Festival Activities
Arlington Activities 2025
Eagle Fest Chainsaw Carving Show Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 30, 31, and February 1. 9am-5pm Location: Legion Park, 114 N. Olympic Avenue 20-award winning chainsaw carvers from the Northwest and beyond will carve wooden eagles and other art for the festival. Come see the artists in action! Live auction of selected carvings: Saturday at 3pm
Nature Art Show Saturday, 10am-4pm Location: Olympic Theater & Café,107 N. Olympic Ave. Enjoy natural depictions of the beautiful Pacific Northwest flora and fauna as created by local artists. View the past 14 years of winning photographs of eagles and this year’s entries. Participate in a silent auction and raffle. Sponsored by the Arlington Arts Council. Enter the Eagle Photo Contest and Nature Art Contest Arlington Arts Council invites Snohomish County, Skagit County, and Camano Island residents to enter the Eagle Photography Contest and Nature Art Entry form and information Entries are displayed at the art show on Sat. Cash prizes up to $200. Art entries must be delivered to the show venue on Friday 3:00-7:00pm. Enter the Nature Haiku Contest Snohomish County residents are invited to enter the haiku contest. Contest entry ends January 28, 2025. Poems will be on display at City Hall. Cash prizes. Entry form and information The Reptile Lady Show Experience reptiles up close with this wild, educational experience. The Reptile Lady’s (April’s) show is formatted for children, with audience participation and hands-on time at the end. Reptile Lady website. Show times on Saturday: 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Located at the Olympic Theater, 111 N Olympic Ave. Movie at Olympic Theater Saturday, 2:30pm Located at the Olympic Theater, 111 N Olympic Ave. TBD Wagon Rides Saturday, 10am-3pm Ride pickup is at City Hall, 238 N Olympic Avenue. Free wagon rides on the Andrew’s Hay Wagon, sponsored by City of Arlington. Eagle Quest Arlington Adventure Activity for Children Saturday, 10am –2pm Explore downtown Arlington, while getting your “passport” stamped. Learn about the birds, animals and fish that live in our environment, and collect a prize at the end of the quest. Cost to participate $8 per child. Start your Quest at the Visitors Information Center 104 N. Olympic, Arlington. While supplies last, registration: To be announced Children’s Hands-On Art Activity with Arlington Arts Council Saturday, 10am-3pm Children will enjoy crafting and creating. Free! Located in the City Council Chambers, behind City Hall, at 238 N Olympic Ave. Visit with Snohomish County Parks Rangers Saturday, 10am-3pm Snohomish County Park Rangers will have information available at their booth. Located in the City Council Chambers, behind City Hall, at 238 N Olympic Ave Marysville Rock & Gem Club Exhibit Saturday, 10am-3pm Check out rocks and gems from the Stillaguamish Valley and talk to the experts who will show their beautiful displays. Located in the City Council Chambers, behind City Hall, at 238 N Olympic Ave Downtown Arlington Super Saturday Sales Many downtown stores offer discounts on the first Saturday of the month. www.arlingtonwa.orgEagle Fest Vendor Fair Several of our local market vendors will be outdoors at Legion Park on Saturday, 10:00am-2:00pm. Located at 114 N Olympic Ave. at the Centennial Trail.
Sky Valley Tractor Display Saturday, 10am-3pm Location: City Hall parking lot, 238 N Olympic Ave. The Sky Valley Tractor Club displays antique tractors.Guided Nature Walk, Country Charm
To be determined Guided Bird viewing at Big Ditch, Fri & Sat at 10:00amJoin Jack Stephens from Pilchuck Audubon Society to learn about the birds at Big Ditch. Possible sightings include Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans, Snow Geese, and wintering songbirds and waterfowl. Meet at 10am Friday and Saturday, in the parking lot, at WA Fish and Wildlife Water Access Area. Exit 215, go west on 300th St. to Pioneer Highway to Old Pacific Highway (5.6 miles). Located northwest of Stanwood near Lake Ketchum. Website for Big Ditch
Adventures, Places to See
Paddle Rafting on the Stillaguamish River Friday and Saturday, at 10:30am Location: Meet at Haller Park 1100 West Avenue North Fork Stilly Valley residents Jerry and Lori Michalec invite you on a 5-mile raft journey from Trafton to Haller Park. Expect bald eagle sightings, views of wildlife, and a paddling workout on this 3-hour excursion. Enjoy the serene beauty, light mood elevation, mochas and other distinct pleasures of river travel with North Cascades River Expeditions. Trip includes a midway lunch stop and mocha. Make reservations now for this $80 day trip at 1-800-634-8433. Call to learn more or go to RiverExpeditions.com. Trips are weather, water level dependent.
Stormwater Wetland Park This stormwater wetland was designed to filter pollutants from the water flowing through its cells. City stormwater previously flowed directly into the Stillaguamish River. Now this water flows through the wetland where native plants and natural processes filter it. Walk the meandering trails around the wetland and read the interpretive signage. Directions: use parking lot at Haller Park 1100 West Ave., walk west under SR 9 bridge to Stormwater Park. Stillaguamish Valley Museum Watershed Model & Pioneer Museum An outdoor shelter houses a hand-carved cedar relief map of the Stillaguamish River watershed as it was in 1910, when Arlington was the world’s capital for cedar-shake mills. The map includes locations of pioneer communities, mines, logging operations, Stillaguamish tribal encampments, and the sites of old roads, schools and cemeteries. Also, check out the museum’s model railroad set in a Stillaguamish Valley depiction. Museum re-opens for the season in February. Open Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Admission: $5.00, ages 12 and under $2.00 Location: 20722 67th Avenue NE, Arlington Stillaguamish Museum website Eagle and Salmon Viewing at Squire Creek Park Squire Creek County Park is located approximately 24 miles east of Arlington towards the town of Darrington. If conditions are right, visitors can view spawning chum salmon in Squire Creek and eagles. Location: Squire Creek Park, 41415 SR 530, Arlington Fortson Mill Ponds Park Once the site of a bustling mill and community of over 300 residents, all that remains now of Fortson are some concrete walls and two pretty mill ponds. A fun place to explore. This site is also a trailhead for the Whitehorse Trail. Read the history Location: SR 530 to Fortson Mill RD, near Milepost 42 Fortson Mill Pond Park websiteLeque Island—Stanwood Levee Trail Hike to the top of a berm to a restored tidal marsh on Leque Island, located between Camano Island and Stanwood. Gravel path is 0.7 miles long with great view and birds. Site is managed by WA Department of Fish and Wildlife. Location: Eide Road off of SR 532, follow road to end to parking area. Website for Leque Island
Bird viewing at Big Ditch WA Fish and Wildlife Water Access Area Exit 215, go west on 300th St. to Pioneer Highway to Old Pacific Highway (5.6 miles). Northwest of Stanwood near Lake Ketchum. Bird sightings include: Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Swan, Goldfinch, Red Tailed Hawk. Website for Big Ditch
Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center Viewing Sites Head north on State Route 530 to Skagit County for a day of exploration, eagle sightings and a beautiful road trip. Registration is required for guided walks. Location: Howard Miller Steelhead Park, 52809 Rockport Park Rd, Rockport For more information and other areas in Skagit County to view eagles, go to www.skagiteagle.orgExplore Online
Recommended Eagle Festival Book List Check out a book or DVD from the recommended list for the Eagle Festival from Arlington Library.Wolf Haven’s Virtual Sanctuary Visit and Activities Virtually meet Wolf Haven’s wolves through the online gallery or virtual sanctuary visit at www.wolfhaven.org
Sarvey Wildlife Care Center Virtual Visit Virtually see the rehabilitated animals and patient updates through the online gallery at www.sarveywildlife.org Sound Salmon Solutions Sound Salmon Solutions is proud to be one of 14 Regional Fisheries Enhancement Groups (RFEG) in the state of Washington. Explore their programs and volunteer at: www.soundsalmonsolutions.org Nature Conservancy The Conservancy owns 4,122-acre Port Susan Bay Preserve which encompasses much of the Stillaguamish River estuary. Port Susan Bay | The Nature Conservancy in Washington Pilchuck Audubon Society Pilchuck Audubon Society is a grass-roots environmental organization representing Snohomish County and Camano Island, whose mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds and other wildlife. Pilchuck Audubon Society Sound Waters University is Feb. 3, 2024 Are you curious about the health of our seas, the impact of climate change, whales, and salmon habitat, or the status of seastars? Attend Sound Waters University to learn more about our theme: You, Me, and the Salish Sea: Responding to a Sea of Change. Celebrate 30 years of Sound Waters University with in-person classes, field trips, and more! Education Center – Sound Water Stewards
