With winter comes the return of the eagle to the Stillaguamish River. To celebrate these special winter residents, Arlington hosts an annual Eagle Festival. The eagles return to feed on salmon that have come to spawn in the clean river gravel.

Schedule of Events

February 2, 3, 4, 2023

9am-5pm : Extreme Chainsaw Carving Show

20-award winning chainsaw carvers from the Northwest and beyond will carve wooden eagles and other art for the festival. Come see the artists in action!

Live auction of selected carvings: Friday and Saturday at 4:00 pm.

Location: Legion Park, 114 N. Olympic Avenue

February 4, 2023

10am-4pm: Nature Art Show & Eagle Nest

Enjoy natural depictions of the beautiful Pacific Northwest flora and fauna as created by local artists. View the past 14 years of winning photographs of eagles and this year's entries. Participate in an “art and adventure” silent auction.

Location: Olympic Theater & Café,107 N. Olympic Ave.

Enter the Eagle Photo Contest and Nature Art Contest

Arlington Arts Council invites Snohomish County, Skagit County, and Camano Island residents to enter the Eagle Photography Contest and Nature Art

Art entries must be delivered to the show venue on Friday 3:00-7:00pm.
Entries are displayed at the art show on Sat. Feb. 4.
Cash prizes up to $200.

Enter the Nature Haiku Contest

Snohomish County residents are invited to enter the haiku contest. Contest entry ends January 30, 2023. Poems will be on display at City Hall. Cash prizes.
Entry form and information: http://arlingtonwa.gov/176/Art-Show-Poetry-Photo-Contest

February 4, 2023

11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.: The Reptile Lady Show

Experience reptiles up close with this wild, educational experience. April's show is formatted for children, with audience participation and hands-on time at the end. https://www.reptilelady.org/

Located at the Olympic Theater, 111 N Olympic Ave.

February 4, 2023

10am-4pm: Wagon Rides

Ride pickup is at City Hall, 238 N Olympic Avenue.

Free wagon rides on the Andrew's Hay Wagon, sponsored by Downtown Arlington Business Association

February 4, 2023

10am-2pm: Eagle Quest Arlington Adventure

Activity for Children

Explore downtown Arlington, learn about the birds, animals and fish that live in our environment, and collect a prize at the end of the quest. Cost to participate $7.50 per child. Start your Quest at the Visitors Information Center 104 N. Olympic, Arlington.

While supplies last, register at: https://www.cognitoforms.com/StillyValleyChamberOfCommerce/_2023EagleQuestArlingtonAdventure

February 4, 2023

11am-3pm: Children's Hands On Art Activity with Arlington Arts Council

Arlington Arts Council members are supplying a wood eagle or salmon for kids to color.

Located in the City Council Chambers, behind City Hall, at 238 N Olympic Ave.

February 4, 2023

11am-3pm: Nature Exhibits

Visit with Snohomish County Parks Rangers

Snohomish County Park Rangers will have information available at their booth.

Located in the City Council Chambers, behind City Hall, at 238 N Olympic Ave

February 4, 2023

Downtown Arlington Super Saturday Sales
Many downtown stores offer discounts on the first
Saturday of the month. www.arlingtonwa.org

February 4 , 2023

11am-3pm : Sky Valley Tractor Display

The Sky Valley Tractor Club displays antique tractors.

Location: City Hall parking lot, 238 N Olympic Ave.

Recommended Eagle Festival Book List
Check out a book or DVD from the recommended list for the Eagle Festival from Arlington Library.
www.bit.ly/355O73W

February 3-4, 2023

10:30am - Paddle Rafting on the Stillaguamish River

North Fork Stilly Valley residents Jerry and Lori Michalec invite you on an 5-mile raft journey from Trafton to Haller Park. Expect bald eagle sightings, views of wildlife, and a paddling workout on this 3-hour excursion. Enjoy the serene beauty, light mood elevation, mochas and other distinct pleasures of river travel with North Cascades River Expeditions. Trip includes a midway lunch stop and mocha. Make reservations now for this $80 day trip at 1-800-634-8433. Call to learn more or go to www.RiverExpeditions.com

Location: Meet at Haller Park 1100 West Avenue

Stormwater Wetland Park

This stormwater wetland was designed to filter pollutants from the water flowing through its cells. City stormwater previously flowed directly into the Stillaguamish River. Now this water flows through the wetland where native plants and natural processes filter it. Walk the meandering trails around the wetland and read the interpretive signage.

Directions: use parking lot at Haller Park 1100 West Ave., walk west under SR 9 bridge to Stormwater Park. www.arlingtonwa.gov/stormwaterpark

Portage Creek Wildlife Area

This 150 acre wildlife reserve is home to a variety of wetland plants and animals. Stroll along the stream and enjoy the open meadow paths while catching glimpses of herons, raptors and species of waterfowl. www.snohomishcountywa.gov/Facilities

Location: 20802 59th Avenue NE, Arlington

Stillaguamish Valley Museum Watershed Model & Pioneer Museum

An outdoor shelter houses a hand-carved cedar relief map of the Stillaguamish River watershed as it was in 1910, when Arlington was the world's capital for cedar-shake mills. The map includes locations of pioneer communities, mines, logging operations, Stillaguamish tribal encampments, and the sites of old roads, schools and cemeteries.

Time: Open Wed. Sat. and Sun in February 1-4pm.

Location: 20722 67th Avenue NE, Arlington

Eagle and Salmon Viewing at Squire Creek Park

Squire Creek County Park is located approximately 24 miles east of Arlington towards the town of Darrington. If conditions are right, visitors can view spawning chum salmon in Squire Creek and eagles. www.snohomishcountywa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Squire-Creek-Park-54

Location: Squire Creek Park, 41415 SR 530, Arlington

Forston Mill Ponds Park

Once the site of a bustling mill and community of over 300 residents, all that remains now of Fortson are some concrete walls and two pretty mill ponds. A fun place to explore. This site is also a trailhead for the Whitehorse Trail.

Read the history here: www.discoverdarrington.com/history-2/historical-places/fortson-mill/

Location: SR 530 to Fortson Mill RD, near Milepost 42 https://snohomishcountywa.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Whitehorse-Regional-Trail-105

Leque Island—Stanwood Levee Trail
Hike to the top of a berm to a restored tidal marsh on Leque Island, located between Camano Island and Stanwood. Gravel path is 0.7 miles long with great view and birds. Site is managed by WA Department of Fish and Wildlife. Location: Eide Road off of SR 532, follow road to end to parking area. www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/stanwood-levee-trail

Bird viewing at Big Ditch at WA Fish and Wildlife Water Access Area

Exit 221 from I-5 onto HWY 530 (Pioneer HWY) South for 4 mi., Right onto Old Pacific Hwy, 1st Gravel road on right. Bird sightings include: Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Swan, Goldfinch, Red Tailed Hawk. https://wdfw.wa.gov/places-to-go/water-access-sites/30492

Skagit River Bald Eagle Interpretive Center

Viewing Sites

Head north on State Route 530 to Skagit County for a day of exploration, eagle sightings and a beautiful road trip. Registration is required for guided walks. For more information and other areas in Skagit County to view eagles, go to: www.skagiteagle.org

Location: Howard Miller Steelhead Park, 52809 Rockport Park Rd, Rockport

Online Activities

Wolf Haven's Virtual Sanctuary Visit and Activities
Virtually meet Wolf Haven's wolves through the online gallery or virtual sanctuary visit at www.wolfhaven.org

Sarvey Wildlife Care Center Virtual Visit
Virtually see the rehabilitated animals and patient updates through the online gallery at www.sarveywildlife.org

Discover Your Watershed Virtually
A watershed is an area where streams and rivers drain into a common body of water. Watersheds transcend local, state and federal boundaries. Each watershed becomes a focal area for water quality, marine habitat, stormwater runoff, and other issues. This map shows the major rivers that subsidiary streams flow into within Snohomish County. www.soundsalmonsolutions.org/edresources-kids

Can you survive a Salmon's Journey?
Online game: Guide your salmon upstream to spawn, but watch out for dangerous obstacles along the way! www.soundsalmonsolutions.org/edresources-kids

Date: February 3-4 , 2023

Location: Various Venues in Arlington, WA 98223.

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