Check the full festival schedule below for a clear view of what’s happening each day, including event times and locations. We recommend bookmarking this page and checking back as we get closer to the festival, since a few details may shift as plans are finalized.
2026: The 15th Annual Yakutat Tern Festival
Schedule
Thursday, May 28 – Community Kickoff
ALL DAY
Explore Tongass Trails
Scavenger Hunt
Get your passport at Registration
9:00-9:30 AM
Sunrise Soar & Stretch
All ages bird-inspired yoga
w/ Cassandra Jostes
9:30 AM–12:00 PM
Kids Programs
Rainforest Bird Safari & Felting
w/ Dotty Widmann
12:00–1:00 PM
Lunch & Bird Yoga
School grounds
30 min.
1:00-3:30 PM
Kids Programs
Rainforest Bird Safari & Felting
w/Dotty Widmann
5:30 PM
Community BBQ
Food & Gathering
6:30 PM
Community Games
All ages
Friday, May 29 – Birds, Learning & Culture
ALL DAY
Explore Tongass Trails
Scavenger Hunt
Get your passport at Registration
7:00–9:00 AM
Bird Banding
8:00 AM-8:45 AM
Bird Yoga for Adults
Rewild and Awaken
w/ Cassandra Jostes
9:00 AM-9:30 AM
Wiggles & Wings
Bird Yoga for Kids
w/ Cassandra Jostes
9:30AM-12:00PM
Kids Programs
Tern Egg Feather Illustration & Field Trip
w/ Dotty Widmann
12:00–1:00 PM
LUNCH BREAK
1:00 PM
Coffee Tasting & Talk (Adults)
Bird-friendly coffee talk and casual tasting
1 hour
1:00-3:30PM
Kids Program
Tern Egg Feather Illustration & Field Trip
w/ Dotty Widmann
3:00-4:00 PM
TIE DYE a Tern Fest Tee
for kids all ages
4:00 PM
Live Bird Program
30 min.
6:30 PM
St. Elias Dancers
Cultural Performance
Saturday, May 30 – Field Trips & Events
ALL DAY
Explore Tongass Trails
Scavenger Hunt
Get your passport at Registration
7:00 AM
Guided Coffee
Tasting
Tasting
8 participants max
30-40 min.
7:00-10:00 AM
Bird Banding
8:00-8:30 AM
Feathers & Flow
Bird Yoga
w/ Cassandra Jostes
8:00-9:00AM
Photography Workshop
Pre-tern viewing field trip
w/ Paul Bannick
9:00 AM
Tern Viewing Trip
Ankau & Cape
w/ Paul Bannick
9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Kids Field Trip
9:00-9:30 AM
Wings & Wiggles
Bird Yoga for Kids
w/ Cassandra Jostes
10:30 AM
Alaska Raptor
Center (ARC)
Center (ARC)
Program for Kids at
School
School
11:00AM-2:00PM
LaDonna’s Tacos & Tabling
Lunch at Pavillion
Avery Big Year Coffee, Raptor Center Silent Auction items outside
12:00-12:30PM
Live Bird Program
Outside Upper Pavillion
Weather permitting
1:00-4:00PM
Stewardship Field Trip
Kids of all ages
1:00-5:00PM
Felting w/ Dotty Widmann
Adult Workshop
Registration required. 10 participants max. $10 fee to secure spot.
5:00-7:00PM
Sip & Paint Watercolors w/ Sam Lobdell
Yakutat Lodge
Registration required. 12 participants max. $10 fee to secure spot.
7:15PM
Keynote Presentation
Paul Bannick
Sunday, May 31 – Closing Day
Turn in your Tongass Trails Scavenger Hunt Passport for a chance to win a cash prize by 12PM
8:00 AM
Wildman 5K
Cannon Beach Race
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Birding Field Trip
Harlequin Lake
12:30PM
Live Bird Program
School Auditorium
1:30PM
Silent Auction & Photo Contest
Winners Announced
Winners Announced
2:30PM
Festival Wrap-Up
Closing Remarks
