Newt Festival

Explor Crater Lake, in partnership with the Oregon Zoo and Crater Lake National Park, is proud to introduce the inaugural Fall for the Newt Festival – a family-friendly celebration of conservation, community, science, and stewardship centered around one of Oregon’s most unique and threatened species: the Mazama newt.

Taking place during the beautiful fall season at Mazama Village and Annie Creek, the festival will bring together visitors, students, conservation organizations, businesses, artists, musicians, and researchers for three days of educational programming, hands-on activities, cultural experiences, and volunteer stewardship projects.

Join us October 2–4, 2026, as we celebrate the remarkable Mazama Newt—a species found nowhere else in the world except Crater Lake. Through interactive exhibits, guided adventures, family activities, live entertainment, conservation programs, and hands-on stewardship projects, you’ll discover why this little creature plays such a big role in the story of Crater Lake.