Friday, 29 March 2024

Heron Festival takes place April 27-29

LAKE COUNTY The annual Heron Festival and Wildflower Brunch, presented by the Redbud Audubon Society and the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association, will be held April 27-29 at Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville.


The event is a fun, family-oriented weekend that features pontoon boat tours, birding and nature walks, an art show, exhibits, nature talks and children's activities.


Friday night kicks off with an opening reception for the Heron Festival Art Show. Guests are welcomed to mingle with artists and enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Main Street Gallery, 325 N. Main Street, Lakeport. The bird and nature art will be on display at the gallery for the entire weekend of the Heron Festival.


The Spring Wildflower Brunch will be held on Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. to noon, and features "Fill Your Own Omelet" dishes. The cost for brunch is $12. Advance brunch reservations and payment are requested and may be made online by visiting www.heronfestival.org or by calling (800) 525-3743.


On Saturday and Sunday, pontoon boat excursions will take visitors along the shoreline of Clear Lake to view nesting herons, egrets, grebes and other shorebirds. The 90-minute boat trips will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Experienced Audubon birding guides will accompany each boat to share information about the birds and wildlife seen on each trip.


The excursions will leave from the Clear Lake State Park marina. A donation of $15 per person is requested for the pontoon boat trips. Advance reservations are required and may be made online by visiting www.heronfestival.org or by phone at (800) 525-3743.


On Saturday and Sunday, the Visitor Center at Clear Lake State Park will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It features interpretive displays of Lake County's natural and cultural resources. These include an erupting volcano, a Pomo Indian village, a mountain lion cave, and dioramas of the woodland and riparian habitats in the park. The gift shop offers educational and entertaining nature items.


The Visitor Center Auditorium will feature speaker presentations, slide shows, and videos on local birds and wildlife. Topics will range from the weekend's featured herons and wildflowers to bats and hummingbirds.


Nature and bird walks will be given by local park docents and Audubon guides who are specialists in the park's birds and wildlife. A self-guided "Habitat Hike" will be available for families. A nature fair with numerous outdoor exhibit booths will present conservation and nature displays, nature-related artists, and educational materials.


On Saturday evening, campfire activities aimed at kids and parents will feature bird and nature stories around the campfire and an evening wildlife walk in the park with flashlights.


During Heron Festival weekend, admission to Clear Lake State Park is free. Except for the boat rides and brunch, all other festival activities also are free. Camping sites are available through the State Park reservation system. Local resort, motel, and bed-and-breakfast reservations are available through www.lakecounty.com or by calling (800) 525-3743.


For more information on all festival events, call (800) 525-3743 or visit www.heronfestival.org.


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