ECOFEST AT WELLES PARK

Welles Park turns into a really fun family outing during EcoFest. It’s technically an environmental festival, but it plays more like a giant neighborhood park day with activities spread throughout the entire space.

For younger kids, there’s a lot happening at once in a way that works well for wandering toddlers and preschoolers. There’s Wiggleworms from Old Town School for ages 0–4, hands-on crafts, necklace making, origami wallet workshops, DIY fairy houses, live music throughout the day, and plenty of room to run around between activities.

The nature and gardening programming is especially good. Kids can see live bees, try honey tasting, grab free native seeds and flowers, learn about pollinators, and join guided tree walks around the park. There’s also a sustainable market, demos, and interactive booths from more than 60 local organizations, so it feels active and hands-on instead of standing around reading informational posters.

This event also does a nice job making environmental stuff feel concrete for kids. They’re planting things, building crafts out of invasive plants, seeing composting setups, and connecting gardening, recycling, and taking care of the neighborhood to real life instead of abstract “Earth Day” messaging.

There’s also a useful parent errand angle built in. EcoFest hosts recycling and donation drop-offs for things like batteries, aerosols, latex paint, small appliances, reusable ice packs, and children’s clothing donations, so you can finally clear out some of the random stuff piling up in your house while you’re there.

A few things worth knowing before you go:

• Some workshops require RSVPs
• The DIY magnet workshop is for ages 10+
• The fairy house workshop is for ages 6+
• Wiggleworms starts right at 10am and is probably the best fit for babies and toddlers
• You do not need to stay the entire event to get a lot out of it

This is also an easy stroller event. You’re in the park the whole time, there’s room to spread out, and it’s very easy to bounce between activities, snacks, and playground breaks without feeling stressed about timing.

And for kids currently obsessed with flowers, sticks, dirt, bugs, and live music, this place is basically paradise for a few hours.