From our rivers flowing with snowmelt and salmon to valleys dotted with wildflowers and berries, to forests filled with mossy trees and mushrooms, nature is an inseparable part of Washington’s culture and ecosystem. It shapes what we eat and drink, what inspires our art and outdoor lifestyle, and even our cities. Nature is part of who we are in Washington. 

Throughout the seasons, Washington celebrates its many microenvironments in all kinds of ways, including through local festivals. Spring may show that best, when everything is waking from winter’s slumber and springing back to life. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival draws crowds to Mount Vernon each April, and while the rows of red, yellow, and pink tulips are a spectacular sight, this season is also a good time to explore some of the state’s lesser-known spring celebrations too—festivals built around lilacs, birds, clams, and more.

Cultural performances and crafts fill Seattle Center during the annual festival celebrating Japanese art, traditions, and the arrival of spring.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival

Seattle Cherry Blossom Festival

Seattle Center, April 10

Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms, but Seattle also has its fair share of sakura in early spring. Cherry blossoms are more than just a flower to be admired. The pale pink bloom is central to spring celebrations and picnics, and hanami, the Japanese tradition of flower viewing. This year marks Seattle’s 51st Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrated in collaboration with the Japanese Cultural Festival at Seattle Center. Stop by for a weekend of tea ceremonies, sake tasting, ikebana, music, and more, all in celebration of spring and Japanese culture in Seattle.

Razor Clam Festival

Long Beach, April 17-18

The annual Razor Clam Festival takes place in Long Beach on the shores of the Evergreen Coast. It’s not just a celebration of clams, but specifically the narrow, long razor clam found on the Pacific Coast. Over the weekend, join razor clam digging lessons, try your hand at shucking oysters, sample chowders, browse artisan tables, and enjoy live music against the backdrop of the seaside. The affair is a celebration of Washington’s coastal abundance and a haven for seafood lovers. 

White Salmon Wildflower Festival

White Salmon, May 1-31 

This May, a month-long flower festival returns to White Salmon for its fourth iteration. The White Salmon Wildflower Festival is timed alongside the Gorge’s spring bloom. Julie Burgmeier, who also founded the La Conner Daffodil Festival, brought the festival to life to celebrate the magic of spring in the region. “I moved to White Salmon from Skagit Valley and observed immediately that there wasn’t a cohesive community festival that brought everyone together,” says Burgmeier. “After I hiked Dog Mountain at peak wildflower bloom for the first time, I was blown away. White Salmon is located right in the middle of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. It is a central spot to explore wildflower hikes in every direction.” 

Against the backdrop of colorful wildflowers, take guided hikes through the Gorge, taste wine, listen to live music, and explore art. Wine walks on Mother’s Day weekend, an artisan market, a half marathon, and photography workshops are among the festival events taking place in White Salmon during May. 

Shorebird Festival

Grays Harbor, May 1-3

Every spring on their northerly migration, shorebirds stop in huge numbers—hundreds of thousands, to be more specific—on Washington’s coast and in the Grays Harbor estuary. During the first few days of May, head to the Shorebird Festival for a few days of viewing at Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge, as well as a ranger-led bird-watching field trip, exhibits, talks, and vendors. Of course, outside of those dates, Grays Harbor is a sanctuary for viewing migratory birds along the coast throughout the spring. 

Lilacs in bloom across Spokane, the “Lilac City,” set the scene for the annual festival each May.

Photo courtesy of Spokane Lilac Festival

Spokane Lilac Festival

Spokane, May 9-16

Known as Lilac City, a nickname earned in the 1930s, Spokane fittingly throws a Lilac Festival each May. The tradition dates to 1938 and has evolved over the decades, but always honors Spokane’s abundance of springtime lilacs with a parade, flower shows, and various other events. This year, celebrate the brilliant purple flower throughout the week with a lilac-themed luncheon, a market filled with local foods and crafts, a parade, and a Brewfest. And while you’re in town, make sure to check out Spokane’s Lilac Garden, which should be in full bloom by mid-May. 

Bird Fest

Leavenworth, May 14-17

Leavenworth knows how to celebrate each season with festivities throughout the year. Perhaps less known is its annual Bird Fest in mid-May. Now in its 24th year, the festival celebrates migratory birds returning to the area during wildflower season, with approximately 140 species spotted during the event. Birding field trips and workshops, speaking events, picnics, live music, and more all take place in Leavenworth and across the Wenatchee Valley. 

“May in North Central Washington is the perfect time to celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season,” says Rebecca Ryan, education director at Wenatchee River Institute. “Diverse habitats are accessible from Leavenworth, so our birding trips can visit a variety of landscapes ranging from grassland and shrub-steppe to wetlands and forests, and the water.”

You can kayak while searching for birds, look for birds while hiking Icicle Ridge, learn to paint bird figurines, and learn the basics of field journaling, among many other activities packed into this bird-centric weekend. Just make sure to book your chosen activity in advance to ensure your spot.