The Winter Wildlife Festival Returns to Virginia Beach

Dust off your binoculars, bundle up and get ready to explore! The 2026 Winter Wildlife Festival (WWF) invites residents and visitors alike to step into a week of discovery and adventure across the City’s most treasured natural spaces.

Whether you’re a longtime wildlife enthusiast or simply looking for a memorable winter outing with the family, this festival offers countless ways to connect with nature and celebrate the remarkable wildlife that thrives in Virginia Beach during the colder months.

Festival Kickoff  

Kick off the excitement and join Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24, at Princess Anne Recreation Center where more than 40 exhibitors will bring the world of winter wildlife to life. Meet owls and other live animals, explore interactive exhibits, and dive into a variety of hands-on activities for all ages. Kids can enjoy crafts, games, story time and animal encounters. Feeling hungry while adventuring? Stop by the onsite food trucks, including Wake & Bake Coffee and Treats and Luvabowls, for a tasty bite.

Participation supports ongoing conservation programs that help protect wildlife and preserve habitats across our region, ensuring future generations can continue to enjoy and learn from these natural spaces.

In addition to the exhibits and animal encounters, the Festival Kickoff will feature walk-up workshops designed to inspire and engage attendees of all ages. This year’s sessions highlight the diverse wonders of Virginia’s natural world from bat conservation and iconic trees worth traveling for, to the science behind tracking our state’s bird populations.

Sessions include: 

• 10:45 a.m., The Wonderful World of Bats: Conservation and Recovery of the Bat Populations in Virginia 
• 11:15 a.m., Explore The Wild: An interactive app to maximize your outdoor experience 
• Noon, Destination Trees: Trees to visit on your next trip
• 1:45 p.m., Breeding Bird Atlas: Tracking Virginia’s Avian Population

A silent auction is also scheduled on-site, with proceeds benefiting the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation and the FLOW program for youth. Through field trips and nature-focused activities led by partnering organizations, FLOW helps young people explore, learn and connect with the natural world. Unique items up for bid include a pair of premium quality Vortex Viper binoculars, local artwork, a shorebird carving, and even a painting created by Hector the harbor seal from the Virginia Aquarium.   

Special Events

Step beyond the festival exhibits and dive deeper into the natural world with a series of immersive Winter Wildlife Festival events designed to connect you with nature, local history and hands-on creativity. Throughout January, participants can enjoy unique experiences that range from art workshops to family activities and trivia nights.

• Jan. 14, Wildlife Trivia Night: Test your wildlife knowledge during a fun, interactive trivia session in partnership with Beach Trivia, 7-9 p.m. at Voodoo Brewing. Top teams will take home exclusive festival-themed prizes! 
• Jan. 21, Learn & Paint at Decoy: Paint, learn and connect with local history 7-9 p.m. at the Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum. Create your own Dudley-style decoy while discovering the legacy of the Dudley Brothers at the historic de Witt Cottage. Limited to 15 participants. Register online for the event. 

Keynote Events

This year, the festival proudly presents two keynote sessions, generously supported by Virginia Beach Public Library, The Virginia Beach Library Foundation, and sponsored by Dominion Energy. Both sessions will be held at Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library and will be free to attend with no registration required.

Beginning at 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 25, Joan Strassmann, author of “Slow Birding and The Social Lives of Birds,” will be the keynote speaker. Strassmann is a celebrated biologist, National Academy of Sciences member, Guggenheim Fellow, and author known for her groundbreaking work on animal behavior and the social lives of birds. Her engaging talk promises to inspire both casual birdwatchers and seasoned naturalists.

As a new addition, at 6 p.m., Friday, Jan. 23, we welcome special guest speaker Natalia Rojas, award-winning illustrator of “Wingspan.” Rojas is a Colombian American scientific illustrator whose life-like depictions of birds have captivated audiences worldwide. Her work celebrates biodiversity and encourages viewers to look closer at the natural world.

Guided Trips and Excursions in Virginia Beach 

From coastal habitats to wooded trails, these excursions offer something for every nature lover and provide unforgettable opportunities to observe wildlife up close. This year’s festival features a refreshed lineup of guided excursions that immerse participants in the ecosystems, wildlife and hidden gems of Virginia Beach.

Visitors can join expert naturalists for bird-watching adventures, seal-spotting along the coast, behind-the-scenes experiences at research facilities, forest and wetland walks, and photography outings that highlight the region’s most captivating species and landscapes. Don’t miss your chance to adventure; register your family today for limited spots here.

Winter Wildlife Festival

The Winter Wildlife Festival is made possible through support of partners, including Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (co-sponsor), Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation, Virginia Beach Audubon Society, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, LRNow, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Beach Public Library and the Virginia Aquarium.

Support the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation Foundation by ordering a special edition shirt of winter birds wearing hats or WWF apparel. For more information, including a schedule of events, visit WinterWildlifeVB.com.  

*Please note: live animals and exhibits are subject to change. 

• Winter Wildlife Festival
• Parks & Recreation