Willows welcomes wildlife enthusiasts. Surrounding refuges and wildlife management areas
provide Snow Goose Festival visitors plenty of places to explore.
DURHAM, Calif. (MPG) The 2026 Snow Goose Festival will bring four days of field trips, workshops and community activities to the Northern Sacramento Valley Jan. 22 to 25, celebrating the region’s wintering bird populations and the annual arrival of migratory waterfowl.
Festival headquarters will again be located at Patrick Ranch Museum between Chico and Durham. The ranch will host registration, exhibits and family activities throughout the event. Visitors can explore natural history displays, art exhibits, junior naturalist stations and informational booths from local conservation groups. Many field trips and workshops will depart from the ranch, making it the central gathering point for participants.
More than 50 guided field trips are scheduled across the region, offering opportunities to view wildlife refuges, rice fields, wetlands and private lands that are not always open to the public. Popular outings include sunrise fly offs, raptor viewing tours, photography excursions and natural history walks. Indoor programs will cover topics such as local ecology, bird identification and habitat conservation.
for their winter stay along the Pacific Flyway and drawing
birders from across the state and beyond.
Wildlife enthusiasts are also invited to explore the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes five refuges and three wildlife management areas where visitors can hike, watch wildlife, fish or hunt. A new visitor center at the complex’s main headquarters south of Willows provides a starting point to learn about the area and plan visits. Other refuges, including Colusa, offer auto tours, trails and viewing platforms, giving festivalgoers additional opportunities to explore.
One of the festival’s signature events is the annual Gathering of Wings banquet, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Bell Memorial Union at Chico State. The evening includes a catered dinner, silent auction and keynote presentation. This year’s keynote speaker is environmental educator and author Kate Marianchild, known for her work on California oak woodland ecology. Proceeds from the banquet support ongoing education and conservation programs throughout the region.
The Snow Goose Festival draws visitors from across California and beyond, contributing to local tourism during the winter season. Its emphasis on education, stewardship and community partnerships reflects the region’s long history of conservation, where farmers, refuge managers and environmental organizations work together to maintain habitat for migratory birds.
More information, registration details and a full schedule are available at snowgoosefestival.org.