Shoal Creek Water Festival

The Shoal Creek Water Festival is an annual free event hosted by Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center to inspire a love and appreciation of the water resources of the area, as well as to emphasize the water quality and quantity issues we face. With the city of Joplin receiving over 90 percent of its drinking water from Shoal Creek, the festival is a crucial education opportunity to inform our communities about the direct effect their actions have on their own drinking water.

The festival is also used to draw people outdoors who may not normally participate in such activities. This festival is an accessible introduction to water and water activities that demonstrates these activities can be family-friendly, affordable, healthy, and a great source of entertainment. The day includes booths with hands-on water quality and environmental education activities for families from various organizations. Highlights include cardboard boat and kids’ shoebox boat races, kayak slalom races, and a duck race, as well as an appearance by a raptor show and entertainment by children’s environmental entertainment groups. A new event this year is a Kids Catch and Release Fishing Tournament, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, and held at Walter Woods Conservation Area before the festival begins.