Cattus Park Nature Festival This Sunday

The expanse of Cattus Island County Park and its fall beauty will be on display this weekend in a special annual event that celebrates the natural history of the park and the season of fall.

The Sunday event lasts all day and features vendors, artists, crafters, nonprofits, environmentalists at tables around the main nature center. Visitors can also enjoy activities such as bird seining, van and boat tours, bird watching, hikes and more.

The Cattus Island Nature Festival, held annually in the first week of October, runs until 4 p.m. Sunday, allowing plenty of time to explore the multiple trails of the county park. The planked trail along the marshland, showcasing such plant life phragmites, cedar trees and moss, is also a great opportunity to spot water fowl and other birds native or migrating through.

The diverse park features multiple ecosystems, whether marsh, bayfront, cedar forest, pine barrens. Signs mark historical sites for the development of the park, which used to be a private family retreat. Other signs mark species or designate natural history, such as the life cycle of a marsh.

The day is a great opportunity to sign up for activities or explore the many acres on your own. 

The event is free and run by the county parks department. For more information, visit this site or call (732) 270-6960.