What to Expect at the 2023 Festival of Nature

This year’s Festival, co-presented with the Saint John Naturalists’ Club, will be held from June 2-4

For the first time since 2012, Nature NB’s Festival of Nature is returning to the Saint John Region! This annual festival, which moves from region to region across the province every year, has found its home for 2023 in Quispamsis, and will be a weekend packed with outings spanning the entire region.

The Festival of Nature is a weekend-long celebration of New Brunswick’s natural beauty. This annual event brings together naturalists and nature lovers from across the province to discover nature in a particular region. The Festival of Nature offers participants a wide variety of field trips, workshops, and experiences to take it all in.

Nature lovers of all ages and levels of experience are encouraged to attend this event. Expert members will cover topics such as birding, botany, mycology, geology, and more. There will also be a variety of outdoor activities that attendees can enjoy, from hiking to biking to boating to photography. Family-friendly activities with games and crafts are also on offer. No matter where one’s interests lie, there is something for everyone at the Festival of Nature. Check out the Festival brochure to see the full schedule of events!

The central hub for this year’s Festival is the QPlex in Quispamsis (20 Randy Jones Way). There, attendees can pick up their registration package and raffle tickets, and meet there before their outings to check-in with event leaders. Attendees are also encouraged to use this space to socialize during downtime, and check out information and displays from partner organizations that will be set up for the weekend.

On Friday night of the Festival, all members are invited to attend Nature NB’s Annual General Meeting to see a recap of the past year and get a glimpse at the year to come. Saturday morning and afternoon, field trips will depart from the QPlex and head for destinations across the Saint John region. Then on Saturday evening, join us at Meenan’s Cove Beach House for the celebration banquet, where nature clubs can share their updates and the Naturalist of the Year award will be presented over a catered meal. The Festival will continue on Sunday with another day of field trips wrapping up late afternoon.

There’s still time to purchase your weekend pass for the Festival of Nature! Tickets are available through Eventbrite and at the time of purchase attendees can also purchase a ticket to attend the celebration banquet. Not sure you’re ready to commit to a full weekend pass? Field trips with spots remaining will have tickets available at the door.

We can’t wait to see you in Saint John for the 2023 Festival of Nature!