The Nisqually Watershed Festival is back this September at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge! Now in its 34th year, the festival serves as an incredible opportunity for our community to come together and celebrate the rich history, culture, and environment that makes Nisqually such a unique and beautiful place.
A model of cooperative conservation, The Nisqually Watershed community has always focused on coming together to protect the natural lands we call home: “Beginning with protecting the river’s mouth from development in the 1970s to coming together in recent years to restore a threatened Chinook stock, the people of the Nisqually watershed have shown how we can work together for the environment,” said Justin Hall, executive director of the Nisqually River Foundation.
Throughout the free daylong festival, guests can explore and discover the wonders of the watershed through interactive exhibits, hands-on education activities, and a variety of performances and presenters! You can catch the Olympic Highlanders performing in the morning, learn about salmon habitat and lifecycle by climbing inside a 25-foot long replica salmon in Critter Corridor, bring and decorate your very own salmon print t-shirt at our crafting stations, and explore the natural wonders of the watershed on a walk through the refuge!
In addition to these activities, the festival will feature a salmon barbecue lunch, with fish provided by the Nisqually Indian Tribe, alongside local food vendors serving burgers, fries, coffee, sweet treats, and more! Don’t miss seeing art by local students, exploring the “Insect Extravaganza” where guests can view insects from around the world as well as their own backyard, and even watch a salmon and dogfish dissection!
“Watershed communities have been working hard to protect and restore this unique place for years,” said Hall, “The festival has served as a showcase for what makes Nisqually special. It’s where we all come together to celebrate what we have accomplished.”
From painting wooden salmon and invasive species archery to performances from the Nisqually Indian Tribe Canoe Family and musical storyteller Chris Sabatini, the Nisqually Watershed Festival has something for everyone! Our local experts can’t wait to share their love of the environment with you and celebrate all that is Nisqually! So mark your calendars and we’ll see you on September 30th!
For more information about the festival, visit: https://nisquallyriver.org/festival or RSVP on Facebook
Free parking and shuttle to the festival will be available at Hawks Prairie Park-N-Ride, 2548 Hogum Bay Road NE, Olympia: https://goo.gl/maps/8xTgfXKzZZdyVdTM9.
