ForestFest | Free Day at the Discovery Museum

Celebrate the wonders of forests at ForestFest, a free, family-friendly day of hands-on discovery, creativity, and outdoor fun.
About this Event

Celebrate the wonders of forests at ForestFest, a free, family-friendly day of hands-on discovery, creativity, and outdoor fun in the heart of Washington Park. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and their Forests250 Initiative, highlighting 250 years of public lands stewardship and the vital role forests play in our lives.

Explore interactive kid zones, forest-themed crafts, live music, workshops, lawn games, a traveling sawmill, food and drink vendors, and community partners working to support healthy forests and resilient communities.

Featured Events:

• Two Workshops with Very Bien (2 & 3:30 pm): Learn how to mount an epiphytic plants, unique species that grow on trees and thrive without soil. Tickets required .
• Share your Forest Story: Stop by the StoryBooth to record your own Forest Story and it may be published in an upcoming podcast!
• Kid Story-times with two local Portland Authors: 11 am w/ Silpa Kona and 2 pm with Audrey Saubel
• Live Music throughout the day: Featuring local portland musicians Jermaine & Lynard Nimroy!
• Moon Tree dedication (1:30 pm): Dedicating a Douglas-fir whose seed went around the moon in Artemis I mission!
• Meet Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl, and be among the first to experience our new Woodsy Owl pop-up exhibit. Also, stop by our StoryBooth to capture your own forest story to possibly be featured in a podcast episode!

This day is part of our Free Day Series at the Discovery Museum celebrating 60 years of World Forestry Center, presented by Hampton Lumber.

Agenda

🕑: 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Community Vendors & Activities

Info: Visit community vendor booths and enjoy some family-friendly activities and crafts. Thorughout the day, Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl will make appearances for photos and handing out resources!

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Drag Morning Hike
Host: Drag Me Outside

Info: Join Efmmera & Thespis from Drag Me Outside for a morning hike, this hike is geared towards families. Separate registration required.

Author Storytime: Silpa Kona
Host: Silpa Kona

Info: Children's author Silpa Kona will read some of her recent books, including "A Monster on My Trail." This reading will be held inside the Discovery Museum in our Mt. Hood Room.

🕑: 11:00 AM - 01:00 PM
Record your forest story

Info: Stop by the Forest Storybooth to share what forests mean to you, a powerful memory, or your hopes for the future. These stories will be used to create a podcast with US Forest Service & Forests205. The Storybooth Experience will be collecting stories from 11 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm.

🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Drag Afternoon Hike
Host: Drag Me Outside

Info: Join Efmmera & Thespis from Drag Me Outside for a morning hike, this hike may not be appropriate for younger children. Registration required.

🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
Moon Tree Dedication

Info: Join us as we dedicate a Moon Tree, a Douglas-fir sapling grown from seeds that traveled around the Moon on NASA’s Artemis I mission. This living tree bridges space exploration and Earth’s forests, reminding us that the future we imagine in the stars begins here, in the soil.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM
Live Music: Lynard Nimoy

Info: Enjoy some soft rock music from local band Lynard Nimoy.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Record your forest story

Info: Stop by the Forest Storybooth to share what forests mean to you, a powerful memory, or your hopes for the future. These stories will be used to create a podcast with US Forest Service & Forests205. The Storybooth Experience will be collecting stories from 11 am to 1 pm and 2 to 4 pm.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Workshop: Mount an Epiphytic Plant

Info: Discover the art of mounting epiphytic plants, unique species that grow on trees and thrive without soil. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics of plant selection, proper mounting techniques, and ongoing care, then create your own living piece to take home.

$50 registration includes your plant and all materials needed.

Separate registration required

🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Author Storytime: Audrey Sauble
Host: Audrey Sauble

Info: Children's author Audrey Saubel will read some of her recent books, including "Acorn Party." This reading will be held inside the Discovery Museum in our Mt. Hood Room.

🕑: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Workshop: Mount an Epiphytic Plant

Info: Discover the art of mounting epiphytic plants, unique species that grow on trees and thrive without soil. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics of plant selection, proper mounting techniques, and ongoing care, then create your own living piece to take home.

$50 registration includes your plant and all materials needed.

Separate Registration Required

🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:30 PM
Live Music: Jermaine

Info: Enjoy some live music from Portland-based, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Jermaine.