37th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival
The large avian orbs of the eurasian eagle owl scan the dozens of faces in front and behind itself with ease as the audience stares back with rapt attention watching each bob and turn of the large bird’s head. John the Falconer explains that since owl eyes are fixed in their sockets, the bird needs to move its head more than us to triangulate its prey. Luckily, all those in attendance are much larger than the mice they’ve recently seen the other avian ambassadors, such as Mr. Peabody the lesser yellow-headed vulture, swallow whole! This bird’s 270 degree head rotation is just one scene that plays out amongst the busy booths, stages, and trails that make up the 37th Annual Nisqually Watershed Festival!
Taking place on Saturday September 26th, 2026 our community festival rang in its 37th year at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge with 1,585 people in attendance! It’s a huge milestone for the event and one we hope to surpass in the years to come as this community continues to grow and support the work done here in Nisqually. While The Falconer’s presentation on the mainstage certainly fit this year’s theme of “Native Birds of the Watershed” there were much more than feathered friends in attendance as the sun shone throughout Critter Corridor and beyond. Shark Dissections with standing room only, salmon barbecue lines that moved quickly throughout the food court, and kids giggling with joy as they climbed inside FIN the 25 foot giant wild salmon were all sights to be seen at this year’s event.
All of these of course were not to be outdone by one of the most popular booths, the salmon print t-shirts! Here kids and adults alike painted Nisqually River salmon, donated by the Nisqually Tribe, in colorful patterns which they then pressed to adorn t-shirts, totes, and posters for years to come. It’s a unique way to capture the day that also celebrates the keystone species we’re working so hard to help recover in these waters. Amidst the arts and crafts stations (face painting, wooden salmon, bird masks, and more) our community partners joined in the fun introducing attendees of all ages to the wonders of the watershed. These interactive environmental education booths covered everything from bees, bugs, and animal furs to oysters, recycling, local books and so much more! It’s truly a showcase of all the different partners and work happening from the mouth of the river at the Nisqually delta all the way up to its source at the Nisqually glacier in Mount Rainier National Park.
It would be impossible to list everything there is to see at the Festival in a timely manner (you really do need to experience it for yourself), but the feeling of joy and community togetherness in the outdoors is what makes it such a rewarding and joyous event each year. The Festival is a place to see the Nisqually Tribe Canoe Family perform their opening drum and songs. It is a place to see The Reptile Man drape a giant yellow boa over several kids. It’s where you can see live music, followed by a salmon dissection, followed by a poster contest award ceremony, followed by a nature walk, and the list goes on and on! Above all else, the Nisqually Watershed Festival is a place where we can take a day to celebrate the environment, culture, and people of this incredible place and all we have been able to accomplish together. The work of conservation and restoration can often feel like a battle between progress and setbacks, but gatherings like the festival can help us all feel rejuvenated and hopeful before diving back into the work.
Fall begins in the watershed with salmon returning from the ocean, leaves changing color, and the rains bringing much needed streamflow back to the river and its tributaries. So what better way to ring in this season of change and than with a festival celebrating the diversity of life and all its unique properties right here in Nisqually. Thank you for everyone who made this festival the best one yet and mark your calendars for the 38th Nisqually Watershed Festival on Saturday, September 25th, 2027!
Learn more & get involved: https://nisquallyriver.org/festival/
