STANWOOD — Problems coordinating some key activities and a lack of volunteers led to the cancellation of the 12th annual Port Susan Snow Goose Festival.
The festival had been scheduled for this weekend. Organizers announced earlier this month that it had been called off.
The reason given for the cancellation was difficulty setting up festival highlights, including tours, according to a statement from the planning committee.
“We are very appreciative of the sponsors, speakers and vendors who had already committed,” the committee wrote. “However we wanted to deliver the same quality of event that you have come to know over the years and felt we could not do that given the circumstances.”
Organizers hope to bring back the festival next year “given enough volunteers,” said Asia Gray, director of the Stanwood and Camano chambers of commerce. “That was a big factor this year.”
The Snow Goose Festival celebrates the flocks of large white birds that migrate through the area, filling fields by the hundreds this time of year in parts of Western Washington, including Stanwood. Though the festival is cancelled, the geese have been around this winter for bird watchers to see.
A new event this year, the Snow Goose 5K Fun Run, still is scheduled to take place Saturday morning, starting at the new YMCA in Stanwood, Gray said. The cost is $30, and the race raises money for the Stanwood Chamber of Commerce.
Anyone interested in helping with the 2018 Snow Goose Festival can email stanwoodchamberwa@gmail.com or call 360-629-0562.
Though the Snow Goose Festival isn’t happening, another popular February event already is underway in Stanwood and on Camano Island. The Great Northwest Glass Quest started last week and is scheduled to continue through Sunday.
Small plastic clue balls are hidden at local businesses and parks. Anyone who finds a clue ball can exchange it for a free glass float. The floats are colorful spheres made by local glass artists Mark and Marcus Ellinger.
More information about the quest, including a booklet with locations where clue balls may be hidden, is available at local businesses or can be downloaded online at thegreatnwglassquest.com.
Kari Bray: 425-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com..
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