Yukon’s Plant Festival
Saturday, July 19th 2025
We are so thrilled to announce the first edition of the Yukon’s Plant Festival!
Taking place in the majestic Wheaton River Valley, the day will consist of workshops, presentations, and plant walks. Read on for more details…
Come together around plants
For this first edition of the Yukon’s Plant Festival we wish to create community around plants, bring everyone from the curious to the experts together, to share knowledge and our passion for the plant world.
This festival will be a gathering of diverse plant enthusiasts and our activity topics will range from gardening to plant art to herbalism… and so much more!
You will also find a range of beautiful locally made products that focus entirely on the natural world at the Plant Fair.
While we work on finalizing the festival schedule, have a look at this list of amazing presenters coming to share their knowledge with us!
Beverley Gray (Aroma Borealis, The Boreal Herbal): keynote speech and medicinal plant walk.
Amber Berard-Althouse (The Land Heals): indigenous herbalism plant walk.
The Garden Witch: hands-on flower pounding workshop.
Helen O’Connor: hand papermaking with plants with pressed wild flower inclusions demo.
Jolene Billwiller (Spruce Cottage Farm): northern gardening and composting presentation.
Michele Genest (Boreal Gourmet): writing workshop on living and creating relationship with plants.
Randy Lamb (Downtown Urban Gardeners’ Society): presentation on community gardening and more.
Raven Padmos (Wolf Willow Botanicals): nourishing cream making demo.
Sylvie Binette (Heavenly Wild): northern foraging plant walk.
Schedule 2025
Draft Schedule - Subject to Change
10:00 am - 11:00 am: Arrivals & Plant Fair
11:00 am - 11:45 am: Opening Circle with Keynote Speaker Beverley Gray
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Activities Slot #1
Plant Walk - TBD
Description TBD
Presentation - TBD
Description TBD
Workshop - TBD
Description TBD
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: Lunch & Plant Fair with live music by TBD
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Activities Slot #2
Plant Walk - TBD
Description TBD
Presentation - TBD
Description TBD
Workshop - TBD
Description TBD
3:15 pm - 4:15 pm: Activities Slot #3
Plant Walk - TBD
Description TBD
Presentation - TBD
Description TBD
Workshop - TBD
Description TBD
4:30 pm - 5:00 pm: Closing Ceremony
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Departures & Plant Fair
Leading to the festival, make sure to choose the activity you would like to attend for each time slot on the schedule. When you arrive on site, you will be directed to the Yukon Plant Guild tent to register to the activities you’ve chosen.
Venue
The festival will be held at the Herbal Hearth, an off-grid home and venue located an hour south of Whitehorse in Mount Lorne, at km 22.7 Annie Lake Road. Cell phone reception is limited in the area, so make sure you save the directions below. Plan to arrive between 10 am and 10:30 am to have time to browse the booths at the Plant Fair!
We strongly encourage car pooling to limit the amount of vehicles making the journey and the CO2 emissions that come with them.
Parking will be along the Annie Lake Road at the turn off to The Herbal Hearth and a shuttle will bring you down to the festival grounds, so bring a bag or basket to carry what you need for the day with you.
Most of the activities will be held outdoors, on and around the private property, so we invite you to bring lots of layers for changing weather! And be sure to bring good foot wear for the plant walks.
Dogs are not allowed on the property, so make sure to leave your animal friend at home. There will be two outhouses on site for your use. Herbal refreshments will be provided and lunch will be available for purchase from Chickadee Wagon Farm Food Truck if you haven't packed food! We invite you to bring your own cutlery and travel mugs to help reduce waste.
Directions from the Alaska Highway:
1. Turn on the South Klondike Highway and travel towards Carcross for 15 km.
2. Turn right onto the Annie Lake Rd and travel 22.7 km.
3. When you arrive at The Far Side Rd, a festival volunteer will help you park on the Annie Lake Rd.
4. There will be a shuttle to continue the rest of the way (1.5 km) down the Far Side Rd to the Herbal Hearth, or you may chose to walk.
The Herbal Hearth
KM 22.7 Annie Lake Road
Whitehorse, YT
FAQs
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The Herbal Hearth is 60 km from downtown Whitehorse, about an hour drive. Leave yourself plenty of time as road conditions can force you to drive slow. The Herbal Hearth is off-grid and doesn't have cell phone reception. Internet is available for emergency calls.
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Leading to the festival, make sure to choose the activity you would like to attend for each time slot on the schedule. When you arrive on site, you will be directed to the Yukon Plant Guild tent to register to the activities you’ve chosen.
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No, please leave your furry friends at home.
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Herbal refreshments will be provided and lunch will be available for purchase from Chickadee Wagon Farm Food Truck if you haven't packed food! We invite you to bring your own cutlery and travel mug to help reduce waste.
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No, consuming alcohol at the Yukon’s Plant Festival is not allowed and we appreciate you for respecting that rule.
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No, there won’t be any kid’s corner or way to accommodate families with children under 13. We are hoping to be able to integrate family friendly activities in future editions of the festival!
