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.
2027 Festival Dates – Jan. 23-31, 2027
- Festival Kick-off – Saturday, Jan. 23, 2027, at Princess Anne Recreation Center
- Registration for trips opens at 9 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16.
Event Details
Sunday, January 24, 2027
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. at MEO Central Library
In this keynote presentation, Leigh Ann Henion will share how spending time with synchronous fireflies motivated her to explore the importance of natural darkness in an age of increasing artificial light. Drawing from her celebrated book, Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark, Henion will offer inspiring stories and empowering guidance about how embracing the night can lead to moments of wonder, reduced light pollution, and improved ecological health.
Leigh Ann Henion
Presenter Bio: Leigh Ann Henion is the New York Times bestselling author of Phenomenal and Night Magic. Her writing has appeared in Smithsonian, National Geographic, The Washington Post, and a variety of other publications. She is a former Alicia Patterson Fellow, and her work has been supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Her most recent book, Night Magic, was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, and it was selected as an Editor’s Choice at Kirkus Reviews, Scientific American, and Reader’s Digest, among other outlets. The Minnesota Star-Tribune calls the book “a revelation” and suggests that “you’re likely to come away from Night Magic … educated and inspired.” The Wall Street Journal calls Night Magic “a gift…that might change the way you think about night.” And Publishers Weekly promises that the book “will fill readers with awe.”
Saturday, January 23, 2027
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. at Princess Anne Recreation Center
- Free + open to the public; no pre-registration required.
- Exhibit Hall, Food Truck, Children’s Activities, Walk-up Workshops, and Silent Auction to benefit FLOW Camp.
Exhibitor applications accepted Oct. 5–Nov. 15; email prspecialevents@vbgov.com for more information.
2026 Winter Wildlife Photo Contest Winners
Best in Show: William Murray
People’s Choice: Shawn Brooks
Wildlife Action: William Stamper
Wildlife Portrait: Rick Guyot
Landscape/Scenic: William Cody Chaplain
Festival in Action: Constance Owen
Youth: Wesley F. (14 years old)
Honorable Mention Winners
Wildlife Action: Mary Kloecker
Wildlife Portrait: Caroline Prevost
Landscape/Scenic Honorable Mention: Judy Jones
Festival in Action Honorable Mention: Yasmin May
Youth Category Honorable Mention: Kai D. (15 years old)
Visit the MEO Central Library Gallery during March 2026 to see the WWF Photo Contest Winning Photos on display.
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 who 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.
2026 Award Recipient: Lisa Barlow
Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is proud to name Lisa Barlow, a dedicated wildlife rehabilitator and advocate with Tidewater Rehabilitation and Environmental (TREE), as the 2026 recipient of the Mary Reid Barrow Wildlife Advocate Award. Presented on February 21 during the 16th annual Winter Wildlife Festival, this peer-nominated award honors individuals who celebrate, advocate for, and educate the community about local wildlife.
Through her leadership at TREE, Barlow and her team admitted 1,521 patients across 147 species in 2024 alone, helping thousands of animals recover and safely return to their natural habitats. Barlow also shares her expertise with schools, organizations, conferences, and veterinary and rehabilitation professionals, empowering others to become active stewards of the environment.
Previous Award Recipients
- 2025: Jody Ullmann
- 2024: Maurice Cullen
- 2023: Mark Swingle
- 2022: Reese Lukei
- 2021: Meredith Broadhurst
Family Movie Night
Saturday, Jan. 30, 2027
Williams Farm Recreation Center
- Time: 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.
- Movie: Hoppers (PG)
- Free + open to the public; no pre-registration required.
VBPL Workshops:
Wildlife at a Brushstroke | January 7 @ 5pm
Location: Princess Anne Rec Center
Paint A Decoy Workshop | January 20 @ 7pm
Location: Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum
Special Thanks to our Sponsors
Winter Wildlife Festival
Get Your WWF Merch
