Be a Huron Hero!

Become a Huron Hero! This year before the festival, you have the opportunity to get involved with the educational and conservation efforts for the Huron River. By signing up and attending one of our Huron Hero activities, speaker sessions or clean ups, you help raise awareness for the river and earn a Huron Hero card which you can trade in at the Huron River Day Festival information booth for a prize.

Huron Hero sessions will run between 8 AM and noon.

Join the Huron Waterloo Pathways Initiative for a scenic, social group ride along the Huron River! The ride will depart from the Barton Dam trailhead, ride together to the Dixboro Dam, then return to finish at Riverside Park to join the Huron River Day festivities. Riders will make their way back to Barton Dam on their own if needed. This out-and-back route highlights some of the B2B trails most beautiful river corridor views and showcases the growing network of local pathways and connections.

Time: 11:30 am

Meeting Location: Barton Dam trailhead

What to expect

  • A welcoming, community-paced group ride
  • A chance to learn about the Huron-Waterloo Pathways Initiative and upcoming projects

Who it’s for

  • Adults and teens comfortable riding in a group for a moderate-distance outing
  • All bikes are welcome (road, hybrid, e-bike). Please bring a helmet.

What to bring

  • Helmet (required), water, a snack
  • Weather-appropriate layers and lights if conditions warrant

Safety: We’ll ride responsibly, follow traffic laws, and prioritize a no-drop, ride-together experience.

Route Length: Barton Dam to Dixboro Dam is 5.6 Miles the full loop is 11.2 Miles. The route has mainly flat terrain.

Sign Up

Help us protect the diverse wildlife of the Huron River ecosystem and keep this beloved park safe and clean for our community by using trash grabbers and reusable trash bags to pick up litter throughout the park and along the river.

Event Details:

  • Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

  • Time: 9:00–11:00 a.m.

Locations: 

  • Riverside Park
  • Gallup Park
  • Bandemer Park

 

What to wear and bring:

  • Long pants, tall socks, and closed-toe shoes

  • Dress for the weather

  • A reusable water bottle

  • We’ll provide tools and instruction

Please note:

  • Volunteers may encounter uneven ground, thorns, poison ivy, and insects like mosquitoes or ticks

  • All minors must be accompanied by a guardian. 

Learn more and Sign-Up Here!

Join the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History to learn about microplastics!

Microplastics are in our water, our soil, and even our everyday routines. From research to everyday choices, this exhibit invites visitors to understand microplastics and leave feeling empowered to do something about the issue. Join this one-day-only tour to learn about the creation of this new exhibit, ways in which microplastics enter the Huron River, and how we can make a difference.

Come curious, ask questions, and walk away with ideas you can put to practice in our community.

Location: University of Michigan Museum of Natural History, 1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

Times: 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM.

No sign up is required for this event, but each tour is only able to accommodate the first 30 participants. 

Bring the whole family for a hands-on River Bug Hunt with Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC) staff! We’ll head to the water’s edge to explore benthic macroinvertebrates—the small aquatic insects and other organisms that live on the river bottom. These “river bugs” are powerful bio-indicators that help scientists understand the health of our rivers and streams.

You’ll learn how we sample, sort, and identify species found in our local waterways, and what their presence tells us about water quality. All ages and experience levels are welcome—come ready to get curious (and maybe a little muddy).

Time: 11:00 AM-Noon

Location: Riverside Park, 1000 Canal St, Ann Arbor, MI. 

What to Expect

  • A brief welcome and safety overview from HRWC staff
  • Demonstration of river sampling tools (nets/trays) and how bug sampling works
  • Small-group, hands-on collecting along the river’s edge
  • Sorting and identifying “river bugs” (benthic macroinvertebrates) with guidance
  • A simple explanation of what different species tell us about river and stream health
  • Time for questions, kid-friendly discovery, and sharing what we find

What to Bring:

  • Wear closed-toed shoes that you do not mind getting wet and/or dirty
  • Dress for the weather
  • Drinking water
  • Sunscreen and/or bug spray

Sign Up!

Hosted by the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office See how Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County are using nature to manage stormwater—one garden at a time. Join us for a guided Rain Garden Hike to explore local rain gardens and learn how these planted depressions capture, slow, and filter runoff before it reaches storm drains and the Huron River.  Meet current rain garden stewards and learn how you can care for a rain garden within this park, or at another public rain garden location. Along the way we’ll discuss how rain gardens work, the plants that make them successful, and practical ways you can reduce runoff at home and in your neighborhood.
Due to the April 2026 Storms, this event may change, please pay attention to communications as the date approaches

When: 10:00 AM-11:00AM

Where:  Veteran’s Park, 2150 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor 

What to Expect

  • A brief welcome and overview of rain gardens and stormwater impacts
  • A guided walk to nearby rain garden sites
  • Plant and design highlights and maintenance tips
  • Time for questions and conversation throughout
  • A relaxed pace with short stops for close-up viewing and photos

What to Bring

  • Comfortable walking shoes (weather- and mud-appropriate)
  • Water bottle and sun/rain protection (hat, sunscreen, jacket)
  • Bug spray (optional)
  • A notepad or phone for photos and ideas (optional)

Sign Up!

Join the fun with Ann Arbor Park Staff members Juliet Berger and Sarah Surato for a guided Bird Walk along the Huron River. We’ll look and listen for colorful nesting and migrating birds as we travel from Riverside Park through Island, Fuller, and Cedar Bend. Expect a 2-mile out-and-back walk on a mix of paved and unpaved paths, with frequent stops to observe birds and talk about what we’re seeing. We’ll be searching for birds rain or shine. 

Where: Riverside Park, 1000 Canal Street, Ann Arbor, MI. Meet at the music tent. 

What to bring:

  • Sturdy walking shoes (some sections may be uneven or muddy)
  • Dress for the weather (layers, rain jacket, sun protection)
  • Binoculars if you have them (optional, but helpful)
  • Reusable water bottle

Sign Up

Join the Ann Arbor Parks staff for a walk to learn about and spot turtles. There are at least half a dozen species of turtles living in the Huron. We’ll walk to a spot where we can get good looks at least 2 (usually 3, sometimes 5!) species basking, and explain how to identify them. We’ll walk about a half mile round trip, on paved path and boardwalk. Bring binoculars if you can, we’ll have some to share. Recommended for ages 14 and up.  Park before you cross the bridge at Bandemer if space allows.  This event depends on sunny warm weather, it will be canceled if it’s raining , or cloudy and below 65, or sunny and below 55.

Where: Bandemer Park, 1352 Lake Shore Drive, Ann Arbor, MI. Meet at the north entrance 

When: 10:00 AM-11:15 AM 

What to bring:

  • Sturdy walking shoes (some sections may be uneven or muddy)
  • Dress for the weather (layers, rain jacket, sun protection)
  • Binoculars if you have them (optional, but helpful)
  • Water bottle

Sign Up

Bring your creativity to this nature craft time and get to know the turtles that call the Huron River home! Kids will learn about local turtle species and the Huron River and then create their very own turtle using a mix of store-bought craft supplies and natural materials. This is a fun, hands-on way to connect art and nature—perfect for young makers and curious river explorers. 

Where: Island Park, 1420 Island Drive, Ann Arbor, MI. Meet at Shelter B.

When: 10:00 AM-11:30 AM

Who it’s for: K–5 students (with a parent/guardian) 

Sign Up

Get an inside look at how your local Police & Fire Departments keeps our community safe at this free, family-friendly Open House. Meet the K-9 Unit, firefighters, and emergency management staff, explore fire apparatus and response equipment up close, and learn what happens before, during, and after an emergency.

Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Location: Fire Station 1, 111 N. Fifth Ave. 

What to expect

  • Apparatus and equipment displays (fire engines, gear, tools, and more)
  • Safety demonstrations and hands-on activities for kids and adults
  • Opportunities to ask questions about smoke alarms, fire prevention, CPR/first aid resources, and community programs
  • Free hot dogs
  • Stop by the Emergency Management table for
    • Information on emergency alerts,
    • evacuation planning,
    • severe weather,
    • and home preparedness!

Whether you’re curious about emergency response, want tips to make your household more prepared, or just want a fun community outing, this Open House is a great way to connect, learn, and build resilience together.