WaterFest 2017
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Wilderness Voyager canoes travel between the Phalen Channel and Phalen Lake.
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WaterFest 2017, held on June 3rd at Lake Phalen in St. Paul, was a busy, fun-filled event with well over 2,000 attendees. The temperature reached 88 degrees and the sun was shining. It was a perfect day for this year’s festival.
Thank you to all our wonderful partners, exhibitors, volunteers, sponsors and you who attended – the people who love to “Make Waves!” And a big round of applause for our WaterFest consultant who helps make it all happen – Debbie Meister!
The photos below provide a great overview of the event.
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| Farnsworth Aerospace Marching Band |
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| Breck School Bato Bato! Marimba Ensemble perform in the amphitheater. |
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| This band was a great hit! |
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| CHAT – The Center for Hmong Arts and Talent – helped coordinate performances. |
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| Senator Foung Hawj provided the welcome and introduced the Farnsworth Band. |
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| Hmong traditional dancers performed in their beautiful costumes. |
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| Catch-a-Critter in a net was organized by Harriet Alexander Nature Center. |
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| Our neighbors, Children’s Discovery Academy of Early Learning, were planting bean seeds. |
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| The Minnesota Dragonfly Society talked with over 400 people. |
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| Families Outdoors, a service of the Jeffers Foundation, encouraged families to un-plug for a day. |
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| We had multiple opportunities for fishing provided by Tips Outdoors and Joe’s Sporting Goods. |
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| It’s never too early to learn the finer points of fishing. |
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| The pier provided a great place to offer tips for fishing. |
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| Kids signing in to get their wristbands for Voyager canoes |
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| Frogtown Green “Don’t Feed the Algae” display |
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| Great River Greening provided information on volunteering with their organization. |
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| St. Paul Parks and Rec is a key partner in WaterFest. |
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| The jump castle is a big hit! |
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| Wilderness Inquiry provides paddling equipment and instruction for all ages. |
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| “I hope somebody’s balancing this thing!” |
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| The MN Army National Guard provides a challenge with the climbing wall. |
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| The kayaks and support at the boating dock were provided by St. Paul Parks and Rec and Twin Cities Paddle Sports. |
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| It was a great day to be on the water! |
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| Putt Putt Golf provides a fun challenge and information about keeping our water clean. |
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| The St. Paul Public Library set up a StoryWalk leading up to the entrance of the pavilion. |
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| The St. Paul Public Library Bookmobile provided an opportunity to check out books. |
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| Capital Region Watershed District provided several displays that helped teach about water pollution and ways to prevent it. |
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| Sherry Brooks and Gene Christenson talk about pollinators. |
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| The 3M Clown Club came to provide fun and animal balloons for the children. |
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| Dana Boyle brought attention to Tamarack Nature Preserve while painting a portrait of a marsh cinquefoil. |
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| The Minnesota Herpetological Society exhibit always provides excitement. |
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| “Want to pet the iguana?” |
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| Jenn Radke, Tina Carstens and Mark Gernes show off their new WaterFest T-shirts. |
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| Ramsey County Master Gardeners provide advice on gardening and seed packets. |
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| Which water did you like best at the Water Bar?
Photo Credit: Carrie Magnuson
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| Maplewood Nature Center brought toads and salamanders. |
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| Ramsey County Parks and Rec shared nature neighbors. |
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| Anna Beining, RWMWD Intern, at the natural resources display. |
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| Senator Foung Hawj checks out one of the reptiles. |
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| Which kind of surface creates the least runoff? The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provided the answers. |
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| Thanks to the parking lot attendants led by Terry Noonan and Joe Fox for their good work. (Terry Noonan pictured above on left.) |
We’re looking forward to WaterFest 2018. We hope to see you there!
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**All photo credits to Anita Jader except where noted.