The Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival was a free event in November where people can see hundreds of eagles along the Harrison River not far from Vancouver.
STATUS OF THE FESTIVAL
In 2020 the organizers of the Bald Eagle Festival cancelled the event. This was not just due to COVID-19, but also because of the negative environmental impact of the crowds. As a result, there is no longer a “festival”. There are, however, still hundreds of eagles in the region between October and January, but especially in October and November. It’s a fabulous time to be in the Harrison River region!
To learn about what the festival looked like in the past, continue reading. To learn about the eagles in the region today, see the Tourism Harrison website.
Bald Eagle Festival
Taking place at various venues along the Harrison River and other waterways between Harrison Hot Springs and Mission, the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival used to feature various family-friendly activities.
Things to do at the festival included nature walks, boat tours, educational talks, wildlife and green business displays, plus hundreds of bald eagles to view from a distance.
The weekend event was a two-day celebration of one of the largest migratory gatherings of bald eagles anywhere in the world.
Eagle Festival Location
The Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival took place along the Harrison River and Fraser River in and around the small town of Harrison Mills which is just a 20-minute drive southwest of Harrison Hot Springs.
To get to the festival area, head east from the town of Mission along Highway #7 for about half an hour until you reach Harrison Mills. From time to time you’ll see people along the way beside the river with their cameras, going for walks and looking out for the eagles.
About the Festival
The festival was put on by the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival Society whose mission is to “celebrate the beauty and biodiversity of the Fraser River Valley by honouring the majestic bald eagle and the cycle of the salmon”. Had it not been cancelled, 2020 would have been its 25th year.
Festival Activities
In years when it did happen, during the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival people viewed eagles at various points along the rivers, but especially at the official viewing areas listed below. There was also an Exhibitors Fair at Harrison Mills Hall, special activities at the Kilby Historic Site, free admission to the Inch Creek Hatchery, and boat tours with Fraser River Safari.
Exhibitors Fair at Harrison Mills Hall
An Exhibitors Fair took place at Harrison Mills Community Hall at 1995 School Road in Harrison Mills.
In 2019 the festival’s Exhibitors Fair was open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on the Saturday and from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm on the Sunday.
At the Exhibitors Fair there were usually live raptors, nature displays, videos about the environment and conservation, and kids’ craft activities. Exhibitors typically included groups like WildSafeBC, Raptor Ranch Inc., Chilliwack Field Naturalists and the Wildlife Rescue Association, as well as a small number of artists, artisans and other product vendors.
Kilby Historic Site
Kilby Historic Site is a historic farm and museum located at 215 Kilby Road in Harrison Mills. During the Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival admission to the attraction was sometimes free. At other times of the year the facility is open seasonally.
The Kilby Historic Site itself was usually open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days of the festival and featured the museum and historical buildings to see.
Inch Creek Hatchery
The Inch Creek Hatchery is located at 38620 Bell Road in the tiny community of Dewdney. It’s a large hatchery operated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada that raises Chum, Coho, Chinook, Sockeye and Steelhead Salmon. The hatchery is also home to two giant sturgeons each over 6 feet long.
In 2019 the hatchery was open during the festival both days from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. At other times of the year the hatchery offers group tours by appointment only.
TIP: If you like salmon and hatcheries, another good one to visit this time of year is the Capilano River Hatchery in North Vancouver.
Fraser River Safari Boat Tours
For folks wanting to get out on the water to see the eagles, Fraser River Safari offered 60 to 75-minute boat tours during the festival for between around $65 and $90. The tours filled up fast though.
Other boat companies offering eagle viewing tours include Shoreline Cruises and Harrison Eco Tours (both of which are great and operate out of Harrison Hot Springs).
Eagle Viewing Areas
There were a number of official festival eagle viewing spots in the area including at Tapadera Estates, Eagle Point Community Park and Sandpiper Golf Resort.
Tapadera Estates
Tapadera Estates is located at 14600 Morris Valley Road in Harrison Mills. Eagle-viewing times for the public there in 2019 were from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on both the Saturday and Sunday. Free public educational talks occurred at the Tapadera Estates venue both days.
Eagle Point Community Park
Eagle Point Community Park is located in the 14500 block of Morris Valley Road, so between the Tapadera Estates and Sandpiper Golf Course. At this venue between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm each day in 2019 there was a park ranger, local volunteers and an expert from Wild Birds Unlimited to answer questions.
There were also usually spotting scopes available to help folk see the eagles, as well as a tent and patio heater to help keep participants warm. Note: There is parking at this venue, but it’s limited.
Sandpiper Golf Resort
Eagle viewing took place both days in Harrison Mills in 2019 from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm at the Sandpiper Golf Resort just down the road at 14282 Morris Valley Road. You won’t see many eagles after dark, but this was the one official venue where people could comfortably hang out together until well after dusk.
There is free parking for over 100 cars at this venue, plus a heated barn and food and beverage services. The Sandpiper Resort is also an exceptional place to stay overnight.
Other Information
For a list of other events this time of year, see Vancouver’s November Calendar or click Festivals & Events.
PHOTO TIP #1: At the Sandpiper Golf Resort, in the past, there has been a free Nikon Led Photo Walk on both days starting at noon. If it is happening again this year, meet at the Clubhouse and perhaps you can walk and talk with a photography expert who’ll offer advice on taking photos of both eagles and landscapes.
PHOTO TIP #2: If you like photography, it’s not too cloudy and you find you’re still out in the evening (especially a bit further west and around Nicomen Slough), don’t forget to take your tripod. Sunsets on the water can be stunning.
