ROCKINGHAM, Vt. – If you’re a wildlife enthusiast itching for spring, be sure to check out the Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival on Sunday, May 3, at beautiful Herricks Cove, on the Connecticut River in Rockingham, Vt.
The festival is presented by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society (AMAS), and Great River Hydro, in partnership with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and Audubon Vermont.
This event is also part of the Greater Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Regional Festival Series, made possible through the generous support of regional sponsors. Lead support is provided by Headwaters Partner Next Stage Arts, with additional support from Green Mountain Stewards Great River Hydro, Best Septic Service, and Savings Bank of Walpole; Heritage Guardians Chroma Technologies and WCFR Radio; and Community Roots Sponsors FACT TV and Oak Meadow Publishing.
This is a family-friendly festival with an emphasis on the wildlife and natural resources of Vermont. The festival will feature live animals, nature-focused walks, kids’ activities, presentations by environmental and nature organizations, and demonstrations, including the return of Vermont game warden canine units. There will be food offered by a variety of local vendors, as well as wildlife art; and craft, book, and gift vendors throughout the day.
“The Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival gives participants a chance to learn about and experience our native fish and wildlife and the importance of conserving their habitats so future generations can appreciate them as well,” said Courtney Buckley, a state fisheries biologist with Vermont Fish and Wildlife.
“This festival is a wonderful example of how our regional festival series brings people together – connecting residents and visitors with our natural assets, local businesses, and each other,” said Aimee Parnell, executive director of the Greater Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Events like Herricks Cove create meaningful opportunities for connection while also supporting local vendors, driving visitation, and contributing to the economic vitality of our region throughout the 2026 festival season.”
Gates open at 9:30 a.m., and activities are scheduled from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine, with a morning bird walk at 7 a.m. The suggested donation is discounted for families and can be paid by cash or check made out to AMAS, but no one is turned away for lack of funds. Pets are not allowed.
Visit the festival website, www.amasvt.org/herricks-cove-wildlife-festival, for updates, information, and a full list of sponsors.
Herricks Cove is located just off Vermont Route 5, less than three miles north of Bellows Falls.
Scheduled programs and walks:
7 a.m. – Herricks Cove Bird Walk with Ken Cox, of Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society (AMAS)
9:30 a.m. – Gate to Festival Venue Opens
10 a.m. – Program and Walk: Checking the Turtle Traps with Jim Andrews
10:30 a.m. – Walk: Bird Walk for Kids with Holly Henderson, naturalist, outdoor program leader, Upper Valley Land Trust
10:45 a.m. – Walk: “All About Trees” with Lynn Levine
11 a.m. – Program: “Raptors Up Close” at Vermont Institute of Natural Science
11:45 a.m. – Demonstration: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Canine Unit
12:30 p.m. – Program: Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals
12:30 p.m. – Walk: Bird Walk for Beginners with Holly Henderson, naturalist, outdoor program leader, Upper Valley Land Trust
1 p.m. – Walk: “Fish Grow on Trees” with Courtney Buckley, Vermont Fish and Wildlife
1 p.m. – Walk: Bug Walk with Michael Sabourin, Vermont Entomological Society
1:30 p.m. – Program and Walk: Checking the Turtle Traps with Jim Andrews
2:15 p.m. – Program: “Live Animals Up Close” at Vermont Museum of Natural History
2:45 p.m. – Walk: “Invasives of Land and Water” with Lizzy Gallagher
4 p.m. – Exhibits Close and Festival Ends
Live music in the Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival food court:
9:30-11:30 a.m. – Stringfield Springers (Old Timey Bluegrass)
1-3 p.m. – Paulin Lukombo, Roots Sounds Productions (African Rhythms)
Ongoing Demonstrations and Activities throughout the day:
Troy Wunderle’s Big Top Circus, kids’ crafts, face painting, bat masks, T-shirt painting, bird bingo scavenger hunt, story walk, Let’s Go Fishing, fish migration obstacle course, bug hotel, Vermont Museum of Natural History live animals, VINS raptor meet and greet, astronomy, Vermont Fish and Wildlife canine unit, HB Solar Energy, and many exhibitors and vendors.