Connecting with the Community at Whidbey Renaissance Fair

By Joaquin Swett-Fosmo, executive director

Over Memorial Day weekend, Whidbey Audubon Society had the honor of participating in the 2025 Whidbey Renaissance Faire as a featured nonprofit booth—an incredible opportunity to connect with our community amid the magic of the village of Mysthaven. With thousands of attendees flooding the fairgrounds over two lively days, we engaged with more than 100 visitors eager to learn about birds, conservation and our mission.

Our booth attracted people of all ages, drawn in by the striking presence of our taxidermy raven and crow—two charismatic ambassadors who sparked curiosity and conversation throughout the weekend. These feathered figures helped us highlight the intelligence and importance of corvids in local ecosystems, and they served as a perfect bridge to deeper conversations about birding, habitat protection, and citizen science.

We were thrilled by the enthusiastic response from fairgoers. Many signed up to become new members and volunteers, and several exciting potential partnerships emerged from the conversations we had—ranging from collaboration ideas with other organizations to new citizen science efforts we hope to explore in the coming months.

Visitors not only came from Oak Harbor and across Whidbey Island, but also from around the state, and we were happy to connect them with Audubon chapters closer to home. It was heartening to see such widespread interest in bird conservation and nature education.

We’re deeply grateful to the Whidbey Island Renaissance Faire organizers for giving us the platform to reach such a wide and engaged audience. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, shared stories, and expressed interest in supporting Whidbey Audubon. We can’t wait to see where these new connections will take us!