desert Breeze Hummingbird Habitat
Oct
18
7:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Audubon Community Chapters
Desert Rivers Audubon: Big Sit at Desert Breeze Hummingbird Habitat
Chandler, AZ
BIG SIT at Desert Breeze Hummingbird Habitat is designed for all nature lovers including those with accessibility challenges; wheelchairs, walkers...
Art, Culture & Community In-Person