The Blackbird Creek Fall Festival is a day of family-friendly fun celebrating the arrival of autumn and the beauty of the Blackbird Creek Reserve. DNREC photo.

Event Features Hayrides, Artisans, Crafts and More

The annual Blackbird Creek Fall Festival returns Saturday, Oct. 15, with a day of free family fun and entertainment. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) hosts the festival at the Blackbird Creek Reserve, along the banks of Blackbird Creek. The festival will take place rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Blackbird Creek Reserve, 801 Blackbird Landing Road, near Townsend.

“The Blackbird Creek Fall Festival provides a great opportunity to learn about the natural and cultural heritage of the Delaware Bay, said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The free festival has become a go-to event for those looking to get outside and enjoy a fun-filled fall day.”

The festival will feature traditional crafts, hands-on learning about the estuary, live music, food trucks and kids’ activities. Visitors may also browse the works of artisans, enjoy hayrides, go on a guided hike of the Blackbird Creek Reserve and check out educational exhibitors.

Families also can get a “passport” enabling them to earn a prize by visiting all the participating stations throughout the festival and taking the opportunity to learn about the natural resources and heritage of the Delaware Bay through games, demonstrations and challenges.

More information about the Blackbird Creek Fall Festival is available at de.gov/blackbirdfestival.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, with components at Blackbird Creek Reserve and the St. Jones Reserve in Dover, is part of a national system of reserves that protects more than 1.3 million acres of coastal land and water nationwide. Designated in 1993, DNERR has grown to protect 6,364 acres in two counties, incorporating a variety of important ecosystems that range from the Delaware Bay to upland forests. DNERR staff focus on habitat restoration, educational programs, creating land stewardship demonstration areas, and using the Reserve as a living laboratory for long-term data monitoring since 1995. More information about the reserve can be found at de.gov/dnerr.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov; Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov.

A craftsman plies his trade during a recent Blackbird Creek Fall Festival at the Blackbird Creek Reserve in Townsend. Blackbird Creek is part of the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Family fun, food and entertainment await visitors to the 13th annual Blackbird Creek Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 16.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) hosts the festival at the reserve, along the banks of Blackbird Creek. The festival will take place rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Blackbird Creek Reserve, 801 Blackbird Landing Road, near Townsend.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, consisting of the Blackbird Creek Reserve and the St. Jones Reserve in Dover, is part of a national system of reserves that protects more than 1.3 million acres of coastal land and water.

“The festival is a popular event that provides free fun for the whole family, while also providing opportunities to learn about the natural and cultural heritage of the Delaware Bay,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin.

The festival will feature traditional crafts, a chainsaw carver, hands-on learning about the estuary, canoeing, live music, food trucks and kids’ activities. Visitors may also browse the works of artisans, enjoy hayrides, go on a guided hike of the reserve and check out the educational exhibitors.

Families also can get a “passport” and earn a prize by visiting all the participating stations throughout the festival, learning about the natural resources and heritage of the Delaware Bay through games, demonstrations and challenges.

More information on the Blackbird Creek Fall Festival is at de.gov/blackbirdfestival.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, Michael.Globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

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A researcher, research intern, and scholar conduct sediment core sampling in the salt marsh at the St. Jones Estuary in Dover. DNREC staff photo.

DOVER – The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, administered through DNREC’s Division of Climate, Coastal & Energy, is seeking applicants for a new two-year fellowship sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which shares oversight with DNREC for the state’s estuarine reserves on the St. Jones River near Dover and Blackbird Creek in Townsend.

“We are excited to be collaborating with NOAA in offering this new graduate fellowship opportunity,” said Kimberly Cole, Environmental Program administrator with DNREC’s Division of Climate, Coastal & Energy. “Fellows will select and work to address a key coastal management question in an effort to help DNREC scientists and coastal communities understand challenges that may influence policy and management strategies.”

NOAA’s Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship program provides students the opportunity to conduct collaborative research projects focused on the nation’s estuaries. Melissa Ladd, NOAA’s national coordinator of the program, said what makes the fellowship program exceptional is that focus. “We are dedicated to research that gives our communities the facts needed to make wise decisions when it comes to deciding how coastal resources are used and managed,” Ladd said. “This program also provides students with the experiences and professional growth skills that will serve them, and our environment, throughout their careers.”

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) is one of 29 reserves in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, with the state’s two components, the St. Jones Reserve and the Blackbird Creek Reserve, focused on practicing and promoting coastal and estuarine stewardship through innovative research and education, using a system of protected areas.

Each of the national reserves in the system will host a fellowship program. These sites combine to protect 1.3 million estuarine acres, and are home to some of the nation’s most progressive science and educational programs. Each reserve designates its research priorities, from habitat changes to water quality and more.

Interested graduate students should work with their university or college faculty advisor to submit applications by Dec. 20, 2019. To apply, or for additional details and research priorities, visit NOAA’s fellowship website. For more information, please email OCM.DavidsonFellowship@noaa.gov.

For more DNREC information, visit Delaware Coastal Management Program or Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 49, No. 216

TOWNSEND – DNREC and the Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) will showcase one of the most natural areas in Delaware – which includes autumn’s vibrant foliage within the lush landscape and pristine waters of the Blackbird Creek Reserve – when the 10th Annual Blackbird Creek Fall Festival is held Saturday, Oct. 21 on the Delaware Bayshore Byway. The festival will take place rain or shine, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Blackbird Creek Reserve, at 801 Blackbird Landing Road near Townsend.

The festival, along the banks of beautiful Blackbird Creek, will feature traditional crafts and demonstrations by a blacksmith, hands-on learning including canoeing, lively music and kids’ activities including crafts, free face painting, and colonial-era activities. Visitors may also browse the works of artisans and exhibitors, enjoy hay rides, go on a guided hike of the reserve led by a Delaware State Forester, and check out Native American demonstrations. Local food vendors will also be onsite to provide a variety of food and snacks for purchase.

The festival brings together local businesses, non-profits and government agencies in one place to celebrate the cultural and natural heritage of the Delaware Bay. On average, the festival brings between 800 – 1,500 visitors from the central Delaware community and beyond.

Among the highlights for the special anniversary this year will be the celebration of the opening of a new pavilion, parking lot, and a “mobi mat” at the reserve’s canoe launch, to enable full access.

For more information on the Blackbird Creek Fall Festival, contact Maggie Pletta, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 302-739-6377 or visit http://de.gov/blackbirdfestival.

Vol. 47, No. 230

CONTACT: Beth Shockley, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

TOWNSEND – The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve (DNERR) and DNREC will showcase one of the most natural areas in Delaware – which includes autumn’s vibrant foliage within the lush landscape and pristine waters of the Blackbird Creek Reserve – with the 9th Annual Blackbird Creek Fall Festival to be held Saturday, Oct. 15 on the Delaware Bayshore Byway. The festival will take place rain or shine, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Blackbird Creek Reserve, at 801 Blackbird Landing Road near Townsend.

The festival along the banks of beautiful Blackbird Creek will feature traditional crafts and demonstrations by a blacksmith, hands-on learning including canoeing, lively music and kids’ activities including crafts, free face painting and colonial-era activities. Visitors may also browse the works of artisans and exhibitors, enjoy hay rides, go on a guided hike of the reserve led by a Delaware State Forester, and check out Native American demonstrations.

“The Blackbird Creek Fall Festival is free and offers something for the entire family, and that’s a winning combination for the festival having become a fall tradition over the last decade,” said Maggie Pletta, DNERR education coordinator. “We encourage people to come and explore this scenic area – by foot, hayride or canoe – and enjoy the musical talents of Crabmeat Thompson, East of the Mason-Dixon Line, Mark Degz and Co., and the Smyrna High School drumline. New this year we will have opportunities for people to try out recreational canoeing. Bring a blanket or some chairs and join us for the day.”

Families also can participate in the “Thank You, Delaware Bay Adventure” and earn a prize by visiting all the participating stations throughout the festival, learning about the natural resources and heritage of the Delaware Bay through games, demonstrations, and challenges. Local food vendors will also be onsite to provide a variety of food and snacks for purchase.

For more information on the Blackbird Creek Fall Festival, please contact Maggie Pletta, Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve, 302-739-6377 or visit de.gov/blackbirdfestival.

The Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve is part of a national system of reserves that protects more than 1.3 million acres of coastal land and water. Each of the 28 sites receives support from NOAA and local partners. The research and environmental monitoring performed at each reserve plays an important role in protecting environmental health, both locally and nationally.

• Visit us on the web: de.gov/dnerr
• Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/DNERR
• Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/DNERR

The Blackbird Creek Fall Festival is part of DNREC’s Bayshore Initiative, a landscape approach to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat, increase volunteer participation in habitat stewardship projects, enhance low-impact outdoor recreation and ecotourism opportunities, and promote associated environmentally compatible economic development. For more information, please click Delaware Bayshore.

This event also is part of Delaware’s Children in Nature Initiative, a statewide effort to improve environmental literacy in Delaware, create opportunities for children to participate in enriching outdoor experiences, combat childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. Delaware’s multi-agency initiative, which partners state and federal agencies with community organizations, is part of the national No Child Left Inside program.

Media Contacts: Margaret Pletta, DNREC Delaware Coastal Programs, 302-739-6377, or Melanie Rapp, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 344