A new visitor center at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex headquarters in Willows welcomes wildlife enthusiasts. Surrounding refuges and wildlife management areas provide Snow Goose Festival visitors plenty of places to explore.

DURHAM, CA (MPG) - The 2026 Snow Goose Festival will bring four days of field trips, workshops and community activities to the Northern Sacramento Valley Jan. 22‑25, celebrating the region’s wintering bird populations and the annual arrival of migratory waterfowl.

Festival headquarters will again be located at Patrick Ranch Museum between Chico and Durham. The ranch will host registration, exhibits and family activities throughout the event. Visitors can explore natural history displays, art exhibits, junior naturalist stations and informational booths from local conservation groups. Many field trips and workshops depart from the ranch, making it the central gathering point for participants.

More than 50 guided field trips are scheduled across the region during the annual Snow Goose Festival, offering opportunities to view wildlife refuges, rice fields, wetlands and private lands that are not always open to the public. Popular outings include sunrise fly‑offs, raptor viewing tours, photography excursions and natural history walks. Indoor programs will cover topics such as local ecology, bird identification and habitat conservation.

Wildlife enthusiasts are also invited to explore the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which includes five refuges and three wildlife management areas where visitors can hike, watch wildlife, fish or hunt. A new visitor center at the Complex’s main headquarters, just south of Willows, gives travelers an easy starting point to learn about the area and plan their stops. Other refuges, including Colusa, offer auto tours, trails and viewing platforms, giving festival‑goers plenty of places to explore before or after the weekend.

Snow geese feed in a Sacramento Valley rice field, fueling up for their winter stay along the Pacific Flyway and drawing birders from across the state and beyond.

One of the festival’s signature events is the annual “Gathering of Wings” banquet, held Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Bell Memorial Union at Chico State. The evening includes a catered dinner, silent auction, and keynote presentation. This year’s keynote speaker is environmental educator and author Kate Marianchild, known for her work on California oak woodland ecology. Banquet proceeds support ongoing education and conservation programs throughout the region.

The Snow Goose Festival draws visitors from across California and beyond, contributing to local tourism during the winter season. Its emphasis on education, stewardship, and community partnerships reflects the long history of conservation in the Sacramento Valley, where farmers, refuge managers and environmental organizations work together to maintain habitat for migratory birds.

Residents and visitors are invited to explore the landscapes that make the Northern Sacramento Valley a vital stopover for wildlife and to take part in the activities that have made the Snow Goose Festival a longstanding community tradition.

More information, registration details and a full schedule are available at snowgoosefestival.org.