Since 2015, the Blue Heron Homecoming has expanded community involvement in the Akron Waterways Renewed! program and in water quality throughout the region. Every year, this event grows in new and exciting ways, and we are delighted to invite you to join us for this year’s homecoming on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 10:00am-2:00pm.

Blue Heron Homecoming’s mission is to:

• Bring the community together to learn about the services the City of Akron provides that protect our environment and public health
• Educate citizens on the impact of CSOs on our rivers, creeks, and streams, and the steps that AWR! and the City are taking to resolve these issues, while highlighting how these actions benefit the community for generations to come
• Inform citizens of ways in which they can help reduce the amount of overflow that impacts our waters
• Provide local jobs and training opportunities

This year, our theme is "200 Years of Akron. 200 Reasons to Celebrate: Wings of Renewal." We will be celebrating our beloved City's bicentennial and all the progress we've made during that time. 

We will be offering tours, educational exhibits, hands-on exhibits, and tree and rain barrel giveaways. The exhibition will be throughout the WRF and tours of the facility will provide via bus during the festival.

You’ll also get an opportunity to hang with Eco and Sprout!

The event will take place at the Water Reclamation Facility – 2460 Akron Peninsula Road, Akron, OH 44313 rain or shine.

We look forward to seeing you there!