The public is invited to celebrate World Water Day at a Fun Fest on March 14, in the Sternberg Museum lobby. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.

The Fun Fest will take place from 10 a.m. until noon, with information and activities focusing on water conservation and water quality in the community. Local watershed specialists and experts from the Department of Water Resources will be on-hand to answer questions and provide information about local issues affecting our water.

“The Fun Fest gives kids, parents, and adults a chance to see how easily they can affect their local water supplies. The event allows participants to get involved and see first-hand just how dynamic water is, where it travels, and how easily it is harmed while also seeing how simple things can protect water,” said Stacie Minson, KSU Watershed Specialist.

Attendees will be able to participate in several hands-on activities during the Fun Fest, including observing “Waste Water Critters” under microscopes, exploring groundwater models, learning more about water’s incredible journey and investigating how our community uses its water.

For those interested in taking an active role in water conservation at home, there will be material on how to prevent pet waste from contaminating waterways, a display about how to make and use rain barrels, and information about CoCoRaHS – the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network, a nationwide grassroots volunteer network of weather enthusiasts who measure and report precipitation in their own backyards.

There also will be opportunities to register for door prizes, which include: friendly household alternative cleaning baskets, Water $mart conservation buckets, rain gauges, rain barrels and pet prize packs.

This year’s Fun Fest is sponsored by the Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds and the City of Hays Department of Water Resources.

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