Efforts to conserve the Dungeness watershed take center stage once again at the free educational event the Dungeness River Festival.
Organizers open the event to the public from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27, at the Dungeness River Nature Center in Railroad Bridge Park, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.
As tradition, about 500 local children, mostly third-fifth graders from Helen Haller Elementary are anticipated to visit along with Five Acre School’s Sound Waves marimba band playing at noon.
Sequim Gazette file photos by Matthew Nash Kayden Connely meets a friendly cougar at U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s booth during the Dungeness River Festival in 2023.
Montana Napier, the Nature Center’s education manager, said there will be 19 booths with hands-on displays and activities and an overall theme to “connect people with their watershed.”
Some of the groups planning to attend include: The Peninsula Chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, with horses, a mule, a donkey, and a miniature horse; the U.S. Forest Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge; National Park Service; Clallam County Marine Resources Committee; North Olympic Salmon Coalition; Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, and others.
Students and chaperones line up at the 2023 Dungeness River Festival to enjoy many different stations that highlight efforts to conserve the Dungeness watershed. The festival runs one day at Sept. 27.
Napier said representatives of the organizations will be available to answer questions about the Dungeness watershed and the Olympic Peninsula’s natural resources.
“(The event) wouldn’t be possible without all the agencies working hard to protect the watershed,” Napier said.
“We’re thankful to have them involved.”
It’s the second year for the festival after a hiatus from 2019-2022 due to Covid-19 protocols, railroad bridge construction, parking lot installation and river restoration efforts.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Matthew Nash/ Students look for hidden animals in a Tim Quinn mural on the side of the Dungeness River Nature Center at last year’s Dungeness River Festival. This year, another 500 students are anticipated to travel to the festival on Sept. 27.
For more information about the River Festival and Dungeness River Nature Center, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road, visit dungenessrivercenter.org or call 360-681-4076.
Dungeness River Festival
When: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27
Where: Dungeness River Nature Center in Railroad Bridge Park, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road
Cost: Free
Featuring: Hands-on activities, music and 19 local agencies
More information: dungenessrivercenter.org, 360-681-5637
