A small event at Maplewood Flats in North Vancouver, the Osprey Festival offers live music, food and the opportunity to learn about nature and history.

Admission to the event is by donation. As far as we know, the last time the festival happened was in 2024. Whether it happens again in 2025 is to be confirmed.

The Osprey Festival

In its 16th year, the Osprey Festival in 2024 celebrated the life of Chief Dan George, a famous and beloved member of the Tsleil-Waututh nation who passed away in 1981.

The same as every year, the festival has entertainment as well as educational components. There is music, poetry and a barbecue accompanied by guided walks through nature and an exhibit on Chief Dan George.

Where and When is the Osprey Festival

The festival is held for 2 days, August 17th and 18th 2024. Details about the event in 2025 are still to be determined.

The event’s location is the Maplewood Flats Conservation Area at 2649 Dollarton Highway in North Vancouver and runs from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. 2025 details are to be confirmed.

There is parking at Maplewood Flats, but not a lot. Additional parking is available half a block away, just west of the main entrance on Dollarton Highway. People also park in various places on the side of the road.

Activities and Events

While not the biggest event around, the Osprey Festival still has a variety of activities to enjoy. To give you an idea of what to expect in future years, below is what was scheduled for 2024.

Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Change Action Symposium

The 2024 event’s two days will include nature walks and talks, live music, a canoe trip, exhibits, poetry, food and a kids’ area. Day 1 of the festival features Pre-event Activities and a Symposium.

Below was the schedule and list of activities for day 1 in 2024.

9:00 am – Paddling together for the future of Maplewood Flat
10:00 am – Guided Plant and Bird Walk with Senaqwila Wyss
11:00 am – Opening Remarks
11:15 am – Our Grandmother The Inlet exhibition
11:45 pm – Coast Salish responses to Climate Change
1:00 pm – Development of a Sea-level Rise Strategy at Maplewood
2:00 pm – Walking TogetherDiscussion and dialogue on Priorities for a Sea-level Rise Strategy at Maplewood
2:45 pm – Closing Walk

Maplewood Trails in Early Fall — Trails at Maplewood Flats

Osprey Festival

While you are able to walk along the different trails at Maplewood Flats on your own, you can also join a guided walk which is a great way to learn about both the surrounding nature and the Lower Mainland’s local indigenous communities.

Here are the walks and activities that took place in 2024:

10:00 am – Guided Plant Walk with Senaqwila Wyss
12:00 pm – Music at Maplewood Flats
1:00 pm – A future at Maplewood Flats
5:00 pm – Free Community Film Screening & Feast, Our Grandmother The Inlet

Wild Bird Trust Owl Exhibit — Owl Exhibit in 2021

Educational Exhibits

In addition to the site’s regular year-round exhibits and things to see, there are additional displays during the festival. In 2024, for example, there was an exhibit on repairing ecological and cultural relations. Experts were on hand to answer questions and provide additional information.

The Chief Dan George Activist & Actor Exhibit is available to visit not just on the day of the festival but throughout the summer. The exhibit is a chance to learn about his career both on-screen and as a champion in the fight for Indigenous rights in Canada.

In 2024 the Nature House is hosting a new exhibit featuring Our Grandmother the Inlet, a hybrid documentary film shot at Maplewood Flats.

Maplewood Flats is also home to the Coast Salish Plant Nursery. In addition to its usual exhibits, there are special plants brought in for the festival.

Children’s Activities and BBQ

There are some picnic tables near the greeter hut at Maplewood Flats and that’s a good place to hang out during the festival. 2022 saw a word search and scavenger hunt for the young ones held in that area.

One of the main attractions at the festival is the food. Elk BBQ burgers and bannock are two staples with a vegan option as well. The eating portion of the event was from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm in 2022.

Other Information

For more information, visit the Osprey Festival website.

To learn more about the area see our articles about North Vancouver and the North Shore.

Other places of interest close to Maplewood Flats include Deep Cove, Cates Park and Maplewood Farm.

Places that are similar to Maplewood Flats elsewhere in the Lower Mainland are the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta and Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve in Chilliwack.

Other articles that may be of interest include the following: