Annual Ijams Hummingbird Festival Lands Aug. 16
The 15th annual Ijams Hummingbird Festival: A Celebration of Wings presented by Wild Birds Unlimited Knoxville lands at Ijams Nature Center’s Homesite on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The festival features speakers, guided hikes, Ijams animal ambassadors, and workshops, as well as hands-on science and art activities for all ages. The festival marketplace will double in size from 2024, featuring more than 50 vendors offering handcrafted art, nature-themed items, local plants, and garden décor.
One of the highlights of the festival is the opportunity to attend a 25-minute bird-banding demonstration for an additional charge of $6.
Banding is a technique used to study wild birds by placing a tiny numbered band around a bird’s leg. Small groups will get a close look at a hummingbird or another bird with master bander Mark Armstrong, who will weigh, measure, band, and talk about the birds before allowing one person in each group to release the bird.
Bird-banding sessions begin at 7 a.m.; the last appointment is 11:30 a.m. Your best chance to see a ruby-throated hummingbird is during earlier appointments, when these birds are most active.
Other scheduled activities include the following:
Speakers Tent
- The Wonder of Hummingbirds – Stephen Lyn Bales: 9 a.m.
- Bats: Understanding Their Role in Our Ecosystem – Susie Kaplar: 10 a.m.
- Gardening for Birds with Native Plants – Stephanie Mueller: 11 a.m.
- The Journeys of Migrating Birds – Clare Dattilo: 12 p.m.
Field Trips and Workshops
- Phenology Plot Tour and Training: 8 a.m./10 a.m./12 p.m.
- Nature Journaling Workshop: 10 a.m./11 a.m./12 p.m. (prior registration required; $5 fee for materials)
- Bat House Tour at Mead’s Quarry: 10 a.m.
- Guided Hikes: Every 30 minutes
Tickets are $12 for ages 13+, $9 for ages 3-12, and free for ages 2 and under. Current Ijams members receive a 10% discount on festival tickets.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit Ijams.org/ijams-hummingbird-festival.
The 2025 Ijams Hummingbird Festival is presented by Wild Birds Unlimited Knoxville and supported by Agri Feed Pet Supply, Apex Bank, Stanley’s Greenhouse, Tennessee Wildlife Federation, and Wild Birds Unlimited Maryville.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, Ijams Nature Center is a 318-acre nonprofit educational center in the heart of Knoxville and serves visitors of all ages, stages, and abilities. Its mission is to encourage stewardship of the natural world by providing an urban greenspace for people to learn about and enjoy the outdoors through engaging experiences. Ijams features 14 miles of hiking and mixed-use trails, a public access river dock, swimming, boating, biking, and so much more. Hundreds of world-class educational programs and events are coordinated and offered annually. Ijams’ grounds and trails are open every day from 8:00 AM until dusk. For more information, visit Ijams.org or call 865-577-4717.
