At a perfect time to celebrate autumn, the 10th annual Upper Perkiomen Bird

Hailey Good give a baby goat a hug in a display of farm animals.   An estimated 3,350 visitors attended the annual event.

and Wildlife Festival welcomed thousands of community members to the event last weekend. The exquisite weather allowed people to comfortably enjoy friends, family and nature.

            In 2020, everyone had experienced closures, mandates and uncertainty. However, many people began spending more time outside and in their local parks. Green Lane Park experienced an uptick in visitors enjoying the beauty of nature and the gem of a park in the Upper Perkiomen Valley.

            This year's objective at the festival was to provide inspiration and ideas on how people can create wildlife habitats in their own yards and communities.  

            Free hayrides were given all day as events and activities were enjoyed. The Red Creek Wildlife Center gave a live birds of prey presentation. The Center has been participating in the Wildlife festival for years and has a following of fans. Red Creek educates and delightfully entertains the crowd.

            The band "Local Lost Boys" has also been a steady addition to the festival. Their music kept the vibe light and celebratory into the afternoon.  The Barn Nature

Kathy Famous, owner of Mellibee Apiaries, talks with visitors to the Bird and Wildlife Festival about honey  bees are shipped through the mail.

Center educated people on exotic animals as pets. The non-profit organization specializes in rescued and re-homed exotic animals.

            Generations of families could be observed enjoying the festivities. In small gatherings, people happily chatted together as music played and vendors engaged with visitors.

Jenna Crist was enjoying the event with her sons and dog. Jenna summed up the event: "Great community gathering, good music, engaging activities for kids, a fun family day."

That seemed to be the sentiment of most visitors. A joyful celebratory vibe was in the air.

            This year's event had fewer vendors and presenters, but it was well attended. The final count was 3,350 attendees. "Our best ever," said Kevin Crilley, Educator for Green Lane Park.

            Despite scheduling issues and a level of uncertainty as the threat of COVID looms, planning for the event began in March 2021. There is a lot of work and organization that occurs in order to orchestrate such a successful event. A committee of five people meets monthly to prepare for the event. They represent Green Lane Park, the Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Friends of Green Lane Park. It's a labor of love and dedication to pull it off every year.

A tortise is displayed for the crowd by Lizzy Schechner, the Executive Director of the Barn Nature Center in  Doylestown. The non-profit organization specializes in  re-homed exotic animals.

            All proceeds benefit Friends of the Green Lane Park. Vendors donate a gift to the raffle and rent space. Local businesses give their support and sponsor the event. All of these working parts bring this wonderful festival to the Valley every September.

Kevin Crilley shared that it was nice to see people happy, and he enjoys interacting with vendors and exhibitors. "I can't thank those folks enough. They make it happen, the vendors, exhibitors and sponsors."

            Some of the vendors included Melibee Apiary, Ridge Valley Maple Farm, and Cigar Box Paper Art. Horse and Goat Yoga also attended the event. The variety of vendors was a great addition to the festival.

            The goal of the event is to welcome the community and share the gift of nature. Through education and inclusiveness, habitat for wildlife can be cultivated and enjoyed by all.

Next year's event is tentatively scheduled for September 24, 2022.

            As winter begins to wane next year, the committee will start to meet and plan the 2022 Bird and Wildlife Festival. Mark the date on your calendar, but until then, spend time outside enjoying nature.