Joppa Flats' 2025 Merrimack River Eagle Festival

9:00 am-4:00 pm

The 19th annual Merrimack River Eagle Festival is back!

Come to Newburyport, Amesbury, and Salisbury on Saturday, February 15, 2025, for a full day of fun indoor and outdoor activities celebrating the return of the Bald Eagles! Learn more about these magnificent birds and other amazing raptors and why our local habitat is so important to them. 

Visit Viewing Sites Along the Merrimack River

Join us at the best eagle viewing locations! Our naturalist guides will be available to inspire and educate you about these magnificent birds of prey. Bring binoculars or a scope if you have one!

Eagle Festival brochures, location maps, and lots of raptor information and activities are available at Joppa Flats Education Center, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters, and Newburyport City Hall.  

Open to all ages. Registration not required for viewing locations and on-site activities, however we have registration-only outdoor programming for families and adults. These additional programs are at a special reduced fee thanks to our lead sponsor, Newburyport Bank, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please consider carpooling, parking is limited. Appropriate footwear and clothing are advised, some sites may be snowy or icy.  

Joppa Flats Education Center

1 Plum Island Tpke, Newburyport

Family activities, arts, and crafts, and information on Bald Eagles and other raptors. Live hawk and owl presentations.

Parker River Wildlife Refuge Headquarters

6 Plum Island Tpke, Newburyport

Family activities and live raptor presentations.