Sunny Walter's
Nature Weekend Links

Washington State Nature Festivals


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  • Astronomy Events
  • Beach and Water Festivals (Beachcombing, Tidepools, Shellfish, Waterweeks)
  • Earth Day Celebrations
  • Flora Festivals (Wildflowers and Mushrooms)
  • Trails and Walking Events
Astronomy Events
  • Table Mountain Star Party north of Ellensburg, Washington  (July 31, August 1-2, 2008)
    • (first new moon between mid-July and mid-August)
    P.O. Box 785, Puyallup, WA 98371
    • Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce:  509-925-3137
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Beach and Water Festivals
  • Shellfish Shindig at Dosewallips State Park  (June 5-6, 2004)
    (guided beach walks, clam digging tips, oyster shucking demonstrations    ,     birds of prey program)
  • Washington WaterWeeks (first Saturday in September through mid-October)
    This event has been discontinued as an organized festival
    • (it was held along Puget Sound, the coast and the rivers of Washington State)
    360-943-3642
    • EPA, Seattle Office: 800-424-4372 (Order WaterWeeks Guides)

    Individual Waterweeks Event Contacts (vary from year to year):

    Northwest Washington:

    • Whatcom Conservation District (hatchery tours): 360-354-2035
    • Bellingham Park and Recreation (cruise): 360-676-6985
    • Padilla Bay Interpretive Center (Kids Day): 360-428-1558
    • Dive the Canadian Shipwreck: 800-663-6000
    Snohomish County:
    • Trout Unlimited (Evergreen Fair): 800-533-0852
    • Everett Parks and Recreation (Jetty Island, canoe): 425-257-8300
    • Pilchuck Audubon Society (birds): 425-252-0926
    • Edmonds Parks and Recreation (beach, fair): 425-771-0227
    Seattle and King County:
    • Juanita Creek Salmon Habitat Fair: 425-821-8940
    • Bellevue Parks Department (canoe): 425-452-2752
    • Volksport Club (walk): 425-271-3053 or 425-430-7287
    • East Lake WA Audubon Society (bird trips): 425-746-6351 or 425-451-3717
    • Fishermen’s Memorial Committee (festival), 425-455-0732
    • Sea Scout Ship Yankee Clipper (cruise): 206-932-0971
    South Puget Sound:
    • Chehalis River Council  (canoe, musical revival) or 360-291-3725
    • South Sound Maritime Heritage Association (days): 800-788-TUGS
    • Northwest Dive News (scuba festival): 360-240-1874
    • Puyallup Fair Hotline:   The Fair  or 253-841-5045
    • Citizens for a Healthy Bay (Maritime Fest): 253-383-2429
    • Wooden Boat Fair: 253-752-6085
    • Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
    • Mason County (Oysterfest): 360-427-9670, ext. 396
    • Tahoma Land Conservancy (Naturefest): 253-582-6601
    Southwest:
    • Vancouver Water Resources Education Center,
      • Water Center  or 360-696-8478
    • Clark County Watershed (festival): 360-397-6118, ext. 4584
    • PNW 4-wheel Drive Association (shore patrol): 800-537-7845
    • Olympic Park Institute (forest canopy): 800-775-3720
    Olympic Peninsula: San Juans and Island County:
    • Fall Beach Clean-up: 360-678-4100
    Kitsap County:
    • Navy Undersea Museum: 360-396-4148, ext. 201
    • Clear Creek Task Force (walks), 360-895-1708
    Central and Eastern Washington:
    • McNary NWR (safari): 509-543-8322
    • Cle Elum Ranger District (walk): 509-674-4411
    • CHREHST (PowWow): 509-943-0999
    • Tapteal Greenway (Yakima River Float Trip): 509-627-2181
    • Kettle Range Conservation Group (Hanford Reach Float Trip)
      • 509-582-5849 or 509-775-2667 (msg)
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Birding Festivals

January

January / February
  • Swans and Snow Geese Visit the Skagit Valley
    (a two-month "festival" -- see the Bird Viewing page for articles)
February
March
  • Sandhill Crane Festival   (March 24-26, 2006)
    Othello, WA on SR 26  (south of Moses Lake)
    Contact:  Othello Sandhil Crane Festival
    449 E. Cedar, Othello, WA 99344
    509-488-2802, ext. 100 or 1-866-726-3445
April
  • Olympic Birdfest   (April 9-11, 2010)  
    North Olympic Peninsula, WA  (     Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society)
    • Visit the rainshadow of the Olympic Peninsula to discover the birds of the coastal Pacific. Explore the Dungeness River Audubon Center, Sequim and Dungeness Bays and the Dungeness Wildlife Refuge.
    • Birds of the coastal Pacific are our highlights -- Marbled Murrelets, Rhinoceros Auklets, Harlequin Ducks, Dippers, Black Oystercatchers, Long-tailed Ducks, and more.
    • Guided local field trips, a boat cruise to see the birds of the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and a salmon banquet with our partner, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.
    • optional three-day, two night birding cruise of t ehSan Juan Islands.
    • Optional three-day, two-night birding cruise of the San Juan Islands
    • Sponsored by the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, Dungeness River Audubon Center, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Audubon WA, North Olympic Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau, and others.
    • Contact: 360-681-4076 or  info@olympicbirdfest.org
  • Blaine Chamber of Commerce   (April 18, 2008)  
    Wings Over Water Northwest  Birding Festival (site under redevelopment)
    Blaine Marine Park & Downtown Blaine
    Each spring thousands of Brant Geese and other water birds stage here on their annual migration.
    • Brant viewing stations, tours, wildlife cruise, speakers, kids activities,
      migratory maze       
      (      For info & tickets, contact Blaine IVC,  1-800-624-3555 or info@blainechamber.com)
  • Grays Harbor Shorebird Festival   (May 2-4, 2008)
    Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, Bowerman Basin near Hoquiam, Washington
    • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge:  360-753-9467
    • Grays Harbor Audubon Society:  360-495-3289  or  800-321-1924
    • Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce:  800-321-1924
Shorebird Sightings - 2005
May
IMBD Events Around Washington State
  • Puget Sound Bird Fest  (May 18-19, 2007)  
    Edmonds - birding and nature walks, ongoing bird viewing stations, nature slide shows, hawk demonstrations, indoor exhibitsk, children's activities, educationao workshops.
USFWS Office
    • IMBD Site
    • Future IMBD Events
    • Past IMBD Events in Washington State
      • Cheney: Turnbull NWR -- Riparian Restoration Day
      • Colville: Little Pend Oreille NWR -- Bird Walk
        • (see Washington Nature Weekends book for more info)
      • Colville NF: Big Meadow Lake Walk, Elk Creek Trail Hike
      • Dungeness NWR: Bird Walk
      • Edmonds and Everett - Pilchuck Audubon Events
      • Ellensburg - Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe Weekend
        Contact Kittitas Environmental Education Network for 2004 dates
        509-933-4842  or  keen@KittitasEE.net
      • Seattle, Discovery Park
      • Seattle: Seward Park -- Family Bird Walks (Seattle Audubon)
      • Seattle: The Seattle Aquarium -- Bird Migration Activities
      • Spokane: Fishtrap Management Area -- Birding Event
      • Trout Lake Marsh: Bird Walk and Nest Box Discussion
      • Trout Lake Marsh Bird List
      • Spokane River Centennial Trail -- Bird Walk (WDFW)
          • ..
    IMBD Around the World
  • Backyard Wildlife Fair, Tukwila   (May 12, 2007)
    (Workshops on gardening and landscaping for wildlife, wildlife garden tours, community-wide wildlife habitat efforts, kids' activities, arts and crafts booths, food, music)
    206-285-8707, ext. 109
  • Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest   (May 16-18, 2008)
    Leavenworth, WA -  birding, geology, wildflowers, and conservation
    (for registration, call the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, 509-548-5807)
  • Kettle River Songbird Festival   (May 20-22, 2005)
    Republic, WA on Hwy 20 between Tonasket and Kettle Falls
    (Birding, lectures, field tours, nature walks)
    For preregistration, call 509-775-0441
    This festival was not held in 2006 and 2006
June
  • Backyard Bird and Plant Fair   (June 4-5, 2005)
    • 8403 W. Burroughs Rd,  Deer Park, WA  12 miles north of Spokane)
      509-456-4082 (WDFW, Spokane Office)
      (featuring WDFW Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program and
      WSU / Spokane County Master Gardeners Program)
October
  • Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
    • BirdFest  (October 13-14, 2007)
      Enjoy presentations and slide programs, raptors shows, guided field trips,       water excursions, plus special Sandhill Crane fly-in and archaeology trips
  • Fall Festival of Foliage and Feathers
    This festival has been discontinued
    Walla Walla, WA
    Downtown Walla Walla Foundation
    509-529-8755
December Other
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Earth Day Celebrations
  • Student Conservation Association Northwest  (SCA)
    • Earthwork Northwest
  • Thurston County
    • Earthweeks
      • 5 weeks of activities -- learn about wildlife, energy conservation, or landscaping techniques -- plant trees, get a free bike tune-up, attend Environmental Storytimes
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Flora Festivals
  • Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe Weekend, Ellensburg  (May 10, 2008)
        New URL 2/7/08
    • (Guided nature hikes, hands-on science projects, art, interactive exhibits, educational game))
  • Prairie Appreciation Day  (May 3, 2008)
    Glacial Heritage Preserve  
    (    self-guided nature trails through prairie, oak woodland, and other habitats staffed by experts on butterflies, wildflowers, geology, history, and prairie restoration)
    Sponsored by:
    • The Nature Conservancy   or  206-343-4344
    • Friends of Puget Prairies
    • Thurston County Parks and Recreation
    • WA Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife
June
  • Darrington Wildflower Festival  (3rd or 4th weekend of June)
     (festival cancelled in 2003; check back in 2004)
    • Sheri Brewer, Festival Chair - shari@glacierview.com  or  360-436-1771
    • USFS Darrington Ranger Station:  360-436-1155
    • Darrington Chamber of Commerce:  360-436-1177
October
  • Fall Mushroom Show  (Oct 21, 2007)
    • Bloedel Donovan Community Building, 2214 Electric Avenue, Bellingham, WA

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Mammal & Wildlife Events

April

  • Roosevelt Elk Festival  (March 17, 2007)
    Elk viewing tours; lectures; hiking, naturalist and photography trips; kid's programs; banquet; museum tours; and vendors.  $40 festival fee includes everything
    ($20 for kids).

May

All Year October
  • Wolf Awareness Week  (third week in October)
    • (no events currently scheduled in Washington State)
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Salmon Festivals

September

  • Salmon Homecoming Celebration at the Seattle Aquarium on Pier 69
    • (second weekend in September)
    Aquarium  or 206-386-4300 or 206-386-4320
  • Wenatchee River Salmon Festival  (September 18-21, 2008 - 3rd weekend in Sept)
    Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery
    • USFWS Leavenworth NFH: 509-548-6662
    • Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce: 509-548-5807
October
  • Vernonia Salmon Festival (October 4, 2003)
    (halfway between Astoria and Portland in the coastal range -
    the Nehalem and Rock Creek rivers meet in the center of town)
    • For more information, contact Casey Mitchell at 502-366-6550
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Trails and Walking Events

February

June
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URL: http://www.sunnywalter.com/WhereView-WNW-Festivals-WA.html
Links checked and updated on:  November 28, 2009
Text and photos are copyright © Sunny Walter (unless otherwise noted)
For more information, contact sunny@sunnywalter.com