With all the rain Bakersfield has gotten within the last few weeks, the city’s hills and valleys will be teaming with wildflowers soon. This coincides with Wind Wolves Preserve’s 8th annual Spring Nature Festival.

During this time, Wind Wolves holds its Spring Nature Festival event that is organized every year. The festival will be held on March 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and March 19 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  It’s their biggest event, said Carolina Ruiz, the Outdoor Education Coordinator at the preserve.

The preserve sits in the hills and mountains that border southern Bakersfield and sees wildflowers that cover their hills every spring.

“This is one of our way better years,” Ruiz Said. She is expecting the preserve to have “so many” flowers by the time of the festival.

Along with taking in the scenery, the preserve will be holding activities and exhibits that visitors can enjoy. Self-led activities include exploring the aquatic wildlife at the Discovery Pond and a “Plant-a-Seed Station” where visitors can plant native seeds. They will also have reptile presentations throughout Saturday and Sunday, nature journaling at 1pm on Saturday, and guided nature hikes eight times on Saturday and twice on Sunday. All of this information is on their website.

The preserve relies heavily on volunteers to hold this event, says Ruiz. As such the preserve is also still looking for volunteers to help with the festival. Available volunteer positions include assisting with the information booth on Saturday from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., according to an email to volunteers from Brittney Hernandez, a ranger at the preserve. Breakfast will be provided and lunch vouchers for the food trucks that will be on the preserve for the event, will be given to each volunteer. All volunteers will also receive an event shirt.

Ruiz encourages everyone to bring as many people as they can to enjoy and support the preserve. She recommends walking shoes, sunblock, and a camera and suggests new visitors go on their guided hikes during the festival so that they can fully appreciate and understand the nature at the preserve.

Go to the preserve’s website to learn more about the event. And email the preserve at [email protected] if you are interested in volunteering.