One of Central Oregon’s most beloved community celebrations returns this weekend. The fourth annual Festival of the Land will be held Saturday, June 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Crooked River Day-Use Area within The Cove Palisades State Park near Culver. Admission and parking are free.
The event is held in conjunction with Oregon State Parks Day, a statewide celebration honoring the natural and cultural heritage of Oregon’s parks. The Cove Palisades, situated along the shores of Lake Billy Chinook at the confluence of the Deschutes, Metolius, and Crooked Rivers, is one of the most spectacular settings in Jefferson County.
What to Expect
The Festival of the Land features a mix of educational activities, hands-on demonstrations, local food and craft vendors, and live music. Past years have included activities for children, natural history exhibits, and programming by conservation and outdoor organizations from across the region.
Park Ranger Erin Bennett has been a driving force behind the event, which celebrates both the ecological and cultural significance of the three river systems that feed Lake Billy Chinook — a deeply important landscape to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, whose treaty rights to the rivers and surrounding lands date back generations.
Getting There
The Cove Palisades State Park is located off SW Culver Highway, approximately 15 miles southwest of Madras. Follow signs to the Crooked River Day-Use Area for the Festival of the Land. For more information, contact Ranger Erin Bennett at 541-977-5759 or visit stateparks.oregon.gov.
This is an excellent family-friendly outing and a chance to connect with Jefferson County’s natural heritage. Come out and enjoy the sunshine, the canyon, and the community.