Stories

Catawba County Parks 25th Birthday Bashes

Published: May 24, 2024

Catawba County Parks are turning 25 and you're invited to the celebration!
Join us for special Birthday Bashes at each of our parks this July!

Saturday, July 6, 2024
Riverbend Park
6700 N NC Hwy 16, Conover, NC 28613

• Guided Family-Friendly Hike @ 9am (2 miles)
  Join a park ranger to hike a family-friendly loop that will take you along the Catawba River and through an upland forest to learn about the various habitats, plants and wildlife found within the park. Meet at the riverfront observation platform for this event.
• Salamander Search 4-5:30pm 
  Did you know that the Southeastern United States has the highest biodiversity of salamanders in the world? Join our park rangers to learn about salamanders and search for them in a nearby creek. Meet at the park office for this event.
• Activities and Displays all-day
  Stop by the Education Building to enjoy educational displays about the plants and animals of Riverbend Park, activities including puzzles and games, historical information about Catawba County's first park, as well as handouts and giveaways.
• Food Trucks:
  10am-2pm - Pelican’s SnoBalls
  11am-2pm - Urban Flavor, Dig N Dogs, Gas Up

Saturday, July 13, 2024
Bakers Mountain Park
6680 Bakers Mountain Rd, Hickory, NC 28602

• Guided Story & Nature Walk @ 9am (0.27 miles)
  Join a park ranger for a family-friendly walk along the park's paved LITeracy Trail which follows the pages of a children's story book with activities and opportunities to explore and experience nature along the way. Meet at the park office for this event.
• Food Truck:
  10am-1pm - Pelican’s SnoBalls

Saturday, July 20, 2024
St. Stephens Park
2247 36th Ave NE, Hickory, NC 28601

• Guided Story & Nature Walk @ 9am (0.43 miles)
  Join a park ranger for a family- and dog-friendly walk! We'll follow the pages of a children's story book along the LITeracy Trail in the garden, then loop through a wooded creek bottom habitat to learn about the park's plants and animals. End your walk with a visit to the playground, a game of cornhole and/or one of the two dog parks! Meet in front of the park office for this event.
• Food Truck:
  10am-1pm - Pelican’s SnoBalls

Saturday, July 27, 2024
Mountain Creek Park
6554 Little Mountain Rd, Sherrills Ford, NC 28673

• Guided All-Access Walk @ 9am (2.2 miles)
  Join a park ranger for a leisurely walk along the park's Stormie Normie trail which winds through a quiet cove to the lakefront area and back, passing many of the park’s most popular amenities which include the nature center, an adventure playground, pickleball courts, fishing pier, and picnic areas. The entire length of the 2.2-mile route is paved, making it stroller-friendly and wheelchair-accessible. Meet at the park office for this event.
• Scavenger Hunt (all day)
  Stop by the park office to pick up your scavenger hunt list then explore the park as you visit each location. Earn prizes for visiting them all!   
• Food Trucks:
  10am-2pm - Pelican’s SnoBalls
  11am-2pm - Cousins Maine Lobster, Dumpling Girls, Gas Up

Enjoy our parks at your leisure between 8am and 8pm, rain or shine. 
All activities are free except for food truck purchases.
No advance registration is required.
All ages welcome!

Guided Birthday Bash hikes/walks count toward the 2024/2025 Catawba County Trail Challenge. 

More information about these events can be found on Catawba County Parks’ Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CatawbaCountyParksNC or by calling  Riverbend Park at 828-256-9157, Bakers Mountain Park at 828-324-6327 or Mountain Creek Park at 828-465-9645.