Conserving Water
Water Works Festival
Houston Public Works 2025 Water Works Festival
Thank you for joining us at the 2025 Water Works Festival The 2025 Water Works Festival was held on Sunday, April 20, 2025, from 12 to 5 p.m. at Discovery Green in downtown Houston. This year marked the third consecutive year that Houston Public Works and Discovery Green partnered to combine the Water Works Festival with the city’s official Earth Day celebration. By merging efforts, both organizations have continued to leverage resources, expand reach, and deliver one unified event that highlights the importance of water, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
Thousands of Houstonians came together to enjoy live entertainment, interactive exhibits, family-friendly activities, and access to local organizations that are working to build a greener, more resilient Houston. The joint festival offered an engaging and educational way for the community to learn how everyday actions can protect our natural resources—especially water.
2025 Festival Highlights
Water and Environmental Education
- Water science demonstrations showing how drinking water is treated and delivered.
- Interactive stormwater and bayou displays explaining how rainwater flows through the city and impacts our environment.
- Build-a-filter activity where kids created simple water filters and learned about global water access.
- Meet-and-greet opportunities with engineers, scientists, and field staff from Houston Public Works.
- Informational booths offering water conservation tips and sustainability resources.
Entertainment and Art
- Live music and performances from Houston-based musicians and spoken-word artists.
- Dance and puppet show designed for families and children with eco-focused themes.
- Art installations and creative exhibits highlighting environmental issues and water protection.
Community Activities and Resources
- More than 75 exhibitors including local nonprofits, government agencies, and green businesses.
- On-site recycling drop-off for electronics, batteries, paper, and more.
- Eco-marketplace featuring local vendors selling handmade and sustainable products.
- A variety of food trucks offering plant-based and environmentally conscious meal options.
- Career and internship information from Houston Public Works and partner organizations.
- Free giveaways such as reusable water bottles, seed kits, and educational materials for kids and families.
Check back in early 2026 for details about next year’s Water Works Festival!
Houston Public Works 2024 Water Works Festival
The Houston Public Works Water Works Festival once again partnered with Discovery Green and Citizens’ Environmental Coalition for this year’s Green Mountain Energy Earth Day celebration. We are proud to announce that the event successfully achieved its Zero Waste goal, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
More than 30,000 people attended Green Mountain Energy Earth Day featuring the Water Works Festival at Discovery Green on April 20, 2024. Attendees generated over 3,800 pounds of waste, with nearly 2,200 pounds composted and 1,300 pounds recycled. Thanks to the efforts of Zero Waste Houston, less than 9% of the day's waste ended up in a landfill, meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s Zero Waste standard of diverting at least 90% of waste from landfills.
The Water Works Festival showcased the essential role Houston Public Works plays in managing Houston’s water resources and infrastructure. Our team engaged with thousands of attendees, educating them on water conservation, wastewater management, and sustainable infrastructure through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. The festival featured:
- 60+ exhibitors sharing innovative sustainability and conservation efforts
- 100+ volunteers dedicated to making the event a success
- Live music, face painting, and interactive art
- 12 talented artists, including Houston’s own Donkeeboy, Donkeemom, and Scrap Daddy
Thank you to our 2024 Water Works Festival sponsors, volunteers and exhibitors.
Check out Houston Public Work's partner, Samara Perez, having fun at the 2024 Water Works Festival
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Houston Public Works 2023 Water Works Festival
In 2023, for the first time, the Water Works Festival joined forces with Discovery Green and Citizens Environmental Coalition’s Earth Day. The combined event “Earth Day Featuring the Water Works Festival” allowed Houston Public Works the opportunity to forge new partnerships and leverage resources to expand the reach of the event.
Earth Day Featuring the Water Works Festival took place Saturday, April 22, at Discovery Green and attracted more than 43,000 attendees. Discovery Green’s lakeside kayaking and multiple water features served as a perfect backdrop for the event.
The festival featured 60-plus exhibitor booths, performances, a live painter, chalk artists, a sustainable fashion show, kayaking, live music, face painting, science experiments, educational talks, crafts and family activities.
Thank you to our 2023 Water Works Festival sponsors, volunteers and exhibitors.
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Houston Public Works 2022 Water Works Festival
The 2022 Water Works Festival was held on Saturday, May 7th, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, at the newly developed Houston Botanic Gardens. 2022 was the first year the festival was hosted on a Saturday and open to the general public. Over 60 exhibitors hosted educational booths educating about all things WATER. The festival featured music, activities, crafts, raffles, live animals, performances, demonstrations, food trucks, and more!
Thank you to our 2022 Water Works Festival Sponsors
