Saint John
Discover the nature of the Saint John region
Join us where the Wolastoq/St John river meets the Bay of Fundy for a weekend of field trips, workshops, and celebrating nature in New Brunswick!
Festival Schedule
The full Festival of Nature schedule is now available!
Tickets
Tickets for the Festival of Nature are available now!
Once the schedule is available, download it as a quick reference guide for the Festival of Nature outings so that you are ready when registration opens!
FAQ
About the Festival
When is the Festival of Nature?
The 2023 Festival of Nature will be June 2-3-4, 2023.
Where does the Festival take place?
Festival activities, like field trips and workshops, will take place around the Saint John region.
Our central hub for the Festival is the QPlex, located at 20 Randy Jones Way in Quispamsis. Meet here to check in and pick up your registration package, to find your group and leader before trips depart, and to socialize during your downtime between trips.
What should I expect?
Expect a weekend of outdoor adventure, nature discovery, and learning from experts!
The Festival begins Friday evening with Nature NB’s Annual General Meeting. Members are welcome to join us to learn about the work we’ve done in the past year and to vote on initiatives for the upcoming year. (Learn more about membership to Nature NB)
Saturday and Sunday are for discovering the Saint John region. You will choose the trips you want to attend when you purchase your tickets. When you check in, you will receive your personalized itinerary. Trip departure times will be included in this itinerary; please arrive at our central hub 15 minute before your trip departs. You will meet your leader and the rest of the trip participants, and your leader will take it from there!
All participants are welcome to celebrate the year’s successes with us at our Saturday evening celebration banquet. This is a casual, social event with good food, fun entertainment, and great company. Tickets for the banquet can be purchased when you purchase your Festival ticket.
Where can I see the full schedule?
The full schedule will be available soon.
For other information related to the Festival and what you can expect, see our Facebook page or subscribe to our newsletter.
When should I arrive?
When you arrive at the Festival, please check-in at our central hub, the Qplex, to receive your welcome package and important information about the Festival.
Participants are strongly encouraged to check-in the Friday evening, starting at 4:00 PM.
Membres of Nature NB are also encouraged to join us at the Annual General Meeting on Friday!
What happens if it rains?
The Festival of Nature is rain or shine! Trips will go ahead as planned unless there are safety concerns (outings that are weather dependent are identified in the Festival brochure).
In the event of trip cancellation, participants will be notified and we will be happy to help you choose a new trip instead.
Please keep an eye on the forecast and prepare for the weather, whatever that means for you. Early June evenings can still be quite chilly, so pack an extra layer!
Can I bring my kids?
Yes! Kids are welcome at the Festival and tickets for kids up to 12 years of age are free!
Many (but not all) of our trips are appropriate for kids and families. Trips that welcome family participation will be marked with “Kids Welcome” in our schedule.
Can I volunteer?
Absolutely! We would love for you to volunteer at the festival!
Please contact us with the subject line “Festival of Nature Volunteer” and let us know when you would be available.
About Tickets
When do tickets go on sale?
Tickets go on sale starting in April.
Where can I buy tickets?
You can buy tickets through Eventbrite (linked on our website), or by calling Nature NB at 506-459-4209.
PLEASE NOTE: Registration by mail is no longer offered.
When and how do I choose my trips?
You choose your trips when you purchase your tickets! Tickets can be purchase online or by phone.
Buying tickets online:
Please look at our full schedule before you buy your tickets online. Only the trips titles (not the full descriptions) are on the online form.
Trips are organized as they are in the full schedule: Full day trips, morning trips, and afternoon trips on Saturday and Sunday.
Please choose ONE trips in each time slot. If you choose a full day trips, please do not also choose morning and afternoon trips on the same day. You may register for as many time slots as you like during the weekend.
All trips have a maximum number of participants. Online registration is updated in real-time, which means you will only be able to choose trips that have openings at the time you are purchasing your tickets. If a trip is full, you will not be able to select it.
If you would like to be put on a waiting list for a trip that is full, please contact us.
What if a trip is sold out?
If a trip is sold out or full, you can be put on a waiting list. Please contact us to let us know if you would like to be added to a waiting list for a specific trip.
You will know that a trip is sold out if:
Buying tickets online – You will be unable to select the trip when you are choosing which trips you want to attend. Please contact us to be placed on the waiting list.
Registering by phone – We will contact you to register you for your “second choice” trip. You will automatically be placed on a waiting list for your “first choice” trip.
I’m on a waiting list for a trip. How will I know if I can go on that trip?
If a space opens in this trip before the Festival, you will be contacted by Nature NB staff and asked if you would like to change your itinerary. Please note that participants rarely change their itineraries before the Festival and spaces may not become available until the day(s) of the Festival itself.
At the Festival, you can check in with Nature NB staff and volunteers at the registration table before your trip departs. They will have the most up-to-date information on any availability.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Yes!
Tickets for individual trips can be purchased at the door for $15 per trip, depending on availability.
To guarantee your spot for specific trips, please register in advance.
Do I need to print my tickets?
No need to print your tickets.
When you arrive at the Festival, please check in at the registration desk with your full name.
What if I need to cancel?
Not a problem, we know things change!
If you purchased tickets but can’t come to the Festival, you can cancel your registration up to 2 weeks in advance of the Festival and be fully refunded. To receive a refund, notice of your cancellation must be received no later than 4:00 PM Thursday, May 18, 2023.
If you cancel your registration after the refund deadline, you will not receive a refund.
About Saint John
Where should I stay?
There are many great options for accommodations around Saint John! Below is a list of accommodations nearest to the QPlex:
Quality Inn/Amsterdam Inn, Quispamsis (7 minutes from QPlex)
Rothesay Motel, Rothesay (10 minutes from QPlex)
Hampton Inn, Saint John (19 minutes from QPlex)
You can find more accommodation options here.
Where should I eat?
Looking for food? Try one of the many restaurants in the city! Find what you’re craving here.
Where is the hub location?
The hub is located at the QPlex, 20 Randy Jones Way, Quispamsis, NB.
Have more questions? Contact us!
