Winter Wildlife Festival
Join us in January for a month-long celebration of coastal wildlife and nature featuring a flock of engaging programs to embrace our coastal beauty.
Festival Information
Registration for the 2025 Winter Wildlife Festival opens on Nov. 15. Join the Facebook group to stay up to date, or check out highlights from the 2024 festival below.
Winter Wildlife Festival
The 15th Annual Winter Wildlife Festival will take place from Jan. 25- Feb. 2, 2025. Join our Facebook group to stay up-to-date on Festival news.
Event Details
Mary Reid Barrow Wildlife Advocate Award
Named after Mary Reid Barrow, who devoted her entire career to engaging the public about our natural environment, the Wildlife Advocate Award was created in 2020 as a way to honor those in our community that strive to make a difference for wildlife and the environment.
Barrow's weekly columns made nature relatable to the average person and she was a gentle, but tireless, advocate for wildlife. She continues to serve the community through her involvement with environmental non-profits and campaigns.
Previous Award Winners
- 2024: Maurice Cullen
- 2023: Mark Swingle
- 2022: Reese Lukei
- 2021: Meredith Broadhurst
Exhibit Hall, Walkup Workshops, and Children’s Activities
Princess Anne Rec Center
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Visit the Exhibit Hall for free wildlife-related vendors, children’s activities, food truck and educational walk-up workshops. No pre-registration required!
Exhibitor Application Now Open
The Winter Wildlife Committee reserves the right to determine who will be accepted as an exhibitor. To be considered as an exhibitor, organizations or businesses must relate to one of the following categories:
- Wildlife Conservation
- Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Wildlife-related art
- Environmental Conservation
Interested vendors that meet these requirements can reach out to the special events office at 757-385-2990 or email outdoors@vbgov.com. Please note submission of the application does not guarantee a space at the exhibit hall.
My Journey to Passion, Inspiration and Excellence to Birds and Conservation, Presented by Dr. Mamie Parker
Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library
Sunday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m.
Free, no registration required
Dr. Mamie Parker spent a career as a fish and wildlife biologist and former Head of Fisheries for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dr. Parker's work building bridges with nontraditional partners in the conservation community and advocating for more women in Wild STEM careers.
Parker has earned her numerous industry board positions, leadership and lifetime achievement awards including the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame and recognition in the Smithsonian Institute's book, “Women, Environmentalism and Justice.”
2024 Winter Wildlife Photo Contest Winners
Wildlife Action: Debbi Babashanian
Landscape/Scenic: Catherine Johnson
Festival in Action: Dean Shostak
Wildlife Portrait: Jason Crawley
Youth: Norah C., Age 8
People’s Choice: Shawn Brooks
2024 Winter Wildlife Photo Contest Honorable Mentions
Wildlife Action: Shawn Brooks
Landscape/Scenic: C. Denise Maples
Wildlife Portrait: Catherine Johnson
Youth: Liam C., Age 13
Festival in Action: Caroline Prevost
Special Thanks to our Sponsors
Winter Wildlife Festival
Get Your WWF Merch
