Join Wenatchee Valley Astronomy Club and Wenatchee River Institute for a Dark Sky Celebration to close out International Dark Sky Week!
If you’ve been to our Red Barn Events, this is like a Red Barn Event Plus- with two fantastic speakers, trivia, family-friendly crafts, and star-gazing! Join us for all or part of the festivities. BYO Snacks. Beer, wine, and sparkling water will be sold throughout the afternoon.
Come on down to the Wenatchee River Institute to participate in a community cleanup of all the litter that accumulated over the winter along the riverfront trails. It’s a great time to get outside to enjoy the beautiful spring wildflowers and birds and to work together to help out our natural areas. We will have gloves and bags available for volunteers!
Meet at the WRI parking lot. We will walk along the trails and pick up any trash that we find.
This fashion show will showcase wearable art made from recycled and repurposed materials. Come check out the creative pieces built! Team categories this year include: adult, youth, and family. Prizes are available for each category, plus a People’s Choice Award, where audience members will get to vote for their favorite outfit.
This event is held outside on the WRI River Haus Lawn. Bring snacks, a picnic blanket, or a camp chair to make yourself comfortable. We will have some chairs available as well. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages will be for sale during this event.
No registration is required to attend this event as an audience member. Just show up and enjoy the fun!
Join us for an evening filled with creativity and learning. Local Indigenous artist and owner of Mystic North Jewelry, Amanda Keewatinawin, will be leading a workshop on the Indigenous art form of beading. She will be sharing knowledge on the history of Indigenous beadwork and how to create your own mini beaded fringe earrings.
Leavenworth National Fish hatchery has over five miles of flat, easy trails that pass through a variety of pine forest, open meadow, and stream side habitats and are home to a variety of birds! Stop by the visitor center to pick up your trail map and bird list to start you self-guided bird walk. visitor center is open 8-4:30 daily. Outside of those hours the brochure with information will be available to pick up just outside the visitor center on the wooden board. Benches along the trail offer excellent bird viewing (especially in the morning hours) and make this a great activity for families or birders who appreciate resting spots along the way. Registration is not required for this self-led walk.
The Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest, put on by the Wenatchee River Institute and North Central Washington Audubon Society, occurs every 3rd weekend in May. The annual Leavenworth Spring Bird Fest promotes conservation through educational and recreational activities about birds, wildlife, and their environments.
Come bird with us, discovering the natural beauty and wonders of North Central Washington! Celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season. Enjoy the excitement of birding field trips and workshops. Take part in speaker events, music, visual arts, picnics, and activities for all ages and abilities.
It’s never too early to discover the wonderful world of birds! Join staff at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery for a birding adventure as we spot different birds around the hatchery grounds. Lifelike bird models make good practice subjects and we will certainly spot some live birds too. Kids binoculars and monoculars provided.
Join hatchery staff as we explore the diverse migratory species that visit our area. Delve into the important role of migration in the lives of fish, insects, and birds. We’re sure to see many of these migrators as we walk around the grounds of Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. Say’s phoebe, rufous hummingbird, tree swallow, and belted kingfisher are some of the possible birds we may spot. Enjoy a brief presentation in the hatchery pollinator garden by the Chelan-Douglas Master Gardeners about the role of pollinators. This trip is great for beginner and casual birders who are interested in all kinds of migratory animals.
After a great day of birding, come socialize with us at the Bird Fest Happy Hour held on the beautiful Wenatchee River Institute campus! Open to everyone with no registration required, this free event is the perfect place to drop in anytime to meet fellow birders and friends, old and new.
3:00 – 5:00 PM | Bird Games: Join Audubon volunteers to play Wingspan and other bird-themed games—whether you’re a seasoned player or just want to see what the buzz is about.
5:30 – 7:00 PM | Bird Trivia: Put your knowledge to the test! Bring your own team or join one on the spot for some friendly competition.
Refreshments: Beer, wine, and sparkling water will be available for purchase. Thanks to our sponsor Icicle Brewing Company for providing the beer!
FREE, no registration required.
A highlight of the festival season is back! We invite you to the Bird Fest Community Fair—a gathering for families, youth, and adults to celebrate birds, wildlife, and the beautiful Wenatchee Valley.
Continuing our tradition of an extended schedule, the fair remains open later into the afternoon so you can head over straight from your morning birding field trips. Enjoy a full afternoon of art and nature activities, guided walks, and live music from local musicians. With a wide variety of artists and vendors on-site, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.
This is a HYBRID event. You may join us in the Wenatchee River Institute’s Red Barn or livestream virtually. Registration is required for this event.
Saturday, May 16, 7:00pm-8:30pm. Doors open at 6:30pm.
Ticket price: $20 for in-person, or $10 for virtual.
Join WRI and the Cascade Garden Club for a free Community Plant Starts Swap. This event is welcome for all!
The E. Lorene Young Community Garden is located at the corner of Commercial St. and 12th St. in Leavenworth. If you have starts to swap, bring them and we will have tables set up for your plants. If you do not have starts, come on down to see what is available to take home!
LIVE ONLY! This Red Barn Event will NOT be streamed or recorded.
No registration required, but RSVP to receive email reminders and updates about this event!
Doors to the Red Barn open at 6:30pm for a community social with beer and wine available for purchase. The film will start just after 7:00pm. Run time is 45 minutes and will be followed by a panel discussion with Audubon Society members.
Imagine a place that is vast, wild and untouched, where some of the world’s greatest wildlife spectacles unfold. The Arctic National Wildlife refuge, situated in the northeastern corner of Alaska, is the wildest place left in North America. A symbol of wilderness for the world. No one has truly ever seen it. “The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness” will feature the first-ever cinematic account of this little known land where people can experience a world untouched by time.
Spend two full days in the Cascades around Leavenworth, with professional wildlife tracker, naturalist, educator and author, David Moskowitz. This wildlife track and sign evaluation is offered through CyberTracker North America. David’s approach to this class is highly interactive, engaging participants in identification and interpretation of tracks and signs. Transportation during class is provided.
Food and lodging NOT included.
Limit of 11 participants
Trail difficulty: some off-trail travel, up and down ridgelines.
Join Wenatchee River Institute, in partnership with Leavenworth Outdoor Center, on a relaxing evening paddle down the Wenatchee River. This is a guided trip that will introduce you to the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) of our diverse river area (riparian zone). You will learn how to be a better observer of nature and be introduced to river safety and navigation. This is a great way to build your nature skills and confidence on the river.
Limit – 10 participants – registration required
Included – Kayak or paddle board, Life vest (PFD), transportation from WRI
Difficulty level – Beginner to intermediate, recommended you have basic swimming ability.
Ages – 8 and older, an adult must accompany anyone 15 and younger.
Accessibility – Tandem kayaks are available.
Join WRI and the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society for a dog-friendly block party! This free event will feature a guided dog walk, free food, pup first aid demonstration, scavenger hunt, and more! Stay tuned for more information!
Join Wenatchee River Institute, in partnership with Leavenworth Outdoor Center, on a relaxing evening paddle down the Wenatchee River. This is a guided trip that will introduce you to the plants (flora) and animals (fauna) of our diverse river area (riparian zone). You will learn how to be a better observer of nature and be introduced to river safety and navigation. This is a great way to build your nature skills and confidence on the river.
Limit – 10 participants – registration required
Included – Kayak or paddle board, Life vest (PFD), transportation from WRI
Difficulty level – Beginner to intermediate, recommended you have basic swimming ability.
Ages – 8 and older, an adult must accompany anyone 15 and younger.
Accessibility – Tandem kayaks are available.
Meet at the gazebo at 1:30pm. Paint and Stroll will last ~1hour
Free! Donations are appreciated
Get inspired by the amazing artists at Village Art in the Park, then join us for a short walk down to the river and take some creative time for yourself. Join the Wenatchee River Institute for this free program suitable for children and adults!
What’s provided?
-Guided nature walk to the Wenatchee River, 0.3 miles from the Front St Gazebo
-Simple supplies for drawing or watercolor painting
-Tips for beginners
-Time to create your own work of art!
Dates for 2026:
Fridays:
– July: 24, 31,
– August: 7, 14, 21
Thursdays:
-August 13, 20
Meet at the gazebo at 1:30pm. Paint and Stroll will last ~1hour
Free! Donations are appreciated
Get inspired by the amazing artists at Village Art in the Park, then join us for a short walk down to the river and take some creative time for yourself. Join the Wenatchee River Institute for this free program suitable for children and adults!
What’s provided?
-Guided nature walk to the Wenatchee River, 0.3 miles from the Front St Gazebo
-Simple supplies for drawing or watercolor painting
-Tips for beginners
-Time to create your own work of art!
Dates for 2026:
Fridays:
– July: 24, 31,
– August: 7, 14, 21
Thursdays:
-August 13, 20
Meet at the gazebo at 1:30pm. Paint and Stroll will last ~1hour
Free! Donations are appreciated
Get inspired by the amazing artists at Village Art in the Park, then join us for a short walk down to the river and take some creative time for yourself. Join the Wenatchee River Institute for this free program suitable for children and adults!
What’s provided?
-Guided nature walk to the Wenatchee River, 0.3 miles from the Front St Gazebo
-Simple supplies for drawing or watercolor painting
-Tips for beginners
-Time to create your own work of art!
Dates for 2026:
Fridays:
– July: 24, 31,
– August: 7, 14, 21
Thursdays:
-August 13, 20
Let’s Connect
Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce – PO Box 327, 645 Front Street, Leavenworth, WA 98826 Tel: 509-548-5807
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