25th Anniversary BirdFest & Bluegrass

BirdFest & Bluegrass is the event put on by the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the City of Ridgefield, to celebrate the Refuge, the community, and everything nature has to offer. Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge will be fee-free on Saturday, October 5th for the 25th Anniversary BirdFest & Bluegrass! Seasonal Trails, including the Kiwa Trail and Carty Lake Trail, will be open! On the Carty Unit, follow the Friends' self-guided hike, attend a walk, check out our partners, and do some crafts. Take a drive around the River 'S' Auto Tour, or head Downtown for Bluegrass Music, vendors, crafts, and more! Sandhill Crane Tour tickets available in advance only (SOLD OUT).

10/5: We encourage you to park at the Ridgefield Waterfront and catch the shuttle to Downtown & the Carty Unit. Rides approx every 15 min. Wheelchair accessible

Rides end at 2 PM

Parking Options include: Ridgefield Waterfront, Carty Unit (28908 N Main Ave), Union Ridge Elementary, Along Railroad Ave, and Mill St Street Parking.

FULL Downloadable Schedule w/Spanish & Screen-Reader pages

Plan your day on October 4 & 5, 2024! Download this schedule, with Spanish & screen-reader-friendly versions included.

25th Anniversary Special Event, October 4, 2024, 5:30-8:00 PM.

Join us on the Waterfront for a welcoming blessing with the Chinook Indian Nation and the Cowlitz Indian Tribe, a ride in the City of Ridgfield’s Dragon Boats on an evening paddle, and/or stay for hot chocolate, wine, and music by the water! All ages welcome. pre-registration required for the paddle and/or pre-register and pay for the celebration (below).

BirdFest & Bluegrass 25th Anniversary Kick-Off Register & Pay

We invite you to join us to kick off the official BirdFest & Bluegrass 2024 festivities with a special 25th Anniversary Event, Friday, October 4, at the Ridgefield Waterfront! Guests who don't paddle in a Dragon Boat can stick around for wine, hot chocolate, music, and dessert! Entry will require an ID check and $10 fee. Pre-register and pay now! Under 21 free, with kid's activities!

25th Anniversary Dragon Boat Paddle

Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Birdfest & Bluegrass with a SUNSET PADDLE, Friday, October 4th! Join us on our Kaohsiung Dragon Boats to paddle Lake River and the shoreline of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge as we Paddle For The Wild, celebrate, and welcome the winter migration. This BirdFest event is Free!!! Please sign up on meet-up.com

BirdFest & Bluegrass Official Website

Button purchase locations, Carty Unit & River 'S' Unit Refuge event schedule specifics, Bird of the Year details, and more!

Bluegrass Music, City Family Activities & Vendor Marketplace

The Schedule for the City of Ridgefield downtown events; including Family crafts, music schedules, and shopping, orienteering, and more.

Children's Entrepreneur Market

A farmers’ market…run entirely by KIDS! Head to Overlook Park to start shopping.

Want to be a vendor downtown?

Visit the City of Ridgefield First Saturdays Vendor page.

Visit the Refuge

Find maps and directions to the two separate units of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, the River 'S' Unit and Auto Tour, and the Carty Unit.

BirdFest & Bluegrass 25th Anniversary Buttons!

Find buttons for $5 at select locations, now! These buttons are a collectors item, and may win you prizes! Stay tuned for more details about our special 25th Anniversary event.

BirdFest & Bluegrass 2024 Bald Eagle Button T-Shirt

Rock the BirdFest & Bluegrass 2024 25th Anniversary Bird of the Year, the American Bald Eagle, design for this year's BirdFest & Bluegrass event, make an impact, and remind yourself of what you'll learn during BirdFest & Bluegrass. Normally $25, promo: 10% off when you purchase your shirt from 9/2-9/16! No code required.

25th Anniversary BirdFest & Bluegrass Logo T-shirts

Celebrate and support BirdFest & Bluegrass 2024, our 25th Anniversary event! You can help us make an impact, and remind yourself of all you learned and fun you had during BirdFest & Bluegrass! Normally $25, Promo: 10% off when you purchase your shirt from 9/2-9/16! No code required.

Saturday BirdFest & Bluegrass Paddle for the Wild!

Saturday, October 5th, join others on the City of Ridgeffield Kaohsiung Dragon Boats to paddle Lake River and the shoreline of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge as we Paddle For The Wild. This BirdFest event is Free!!! Please sign up on meet-up.com

Columbia River Water Trail Wildlife Kayak Tour

Scenic Tour of the waters surrounding the National Wildlife Refuge. View wildlife in their natural environment from the seat of your own kayak! Learn to find your way around the river and the basic "rules of the road." Learn some fun historical and ecological facts about the area as you paddle. Get some excercise while having some FUN! Use promo code 'Birdfest' to get a 20% discount! Promo code will ONLY work during the weekend of October 5-6.

Learn to Kayak Tour with Alder Creek Kayak

Paddle along Lake River near Bachelor Island and look for bald eagles, blue herons and so much more! As part of the tour, we cover basic paddling skills including launching, strokes, maneuvering, and how to stay safe on the water. This tour is a great way to get out on the water learn paddling fundamentals! Use promo code 'Birdfest' to get a 20% discount! Promo code will ONLY work during the weekend of October 5-6.

Vancouver Audubon Society

Vancouver Audubon Society hosts spotting scopes on the River 'S' Unit's Auto Tour Route, near the Contact Station from 9 AM - 2 PM. Stop by to see what they're spotting, learn about what you can see throughout the year, and more!

Visiting a Refuge

Not a Park! Wildlife Refuges are different, find out how

BirdFest & Bluegrass Sweatshirt

Support BirdFest & Bluegrass and celebrate conservation with this environmentally conscious hoodie uses recycled materials to create a midweight blended fabric.

Sandhill Crane Tour Tickets

SOLD OUT

Partner Party Partner List: 9 AM - 2 PM

Dark Sky International

Dark Sky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.

Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries

Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (FVRL) serves residents of southwest Washington in rural, suburban, and urban settings in Klickitat and Skamania Counties, all of Clark County except for the City of Camas, and the City of Woodland and the Yale Valley Library District in Cowlitz County.

Habitat at Home

Formerly known as the Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary Program, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife is working to encourage Washingtonians to connect with nature where they live, work, and play. By learning ways to increase biodiversity through planting native plants, coexisting with wildlife, and making decisions that positively impact the health of our communities, we can all make a difference.

Mount St Helens Science & Learning Center

The Mount St. Helens Institute, founded in 1996, connects people of all ages to Mount St. Helens and our natural world through educational programming designed to enrich visitors’ appreciation and understanding of the Pacific Northwest’s youngest and most active volcano.

Ridgefield Garden Club

Check out the plant sale in Davis Park! Do you want to add some color to your yard or patio? Are you ready to plant some vegetables? Do you need a great gift? Then check out the Ridgefield Garden Club Plant Sale!

USFWS Fire Management

Eighty percent of Service lands, from marsh to forest to prairie, evolved with fire and depend on periodic fire to remain productive wildlife habitat. Fire is a vital conservation tool. The Service’s fire management program has three main areas of focus: fuels management wildfire management wildfire prevention

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is the State Agency dedicated to preserving, protecting, and perpetuating the state’s fish, wildlife, and ecosystems while providing sustainable fish and wildlife recreational and commercial opportunities.

Washington Trails Association

Washington Trails Association mobilizes hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors to explore, steward, and champion trails and public lands.

Watershed Alliance of Southwest Washington

The Watershed Alliance works to educate and engage community members to be active stewards of SW Washington’s natural legacy. We educate children and adults, by giving hands on opportunities to participate in the restoration and protection of waterways.

Want to Join the Party?

If you are a local non-profit connected to the Refuge or Nature and want to host a table on the Refuge, send us a message!

Ridgefield Participating Businesses

Ridgefield Craft Brewing

Besides being a location for bluegrass jamming, Ridgefield Craft Brewing will be running a special promotion with their boat-shaped flight tray called "Taking Flight," which includes four 5oz tasters of any beer for $9 (add $2 w/cider).