2nd Annual San Luis Obispo Beaver Festival in Mission Plaza

he SLO Beaver Brigade invites eager beavers of all ages to the Second Annual San Luis Obispo County Beaver Festival on Saturday, March 23rd in Mission Plaza from 10 am to 3 pm. Free bike valet will be provided. Kids welcome and encouraged to come and learn about beavers with us!

Entry is free. The day will include live music, children's activities, a beaver trivia contest, speakers, and a plethora of information on the benefits that beavers provide to us in our state and county. Live music by Cuyama Mama and the Hot Flashes and local singer/songwriter, Elliott Johnson.

Featured Speaker: Leila Philip
We will be hosting Leila Philip, an award-winning writer, and author of BEAVERLAND, a startling portrait of the secretive world of the contemporary fur trade, and an engrossing ecological and historical investigation of these heroic animals who, once trapped to the point of extinction, have returned to the landscape as one of the greatest conservation stories of the twentieth century.

Musicians: Cuyama Mama and The Hot Flashes

Original High Desert Dance Music: The most rockin', foot stompin', apron flauntin' musical act in the Cuyama Valley. You can blame us for the heat!

Cuyama Mama and The Hot Flashes is:

Jan Smith on vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica and aprons
Gary Sangenitto on bass
Jody Eulitz on box and vocals

Musicians: Elliott Johnson

Elliott's music is handcrafted here on the central coast out of willow bark and frog legs. It can be bitter, it can be weird, and no one knows if it's healthy to consume. It is best enjoyed in the woods, around a campfire. The flavors of his tunes range from phunny to filisophical and it is clear he never knew if it was intended for children or adults. So come see for yourself as he stirs the cauldron with his big guitar and talks in cadence with his bubblin', musical stew.

Speaker Series

Local and statewide organizations will be present to share materials about their efforts to protect the environment and challenge climate change. Speakers from the following organizations:

Cooper Lienhart, SLO Beaver Brigade/ Nature's Engineers
Ben van Hamersveld , Los Padres CCC-Native Plant Propagation Specialist
Creek Lands Conservation
Freddy Otte, City of SLO
Greg Ellis, Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD
Beaver-related merchandise and other items will be available, along with food and drink. Of course, the Plaza is just steps away from local shops, restaurants and other interesting sites to visit.

Come to the beautiful Mission Plaza in downtown San Luis Obispo to learn about and celebrate beavers and the benefits they bring to our human and non-human community. 

The Second Annual Beaver Festival is sponsored by the Beaver Institute, Santa Barbara Permaculture Network, Morro Bay Open Space Alliance, New Times, KCBX , Tetra Tech and the City of San Luis Obispo.

Why do we celebrate beavers?

Because we see them as climate change superheroes! Beavers build dams in our creeks and rivers, turning them into lush wetlands. This SLOWS the water down, allowing it to SPREAD out and SINK into our aquifers (slow it, spread it, sink it)! Not only does this help us in droughts, but their wetlands also create refuge from wildfires. Come join us on March 23rd to learn about all this and more at our second annual SLO Beaver Festival.