Heron Festival History:
The annual Heron Festival, held in April at Northern California's Clear Lake, began in 1994. The festival was created by the local Redbud Audubon Society, as a way to celebrate the springtime nesting of the plentiful Great Blue Herons in treetops along the meandering waterways at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park.

Redbud Audubon offered pontoon boat trips into the marsh with expert Audubon bird guides to point out the heron nests and explain heron behaviors. The purpose was to enable the general public to witness first-hand and to learn about the amazing local birds and wildlife. Audubon leaders had the conviction that, through first-hand experience with nature, people would come to understand the need to conserve and protect the area's natural resources and habitats. The Heron Festival also provided bird walks, nature speakers, exhibit booths, and children's activities.

Pontoon Boat on Clear LakeIn 2004 the Heron Festival undertook a major new direction by joining with another local springtime event and moving to Clear Lake State Park at the Northern end of 19-mile long Clear Lake. The festival joined with the Park's Interpretive Association that had long offered a wonderful outdoor Wildflower Brunch in April. Combining the festival and brunch on the same weekend at the same location has dramatically expanded both attendance and enthusiasm. The growing reputation of both events as high-quality, fun experiences now draws people from a wide geographical area.