Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Nature Walking Tour
2025-09-20 09:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-18 09:00 - 10:30 (America/Chicago) | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Learn about native plants and the insects that pollinate them along Buffalo Bayou! Follow along this discovery tour of Houston’s historic waterway ecosystem with Nancy Greig, founding director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center (now retired). An avid natural historian “jack of all trades”, she has particular interest in plants and insects, but birds, mammals, herpetofauna, and fish are all on her radar. At home she keeps busy with a butterfly garden, honey bee hives, and purple martin houses.
Cost
12 and over: $5
Children under 12: free
Duration
90 minutes
Meeting Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)
REGISTER

Sound Healing Meditation
2025-09-21 10:00 - 10:45, 2025-09-27 10:00 - 10:45, 2025-09-28 10:00 - 10:45, 2025-10-25 10:00 - 10:45, 2025-10-26 10:00 - 10:45 (America/Chicago) | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Find your center and practice meditation in the spacious and tranquil Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. Offered in collaboration with Union is Creation, this meditation series will feature the use of singing bowls and wind chimes to encourage mindfulness and connectivity.
Guests should bring their own cushions or mats. No food or drinks are allowed inside the Cistern.
Cost: $20
PURCHASE TICKETS

Sunset Bird Walk along Buffalo Bayou
2025-09-21 18:00 - 19:30 UTC | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Discover the diversity of birdlife in our urban environment through a guided walking tour along Buffalo Bayou for Houston Audubon’s Bird Week!
Expert guides from Houston Audubon will help you spot and identify a variety of species and share fascinating insights and fun facts about their behavior and habitat. From Great Blue Herons and Snowy Egrets to Osprey and Neotropic Cormorants, there is abundant birdlife to explore!
Location
Meet at Allen’s Landing Downtown (1005 Commerce St)
Time
6 – 7:30pm
Cost
Free
What to know
We encourage you to wear comfortable shoes and bring water and binoculars.
Before the walk, join Houston Audubon at downtown’s Frost Town Brewing from 5-6pm for the launch of Shorebird Shandy. This special brew is a tart and sweet shandy made with persimmon and lemon and was created to raise awareness of our local shorebirds.
Free Registration

Sunset Bird Walk along Buffalo Bayou is in partnership with

Light and Sound Immersion Meditation in the Cistern
2025-09-24 18:00 - 18:45, 2025-10-01 18:00 - 18:45, 2025-10-15 18:00 - 18:45, 2025-10-22 18:00 - 18:45, 2025-10-29 18:00 - 18:45 (America/Chicago) | BUFFALO BAYOU PARK CISTERN, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Light & Sound Immersion in the Cistern is a restorative evening sound healing meditation set within the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern’s reverberant chambers.
Saumil Manek of Union is Creation produces resonant tones and harmonics while shifting light patterns by Kelly O’Brien of Fenris create a serene, dreamlike atmosphere. This unique experience invites deep relaxation, inner stillness, and a heightened connection to the senses.
Guests should bring their own cushions or mats. For sensitive hearing, guests may enjoy the experience with earplugs. No food or drinks are allowed inside the Cistern.
Cost: $25
PURCHASE TICKETS

Buffalo Bayou Park Wellness Walk
2025-09-24 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-01 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-08 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-15 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-22 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-29 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
Join Buffalo Bayou Partnership on a free Wellness Walk led by Laura Conely, founder of Urban Paths. Anyone and everyone is invited to walk through the paths of Buffalo Bayou Park while discussing topics including mental and physical health as well as the benefits of being exposed to nature.
En Español
El primer miércoles de cada mes, la traductora Marcella Cabrera se unirá al grupo para ofrecer la caminata guiada en español.
Cost
Free
Duration
90 minutes / 3 miles
Meeting Location
The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park (105-B Sabine St)
FREE REGISTRATION

Sculpture Unveiling | Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony by Preston Gaines
2025-09-27 10:00 - 12:00 UTC | JAPHET CREEK PARK, 4600 Clinton Dr, Houston, TX, 77020, United States
Date: Saturday, September 27
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Japhet Creek Park (4600 Clinton Dr)
Parking: Japhet Creek Park and 122 Emile St.

Join us for a morning of art, ecology, and community as we unveil Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony, a temporary sculpture exhibition by BBP 2024 Artist-in-Residence Preston Gaines. Installed at Japhet Creek Park in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward, this immersive installation reimagines floral forms as sculptural mosaic totems, blending cultural heritage, environmental storytelling, and collective memory.
Throughout the event, fellow Houston-based artists will activate the space:

Kristi Rangel, BBP’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, will guide a poetic prompt walk centered on nature, ancestry, and reflection.
Brittany Mayfield, founder of Foliage Faerie, will present a site-specific floral installation echoing the themes of botanical identity and personal memory.

Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries as you explore the site and connect with the local art and Fifth Ward community.
Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony will be on view through January 15, 2026.
FREE REGISTRATION

About the Artwork
Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony is a public art installation by Preston Gaines, rooted in the landscape and legacy of Fifth Ward. Weaving together local cultural heritage, ecological awareness, and visual storytelling. The project draws inspiration from the quilting practices of Gee’s Bend, where African American women transformed necessity into artistry, and reinterprets those traditions through oxidized steel and floral forms reflecting the neighborhood’s layered cultural identities.
From Black-Eyed Susans symbolizing justice in African American gardens, to Marigolds from Hispanic traditions, to Cherry Blossoms signifying renewal in Asian cultures, the sculpture becomes a botanical mosaic of shared identity.
Together, these forms compose a sculptural tapestry, echoing the park’s natural rhythms while honoring the community’s past and future. Designed to be experienced from both close-up and afar, offering different experiences from pedestrian paths, park trails, and nearby streets. Its scale and composition are designed to evolve with light and shadow, echoing the creek’s natural rhythms. Rust Garden: A Triad Harmony serves as a sculptural landmark that honors Fifth Ward’s past while affirming its ongoing transformation.
About the Artist
Preston Gaines is a Houston-based architect, designer, and artist whose practice explores the intersection of nature, technology, and public memory. As founder of Inanimate Nature, he leads a multidisciplinary studio dedicated to reimagining ecological narratives through immersive installations, functional sculpture, and community-based design. investigating the use of technology to re-establish our connection to the earth and nature through design.
Gaines’ recent work includes exhibitions with the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, Project Row Houses, and ION District’s EyeOnArt program. His sculptural environments invite viewers to move beyond passive observation and into a space of resonance, reflection, and transformation.
While any built environment can have a physiological effect on the viewer, Gaines seeks to transcend the physical and activate a deeper psychological response, invoking emotion, memory, and a renewed connection to place.

Generous support for this program provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

Bayou Roots Walking Tour
2025-10-11 09:00 - 10:30, 2025-10-25 09:00 - 10:30 UTC | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Head to the heart of downtown to discover the history of Buffalo Bayou and Houston!
This engaging walking tour explores the development of the city we know today through an exploration of architecture, ecology, public art, and more. Experience fascinating historic buildings, witness the formation of a new Mexican Free-tailed Bat colony, and uncover a few local secrets all along the unique bayou trails winding through downtown Houston.
Cost
12 and over: $5
Children under 12: Free
Duration
90 minutes
Meeting Location
Allen’s Landing at Main St (1005 Commerce St)
Paid parking is available in the Bayou Lot behind El Centro Downtown (901 Commerce St) and street parking is also available along Commerce Street.
Walking tours are 90 minutes and cover approximately 1.5 miles. Comfortable clothing, good walking shoes and sun protection, and a water bottle are recommended.
REGISTER

Indigenous Peoples Day 12th Annual Celebration
2025-10-12 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | ELEANOR TINSLEY PARK, 500 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
BBP, in partnership with the Calmecac Indigenous Organization, invites you to this family-friendly event that honors the traditions, artistry, and resilience of Indigenous peoples with cultural ceremonies, live performances, and community recognition. Experience a day of learning, celebration, and connection along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Traditional attire is encouraged.

Activities include:

Xilonen Coming-of-Age Danza Azteca Ceremony facilitated by Calmecac Tonantzin Yolilitzyotl, Sahumadora Mayor, Catalina Tlahuizipaktli Benavides Palabra de Grupo Azteca Teokalli, and local ceremonial community dancers
Rematriation Water Blessing of Buffalo Bayou led by Sydney Keith (Minneconjou/Hunkpapa), traditional knowledge bearer and head woman of International Sundance, Green Grass, South Dakota
Indigenous artwork by Colectiva Pochteca
Debut Houston performance by the Sahawe Dancers (Uvalde, TX), celebrating their 75th anniversary
Pipe ceremony for all pipe carriers facilitated by David Claymore (Cheyenne River Sioux), co-founder of the Black Hills Powwow
Recognition of the Claymore family as respected Lakota Tiyospaye and lifelong contributors to sobriety, wellness, ceremony, and Lakota culture
Featured vendor: Toknihuan
Featured DJ: Trajik Sol

GATHER WITH US

Monthly Volunteer Workday
2025-10-18 08:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago)
Time: 8:30 to 11:30 am
Meeting Location / Parking: Details will be provided after registration.
Volunteers, ages 9 and up, are invited to join Buffalo Bayou Partnership for community-wide volunteer days at Buffalo Bayou Park happening the third Saturday of each month. Whether volunteering as an individual or a small group, your efforts will lead to a healthier environment and a more aesthetically pleasing amenity for all to enjoy.
Interested individuals and small groups can sign up here. Larger groups can schedule another day during the month by emailing volunteer@buffalobayou.org.
Volunteers will help with a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: trash pick-up, mulching and weed removal. We do ask that all volunteers bring their own work gloves. All other necessary work tools will be provided by BBP.
To sign up, please read the Volunteer Information packet and register through our GetConnected volunteer platform.
Volunteer Information Packet
Create a Profile on GetConnected
Questions? Contact Steve Parker by email (volunteer@buffalobayou.org) or by phone 713-752-0314 ext. 206.

Witness Series: Drawing Strength
2025-10-18 09:00 - 11:30 UTC | YOLANDA BLACK NAVARRO BUFFALO BEND NATURE PARK
Join BBP’s 2025 Artist-in-Residence, Kristi Rangel, for The Witness Series in green spaces along Buffalo Bayou East and explore the bayou’s rich history, engage with its natural elements, and reflect on themes of environmental equity.

Drawing Strength: Nature Journaling
Nature Journaling is a worldwide movement that integrates art, science, and nature exploration. Nature journaling makes you a better observer, naturalist, and artist and opens a world of beauty and discovery. Join artist Maverick for an outdoor sketching class in this calming environment that is designed to reduce stress and create an increased connection to nature. The Nature Heritage Society will lead nature studies, allowing attendees to better understand the park’s unique ecosystem made up of restored wetlands and woodlands. A limited supply of journal and sketching pencils will be provided for participants.
This park was named in memory of Yolanda Black Navarro, a committed civic leader from the East End who served Houston for decades. She founded the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans and received numerous accolades for her leadership in her community. Attendees will learn more about her legacy, while learning to observe and capture details of what they see in nature.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SERIES

Participating Artists & Partners
Joe Robles IV
Kristi Rangel
Maverick
Nature Heritage Society – Houston

Generous Support for this program provided by

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

2025 KBR Kids Day
2025-10-19 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
KBR Kids Day is a free annual event for the entire community. Thousands of children and their families will gather at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park to experience a full day of fun with exciting activities for all ages. This year, we will be celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Buffalo Bayou Park!
FREE REGISTRATION
ESPAÑOL

What to Know
Food and drinks will be available for purchase on-site.
Halloween costumes are encouraged!
Free parking located across the street at Lot H (1643 Memorial Dr.)

KBR Kids Day activities include

Hands-on nature activities
Face painting
Guided walking tours
Music and dance performances
Birds of prey show
Halloween costume parade
Wildlife encounters
And more to come!

Performance Schedule
10am: Family Bicycle Group Ride
11am: Land Acknowledgement with Deer Moon Sis*Stars and Danza Azteca with Calmecac Tonantzin Yolilitzyotl
11:20am: Houston Public Library Storytime: “This is the Tree we Planted”
11:35am: Birds of Prey Show
12:20pm: Halloween Costume Parade
12:45pm: The Winners Circle Breakdance Show
1pm: Birthday Walk with Urban Paths – Meet at the BBP Tent
1:15pm: Dance of Asian American
1:40pm: Compania Folklorica Alegria Mexicana
2pm: Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus
2:15pm: Birds of Prey Show

Partners
American Festival for the Arts
Archaeology Now
Barrio Dogs Inc.
Be SMART for Kids
Bike Freedom Academy
City of Houston Floodplain Management Office
Creators Worldwide
Dreamland Entertainment
Friends of the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuges
Houston Area Bat Team
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Public Library
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Toy Museum
Houston Zoo
Native Plant Society of Houston
Nature Discovery Center
Texas Tim Webb
Trust CHW Organization
Urban Paths
USFWS Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge
WEAR – Wildlife and Environmental Advocacy and Relief
Young Audiences of Houston

Food and Drink Vendors
Bahama Bucks
It’s A Wrap
Mi Patio
Paleteria El Pibe
Volando Coffee

Volunteer Opportunities
8:30 – 11am: Set-up
11am – 1pm: Pumpkin Patch A
11am – 1pm: Young Audiences A
1pm – 3pm: Pumpkin Patch B
1pm – 3pm: Young Audiences B
1:15 – 1:45pm: Birthday Walk with Urban Paths
3 – 4:30pm: Tear Down
VOLUNTEER WITH US

Generous support provided by:

Buffalo Bayou Partnership is

2025 KBR Día de los Niños
2025-10-19 11:00 - 15:00 UTC | THE WATER WORKS, 105 Sabine Street, Houston, TX, 77007, United States
KBR Kids Day es un evento anual gratuito para toda la comunidad. Miles de niños y sus familias se reunirán en The Water Works en Buffalo Bayou Park para disfrutar de un día completo de diversión con actividades emocionantes para todas las edades. ¡Este año celebraremos el décimo aniversario de Buffalo Bayou Park!
REGISTRACIÓN GRATUITA
INGLÉS

Lo que debes saber
Comida y bebidas estarán disponibles para su compra en el evento.
¡Se anima a usar disfraces de Halloween!
Estacionamiento gratuito ubicado al otro lado de la calle en el lote H (1643 Memorial Dr.)

KBR Día de los Niños, actividades

Actividades prácticas en la naturaleza
Pinta caritas
Caminatas por la naturaleza
Espectáculos de música y baile
Show de aves rapaces
Desfile de disfraces de Halloween
Observación de animales silvestres
¡Y más por venir!

Horario de actuaciones
10am: Paseo familiar en bicicleta en grupo
11am: Reconocimiento a la Tierra con Deer Moon Sis*Stars y Danza Azteca con Calmecac Tonantzin Yolilitzyotl
11:20am: Houston Public Library – La hora del cuento: “This is the Tree We Planted”
11:35am: Show de aves rapaces
12:20pm: Desfile de disfraces de Halloween
12:45pm: Show de Winners Circle Breakdance
1pm: Caminata de celebración con Urban Paths – juntarse en la carpa de BBP
1:15pm: Dance of Asian American
1:40: Compania Folklorica Alegria Mexicana
2pm: Segundo Barrio Children’s Chorus
2:15pm: Show de aves rapaces

Compañeros
American Festival for the Arts
Archaeology Now
Barrio Dogs Inc.
Be SMART for Kids
Bike Freedom Academy
City of Houston Floodplain Management Office
Creators Worldwide
Dreamland Entertainment
Friends of the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuges
Houston Area Bat Team
Houston Grand Opera
Houston Public Library
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Houston Toy Museum
Houston Zoo
Native Plant Society of Houston
Nature Discovery Center
Texas Tim Webb
Trust CHW Organization
Urban Paths
USFWS Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge
WEAR – Wildlife and Environmental Advocacy and Relief
Young Audiences of Houston

Vendedores de comida y bebidas
Bahama Bucks
It’s A Wrap
Mi Patio
Paleteria El Pibe
Volando Coffee

Oportunidades de voluntariado
8:30 – 11am: Set-up
11am – 1pm: Pumpkin Patch A
11am – 1pm: Young Audiences A
1pm – 3pm: Pumpkin Patch B
1pm – 3pm: Young Audiences B
1:15 – 1:45pm: Birthday Walk with Urban Paths
3 – 4:30pm: Tear Down
SE VOLUNTARIO

Apoyo generoso proporcionado por:

Buffalo Bayou Partnership es

Buffalo Bayou East: A Progress Report to the Community
2025-10-21 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | TURKEY BEND, 5803 Navigation Blvd, Houston, TX, 77011, United States
Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025
Time: 6 – 8pm
Location: Turkey Bend on Buffalo Bayou (5803 Navigation Blvd)
Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) is making progress on trails, parks, and unique spaces east of downtown!
Join us for our annual presentation sharing progress, important milestones in design and construction, and exciting changes to come as we realize the Buffalo Bayou East 10-Year Plan. This year, we look forward to hosting you in the newly renovated Turkey Bend Navigation Warehouse, a memorable venue available to rent for events, community gatherings, and workshops.
The event will begin with a presentation from BBP staff followed by a reception and after-party with refreshments and music.
Spanish interpretation will be available.
RSVP to receive parking instructions and additional details.
FREE RSVP
Or call us at 713-752-0314 ext. 101
————————————–
Fecha: Martes, 21 de Octubre, 2025
Hora: 6 – 8pm
Ubicación: Turkey Bend on Buffalo Bayou (5803 Navigation Blvd)
¡Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) está avanzando en la construcción de senderos, parques y espacios únicos al este del centro de la ciudad!
Acompáñanos en nuestra presentación anual, donde compartiremos los avances, hitos importantes en diseño y construcción, y los emocionantes cambios que vienen con la implementación del Plan de 10 Años de Buffalo Bayou East. Este año, nos emociona recibirte en el recién renovado almacén Turkey Bend Navigation, un espacio inolvidable disponible para rentar para eventos, reuniones comunitarias y talleres.
El evento comenzará con una presentación del equipo de BBP, seguida de una recepción con refrigerios y música.
Se ofrecerá interpretación al español.
Confirma tu asistencia para recibir instrucciones de estacionamiento y más detalles.
Avísanos que vienes
O llámenos al 713-752-0314 ext. 101

Spirits of the Bayou: A Historical Halloween Walk
2025-10-25 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-30 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | ALLEN’S LANDING, 1001 Commerce Street, Houston, TX, 77002, United States
Awaken some of the spirits lost in and near the bayou by putting on Halloween attire and taking a history-based walk of the macabre along the banks of Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston.
Cost
$10 (not suitable for children under 12)
Duration
90 minutes / 1.5 miles with stairs
Meeting Location
Allen’s Landing Park (1005 Commerce St)
REGISTRATION
