Annual Alaska Hummingbird Festival in Ketchikan kicks off April 5

Release Date: 

Contact(s): Jacqueline Chandler


KETCHIKAN, Alaska, April 4, 2024— The Alaska Hummingbird Festival in Ketchikan will begin Friday, April 5, celebrating the return of the Rufous hummingbirds to the Tongass National Forest.


The Southeast Alaska Discovery Center will serve as the hub for a series of educational and creative events, including a juried art show to promote awareness of the region’s spring migratory birds. The art show’s opening reception, presented by the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau and Cape Fox Foundation is April 5, starting at 5 p.m. at the Center. Artwork will be on display through June 28.


The festival’s series of events continue through Saturday, April 27 and includes Saturday morning guided bird walks, the virtual Friday Night Insights lecture series, and Earth Day activities at the Ward Lake Day Use area, documentaries on the big screen at the Center, and more. All programs and activities are free to the public. A copy of the festival event schedule is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1169975.pdf.


Summer hours begin on Sunday April 28, with the Center open seven days per week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Occasional closures may happen for training, federal holidays, or the number of cruise ship passengers in town for the day. Fee collection begins on May 1 with all areas requiring a $5 entrance fee for adults, children (0-15 years old) are free.


Local visitors may buy a Discovery Center season pass for $15 which gets the cardholder and two other adults in for a daily visit from May 1 to Sept. 30. The Discovery Center honors and sells the Interagency America the Beautiful passes.


For more information, contact Artak Davtian at 907-612-0636, artak.davtian@usda.gov or Hazel Brewi at 907-228-6246, hazel.brewi@usda.gov. Follow the Center at https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/tongass/recarea/?recid=78948


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