Lacey Michael

Elmore Autauga News

The Autauga County Extension hosted the 2026 Water Festival, Feb. 24, 2026, at Prattville First Baptist Church for fourth grade teachers and students, providing them with a fun-filled day of water education.

According to Autauga County Extension, the festival aims to teach students about water as a vital natural resource and the importance of responsible stewardship. Throughout the day, students rotated through classroom stations where they conducted experiments, created crafts, and even enjoyed edible lessons designed to reinforce key concepts.

Darrue Sharpe, water festival organizer and county extension director, said the event has been a local tradition for more than 25 years.

“The students absolutely love this event, all the while learning valuable lessons about water as a vital natural resource”, stated Sharpe.

A popular part of the water festival is where students get to learn about aquifers. They are given the opportunity to build one with edible ingredients and then, in turn, get to enjoy it as a tasty snack! Sharpe shared that this is her favorite part of the water festival, along with the magic show with an environmental magician.

One of the most popular stations teaches students about aquifers. Participants build their own aquifers using edible ingredients before enjoying them as a snack. Sharpe said that activity — along with the environmental magic show — is among her favorite parts of the festival.

Each student received a free T-shirt featuring this year’s winning logo design. The 2026 contest winner, Lilliana Chisolm, was recognized at the event alongside her teacher, Ms. Prater.

The annual festival concludes with a magic show and continues to blend fun with meaningful lessons about the water cycle and the importance of protecting natural resources.

Sharpe shared, “I truly hope the students enjoy learning about the water cycle, and its importance as a crucial natural resource that all living beings need to survive.”