Upcoming Events
More ways to get outside at Willow Waterhole!
Keep the momentum going this fall with more opportunities in the (relatively) cooler weather to explore, learn, and give back!
There’s so much happening at Willow Waterhole, we can’t even
get it all on one page!
Click below to see what’s happening in November and beyond.
Colors of the Prairie
Sponsor: Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy
Date: Saturday, November 7, 2028
Time: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Willow Waterhole - Westbury Lake Schwartz Gazebo area
A free chalk art festival where pollination, prairies, and art color the pavement together. Click the Colors of the Prairie Logo below to go to the website for the event.
Volunteer Workday
Sponsor: Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 am
Location: Meet at the eastern end of the parking lot on Dryad
Come out and help maintain the Greenway. Tasks can include digging out invasive plants, picking up litter, and otherwise beautifying this amazing space. Tools and gloves provided. We need to know how many will be helping, so register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1991705785620?aff=oddtdtcreator
Monthly Bird Survey
Sponsor: Birds Houston
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Location: Meet at the parking lot of the Gathering Place, 5310 South Willow Drive
The Willow Waterhole Bird Survey was started in June 2007 and is held on the third Saturday of each month. During the 2-hour count, the number of species identified can range from around 30 in the summer to over 50 in the winter. All skill levels are welcome - this is a great opportunity for beginners and experienced birders alike.
Our start time is 8 am during the cooler months (October through March) and 7 am during our extended summer (April through September). We split up into three groups to cover the park thoroughly, and as of 2020, over 210 species have been reported to eBird. For a list of species reported to date, see eBird: ebird.org/hotspot/L390915.
Mary Ann Beachemin is Senior Naturalist at the Nature Discovery Center. The Nature Discovery Center is partnering with Birds Houston to conduct the Willow Waterhole survey.
Contact: Mary Ann Beachemin at mabeaubirds@gmail.com
If you're new to the survey, please let us know you're coming. Contact Mary Ann if you'd like to be placed on our mailing list.
Family Foraging
Sponsor: Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Location: Meet at the Willow Waterhole Greenway Conservancy Office
5600 South Willow Drive, Suite 113
Bring the whole family out to stroll through the landscape and learn about edible plants in our landscape. Spaces are limited, so please register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998252417773?aff=oddtdtcreator
Recent Events
A Full Day of Music at Willow Waterhole
MusicFEST returned to Willow Waterhole for its 12th annual celebration, filling the Greenway with a full day of free live music, family activities, and community spirit. Families, friends, and neighbors gathered on the lawn to enjoy performances by local student musicians and professional artists, culminating in a headlining set by Skyrocket.
Guests also enjoyed food trucks, a beer and wine garden, games for kids, community booths, and the opportunity to explore the Greenway's lakes, trails, and blooming bluebonnets. Familiar festival t-shirts from years past served as a reminder that MusicFEST has become a beloved Willow Waterhole tradition.
This year's festival also highlighted an exciting milestone. Mayor John Whitmire joined Sharon Yazowski, President and CEO of the Levitt Foundation, along with representatives from City Council Member Martha Castex-Tatum's office, TIRZ 20, and Levitt Pavilion Houston, to celebrate plans for the transformation of the adjacent former Shell property. The project will create a new gateway and gathering space, including the future home of Levitt Pavilion Houston.
MusicFEST continues to reflect the simple idea of bringing people together through music while introducing new visitors to everything Willow Waterhole has to offer. As plans for the Greenway continue to unfold, even more people will have the opportunity to gather, connect, and enjoy this special place.
