Get ready for Toadfest 2025: coming in early August!
Save the date for Toadfest at Summit Lake Provincial Park near Nakusp:
Wednesday, August 6, 4-7 p.m.
Thursday, August 7, 9 a.m.-noon
Toadfest is a free family event, raising awareness about the western toad, which is designated federally as a Species of Special Concern. The event is an opportunity to learn about the toad’s natural history, life cycle and habitat needs, and to see other local amphibians, snakes, and insects.
Come to enjoy kids’ activities and visit displays and exhibits. Toadfest is the only place where you can purchase Toadfest T-shirts—with all proceeds going to local conservation projects. There are three migrations of western toads during the year, and Toadfest is planned to coincide with the small, dime-sized toadlets leaving the lake for upland habitat. If toadlets are present during the event, you can collect them and carry them safely across the road. Please don’t move the toadlets outside of Toadfest.
Toadfest is coordinated by the Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP), with support from B.C. Parks, the Province of B.C., Okanagan Nation Alliance, YRB Kootenay, and many volunteers.
Toadfest has been cancelled due to wildfires for the past two years, so please check this page for any updates or cancellation notices before travelling. Parking is limited so please carpool.
If you have any questions, contact us. We look forward to seeing you there!
Toadfest 2023 & 2024
We had to cancel Toadfest both years due to wildfires and road closures.
Toadfest 2022
At Toadfest 2022, we celebrated the opening of a new toad tunnel under the highway, funded by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Check out some of the photos here.
Toadfest 2020 hopped online!
We hosted two online Toadfest events in 2020 and want to share our western toad videos with you. Learn more about the toad’s migration, life cycle and the research and mitigation work funded by FWCP. We’ve also posted a few toad jokes . Please share these videos with others.