Nature Conservation Margaret River Region is thrilled to announce the inaugural 2026 River Celebration Week, part of its Protect Wooditjup Bilya program celebrating the Margaret River’s cultural and environmental significance.
Running from March 14-21, the festival offers four engaging events for the whole community – including an outdoor river and land art experiences; community art workshops; a sundowner and movie night; and a cultural paddle on the river.
First up is the free Wooditjup Bilya River & Land Art Trail, an interactive art trail along the Margaret River following a short loop along the River Trail from the Old Settlement. The trail will open with a community event on Saturday 14 March from 1pm-5pm, featuring a Welcome to Country, cultural yarns, artist talks and river ecology talks – all free to enjoy for families, locals and visitors.
“Take a walk along the river like you’ve never experienced before, with an art trail showcasing a series of temporary artworks produced by local artists, the community and school children – while attendees on the day can also roll up their sleeves to help create a spectacular ephemeral art piece,” says Nature Conservation’s Protect Wooditjup Bilya officer Hannah Weir.
“It’s going to be loads of fun and, through storytelling and art, the trail will encourage people to connect with the river, Country and environmental care, helping build a legacy of stewardship.”
Hannah Weir is coordinating the Protect Wooditjup Bilya program
Four community art workshops at the Old Settlement will be held on the weekend prior for those wanting to go deeper and help create artworks. On both Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8, there will be a morning and afternoon session. One will be creating land art with Elaine Clocherty and traditional owners Nan Vivienne Brockman-Webb and Mitchella Hutchins, and the second will be weaving with Cynamon Aeria. These workshops are $10 a ticket including morning or afternoon tea.
The next 2026 River Celebration Week event unfolds on Wednesday, March 18 with the Wooditjup Bilya Sundowner and Movie Night at the Margaret River HEART. It is the latest in Nature Conservation’s environmental sundowner series and features three expert speakers on river stewardship.
The panel will bring together different perspectives to explore how we “give voice” to the river, including through cultural custodianship, scientific understanding, and community action. The audience will also be treated to the full screening of the stunning documentary River, narrated by Willem Defoe and exploring the relationship between human civilization and Earth’s rivers – in all their majesty and fragility.
An image from the documentary to screen during the sundowner
Tickets to the sundowner and movie screening are $15 for Nature Conservation members and $25 for non-members including a free drink and canapes.
“The Sundowner will explore the idea of river stewardship, and how this responsibility is shared, expressed, and experienced in different ways,” says Hannah. “It’ll be a great chance for people to reflect on their own relationship with the river — culturally, scientifically, emotionally, and as community members — and to consider what stewardship looks like in practice”.
“The screening of River then offers a powerful, immersive lens — zooming out to the global significance of rivers, while grounding us again in the local context we’ve just been discussing. The intention is for people to leave feeling connected, reflective, and quietly motivated.”
The final event of the week is a Wooditjup Bilya Cultural Paddle on Sunday March 22, guided by traditional owner Zac Webb from Undalup Association and co-hosted by Josh Palmateer from Margaret River Kayaks and Canoes.
Participants will each have a kayak and head upstream from the Margaret River mouth to discover the river’s natural beauty while learning about its ecological and cultural importance. There are two sessions – from 8am-9am and 10am-11am – with numbers capped at 30 people and tickets priced at $35 each.
Paddling on the Margaret River
The celebration week is an important part of Nature Conservation’s Protect Wooditjup Bilya project, a four-year program of research, on-ground works such as fencing and weed control, and community engagement.
“Wooditjup Bilya is a very special river,” Hannah says. “Through collaboration, research, and community action, we can protect the biodiversity of the Margaret River catchment and empower people to actively care for this vital waterway.”
The program is funded by the Ian Potter Foundation and receives support from the Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Water Corporation, and generous philanthropic donors. The River and Art Trail project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Festivals Australia program.
“The River Festival will showcase what our program is all about – celebrating and protecting the river, sharing practical tips for caring for and coexisting with wildlife, encouraging citizen science, and supporting landholders with conservation initiatives,” Hannah added.
Grab your tickets and get involved HERE.