All photos by Brittany App
March 23, 2024, Mission Plaza
939 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
The SLO Beaver Brigade invited 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.
The day included 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.
KCBX Coverage of the day
Kid Activities
Featured Speaker: Leila Philip
Author of Beaverland, Leila Philip will be our featured speaker!
We hosted 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
Cuyama Mama & 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 & The Hot Flashes is:
- Jan Smith on vocals, guitar, banjo, harmonica and aprons
- Gary Sangenitto on bass
- Jody Eulitz on box and vocals
Find Cuyama Mama & The Hot Flashes online: Instagram: www.instagram.com/cuyamamama/ FaceBook: www.facebook.com/cuyamamama
To arrange interviews with the band or for more images or video, please contact: Jan Smith, jan.lamberton.smith@gmail.com, 805 325 8890
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 presented 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
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.
Read about last years festival here!
Sponsors
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Support from the City of San Luis Obispo Cultural Arts and Community Promotions
