Go wild in Yachats
Celebrate the wild and wonderful creatures that call the coast home at the second annual Wild Things family festival, taking place throughout Yachats this Saturday, May 10.
“We have at least 20 things to see and do this year,” said Event Coordinator Candi Claussen. “Last year there were some hands-on activities. This year there are many more.”
The festival isn’t just about fun — it’s also about nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards by offering hands-on activities and interactive learning opportunities to help young people understand the importance of conserving our coastal heritage.
The day will include roughly 20-minute-long walks to give guests the opportunity to learn to identify animal tracks, native plants, birds and more.
“Most of our walks will be in the open space behind the commons,” Claussen said. “There will also be some at Prospect Park, which has a pollinator garden that they are going to give a tour of. That can give people a nice idea for things they can plant in their own gardens.”
At the Yachats Lions Hall, people will have the opportunity to "Meet a Raptor” from the Chintimini Wildlife Center.
“They are bringing either a peregrine or falcon,” Claussen said. “Apparently it comes down to whichever one is happier that morning.”
The hall will also host the seven capes migratory bird game and examples of and plans for bird houses for species like purple martins.
The "Journey Under the Sea” is an educational interactive exhibit from the Oregon Museum of Natural History.
“It is about many things ocean related including exploring the kelp forest and all that lives there,” Claussen said. “I’m definitely looking forward to that one. I love kelp.”
The Wild Plant Sale, hosted by the MidCoast Watersheds Council and Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District is a great opportunity to support local conservation efforts while adding some beautiful native plants to your garden.
Kids can also learn while trying to score a prize.
“There will be a passport book for kids to look and find things at all the different stops,” Claussen said. “They have a question that they have to answer. They get to keep the book, but once they show that they have filled it out, they will be entered to win four tickets to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.”
A whale watch station will be set up by the water at Yachats State Park.
“We will have a little shuttle to help people get there,” Claussen said. “But you can also get there by walking the lovely trails through the open space behind the commons.”
Towards the end of the event, the group Your Song, My Song will perform an exciting collection of danceable tunes celebrating our planet and invite the audience to join in the fun with more than 200 marine and space puppets.
The event culminates in the Wild Things Parade that starts at the commons.
“At the parade we will have people in the puppets that were created last year and we also encourage people to dress as their favorite wild thing,” Claussen said. “We will also have a station where people can make a mask to wear during the parade, and if people show up they may end up with one of the big puppets.”
The Wild Things festival is from 11 am to 3 pm primarily located at the Yachats Commons, 441 Hwy. 101. For more information, go to yachats.org.
Event Schedule
Walks
Noon, 1 pm, 2 pm – Animal Tracking, open space behind Commons pavilion
12:30 pm, 1:30 pm – Pollinator Plants Walk, Prospect Park
12:45 pm, 1:45 pm – Wetlands Walk, open space behind Commons pavilion
Shows
11:15 am, 12:45 pm (Live show 11:15 to 11:45 am, hands-on display till 12:45 pm – Journey under the Sea, Commons
11:30 am to 1:30 pm Meet a Bird of Prey, Yachats Lions Hall
2:30 to 3 pm – Your Song My Song Band interactive show
3 pm – Parade of the Wild Things, starts at the pavilion