Snow Goose Festival

Schedule

Sat Apr 22 2023 at 08:00 am

Location

Tofield Arena | Tofield, AB

We are excited to announce this year’s Snow Goose Festival is on Saturday, April 22, and Sunday, April 23, 2023, to celebrate the spring migration of snow geese through Beaverhill Lake near Tofield Alberta.
Everyone is welcome - from first-time to experienced birders, children, and adults to experience the wonder of nature as thousands of migrating snow geese, Canada geese, various shorebirds, cranes, and swans return to Beaverhill Lake on their migratory route to the north!
The festival includes several guided hiking and bus tours scheduled for each day, a free Trade Show in the Tofield Arena with kids crafts and activities, concessions, speakers, a Saturday Banquet & Silent Auction, and more!
TOUR OPTIONS - ** Pre-register to reserve your seat!
Tour cost: Adults: $25, Youth (12 & under) - $10, Family (2a/2c) - $60
Bring your camera, bird ID book, and binoculars. As spring weather can be unpredictable, please dress accordingly.
2-Hour Bus Tours - view wildlife in wetland areas southeast of Beaverhill Lake featuring wildlife and migratory bird points of interest. Tours available Saturday and Sunday departing from Tofield Arena as follows:
A1 8 am – 10 am Sat. & Sun.
A2 8:30 am – 10:30 am Sat. only
A3 9 am – 11 am Sat. & Sun.
A4 9:30 am – 11:30 am Sat. & Sun.
A5 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Sat. & Sun.
A6 3:30 – 5:30 pm Sat. only
A7 4:00 – 6:00 pm Sun. only
3-Hour Bus Tours – view wildlife in wetland areas around the south and east points of Beaverhill Lake including stops at wildlife and migratory bird points of interest for viewing. Tours are available Saturday and Sunday departing from Tofield Arena as follows.
B1 8 am – 11 am Sat. & Sun.
B3 8:30 am – 11:30 am Sat. & Sun.
B4 9:00 am – 12 Noon Sat. & Sun.
B5 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm Sat. & Sun.
B6 3:00 – 6:00 pm Sat. & Sun.
3-Hour Field Hikes – short bus ride to the Beaverhill Natural Area, then a 4 km hike along the trail network including a stop at the Beaverhill Bird Observatory where staff will provide information on their birding studies and you may witness spring bird banding. Waterproof footwear is essential on this hike. Tours available Saturday and Sunday departing from Tofield Arena as follows:
C1 8 am – 11 am Sat. & Sun.
C2 9 am – 12 Noon Sat. & Sun.
C3 10 am – 1 pm Sat. & Sun.
C4 11 am – 2 pm Sat. & Sun.
C5 12 Noon – 3 pm Sat. & Sun.
C6 1 pm – 4 pm Sat. & Sun.
A free shuttle from Sherwood Park to the Festival provides a transportation option for participants to come to witness this spectacular annual event! (Shuttle does NOT include tickets for any of the tours to see the migrating Snow Geese).
SATURDAY, April 22
FREE shuttle DEPARTS Bethel Transit Terminal for the Snow Goose Festival (Tofield) at: 7:00 am, 7:30 am, 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm.
FREE shuttle DEPARTS the Snow Goose Festival (Tofield) for Bethel Transit Terminal at: 12 Noon, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm
SUNDAY, April 23
FREE shuttle DEPARTS Bethel Transit Terminal for the Snow Goose Festival (Tofield) at: 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 12 Noon, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm
FREE shuttle DEPARTS the Snow Goose Festival (Tofield) for Bethel Transit Terminal at: 12 Noon, 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm

BANQUET and SILENT AUCTION
Saturday, April 22 at Tofield Community Hall
Doors open at 6 pm, supper at 7 pm. Tickets: $50/person
Banquet Menu: Roast Barron of Beef, Parmesan Chicken, roasted baby potatoes, buttered green beans with roasted almonds, baby carrots with orange ginger sauce, Caesar Salad, Crab Pasta Salad, Asian Coleslaw, and desserts including Strawberry Short Cake, Black Forest Cake and Lemon Pie.
Guest Speaker Garnet Raven (CWS biologist) “Lesser snow geese: population trends and management”
Lesser snow goose populations have had large fluctuations over the last 50 years. In North America, lesser snow geese are managed as three populations: the mid-continent population (MCP), the western arctic population (WAP), and the Wrangle Island population (WIP). A proportion of all three populations come through Alberta during both spring and fall migration. Learn how biologists monitor and manage these populations using population surveys, banding data and harvest surveys.
Silent Auction with proceeds supporting the Snow Goose Festival.
The Snow Goose Festival is presented by the following partners: Town of Tofield, Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Beaver County, Strathcona County, Nature Alberta, Edmonton Nature Club, Canadian Wildlife Service, Alberta Parks, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Beaver Hills Biosphere, Alberta Environment, North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), and the Alberta Conservation Association.

Where is it happening?

Tofield Arena, ,Tofield,AB,Canada

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Host or Publisher Town of Tofield

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