They came for the turkey vultures.
They stayed for the music, the wildlife, the education — and, for more than 400 people gathered in Rotary Park Sunday afternoon, a concert that turned a celebration of one of Ontario’s most misunderstood birds into something much bigger.
Approximately 2,000 people came to Port Hope for the inaugural Turkey Vulture Festival on September 27, 2026 with visitors traveling from communities across Ontario, including Hamilton and Guelph.
By the time the afternoon music began at 3 p.m., Rotary Park was packed.
On stage were some of Canada’s best-known musicians, including Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor, Jimmy Bowskill, Terra Lightfoot, Matt Mays and Travis Good.
Keelor performed several of his songs, with the crowd joining in.
But the star of the day wasn’t a musician.
It was the turkey vulture.
And organizers were determined to change the way people see them.
Caolaidhe Keelor, who created the festival, said her hope was simple.
“My goal was for people to love the vulture a little more,” she told the crowd.
“And I think after today, we can all say we love turkey vultures.”
The festival brought together wildlife organizations, researchers, educators, musicians and thousands of curious members of the public.
Vendors lined both sides of the Ganaraska River, offering information about wildlife and conservation.
Ontario Nature was there, along with Wild Ontario, which brought birds of prey for visitors to see — including Grimsby, an educational ambassador and turkey vulture.
The Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre was also on hand with turtles and information about their work.
For many visitors, it was an opportunity to see wildlife they might normally only encounter from a distance.
For Laura Scott of Guelph, it was worth a two-and-a-quarter-hour drive.
Scott describes herself as a “bird nerd” and arrived at the festival dressed as a turkey vulture.
“I drove from Guelph. It was about two hours and 15 minutes taking the 407, so that’ll cost me a bit of money,” she said with a laugh.
“But I got here and the vultures were flying over me all the way.”
Scott said her fascination with birds — and turkey vultures in particular — goes back years.
“And I’m a bird nerd and I love what they do for our environment,” she said.
“They’re cleaning up. I’m a golfer, so I see them out on the course taking care of the stuff that doesn’t quite make it through the night.”
Asked how long she had been a turkey vulture fan, Scott didn’t hesitate.
“I have been a bird nerd my whole life.”
“Turkey vultures are just highly underrated, beautiful birds.”
She recalled taking her children to see one when they were younger.
“We got to almost touch one, like very close. It was so intimate and I’ve just loved them ever since.”
That passion was exactly what Caolaidhe Keelor hoped to create.
She said she was overwhelmed by the response.
“Well, I’m just overwhelmed with the support of the community, the support of my friends, my husband, but also just the number of people that have come out to celebrate turkey vultures,” she told Today’s Northumberland.
“And I hope today after this event, people go home loving turkey vultures a little bit more.”
The festival may have been a first for Port Hope — and organizers suggested it could potentially be the first event of its kind in Canada.
Education was at the heart of the day.
Speakers talked about turkey vultures and other wildlife, while visitors were able to see birds and turtles up close.
Keelor said having Grimsby at the festival was particularly important.
“I’m so grateful for Wild Ontario for bringing Grimsby, their educational ambassador, turkey vulture,” she said.
“I know they’ve been working really hard with him to make sure that he could come to this event today.”
For people who have never been close to a turkey vulture, the experience can change perceptions.
“For people to see a turkey vulture up close and just see what a fascinating bird they are and that in fact they are not ugly is a wonderful thing,” Keelor said.
“And so the more you know, the more you want to protect a species.”
Gill Radcliff, Research Director for the Turkey Vulture Research program, travelled from Vancouver Island and told the crowd she had a personal connection to the festival.
“I’m based on Vancouver Island but we do lots of research on turkey vultures and work all over Canada,” Radcliff said.
“But I have to tell you there’s just a personal connection here.”
Radcliff had worked with Caolaidhe Keelor years ago at an educational raptor centre on Vancouver Island.
“I wanted to just give a huge shout out to Caolaidhe Keelor,” she said.
“She has done an absolutely phenomenal job. It’s so inspiring. It’s really inspiring me, too. I’m really thrilled.”
Radcliff said Keelor’s previous work with birds helped inspire the festival.
“Caolaidhe actually worked with us because we have an educational raptor center on Vancouver Island and we do all sorts of other work at airports and different things.”
“And Caolaidhe worked for us for several years many, many years ago and she loved our vultures. She loved all the birds I think and I think she has missed working with them a little bit.”
“And it’s fantastic to see that those vultures have helped to inspire so much passion in other people.”
Radcliff said turkey vultures deserve far more appreciation.
“You know, sometimes we think they’re such an unloved bird and they deserve so much more,” she said.
“And she’s really working her butt off to make sure that happens.”
“So, I really can’t tell you how proud and how amazed I am at what a phenomenal job she has done here. I’m just beyond thrilled for this turkey vulture festival.”
The festival’s success also caught the attention of Port Hope Mayor Olena Hankivsky.
Asked to describe the day, the mayor didn’t need many words.
“It’s magic,” she said.
“It’s absolute magic.”
Hankivsky said she was pleased to welcome what she hopes will become an annual event.
“I’m so pleased to welcome the first festival of this kind in Port Hope that it will be an annual turkey vulture festival for Port Hope.”
She said the speed with which the idea became reality was remarkable.
“I love the fact that this idea came into discussion just a few months ago and that Caolaidhe ran with it and we were able to support her.”
“And look at the crowds today. It’s truly something else.”
Hankivsky said the festival demonstrates what can happen when one person has an idea and is determined to make it happen.
“But that’s what it sometimes is — that great idea and the determination to actually make it into some action,” she said.
“And it’s just such a great fit for Port Hope and I’m looking forward to seeing this become an annual event for the community.”
As the afternoon moved toward evening, the focus shifted from wildlife education to music.
Greg Keelor said the response was exactly what the group of musicians had hoped for.
“Well, it’s fantastic,” he said.
“And that Caolaidhe put this all together for the vultures and so we’re all friends of Caolaidhe’s and it’s nice to support her and sing some songs for the people that came out.”
Keelor performed several of his hits, and the crowd sang along.
At times, hundreds of voices joined him.
The music brought another dimension to a festival that had already attracted people from across the province.
And for Keelor, seeing the response to the songs was meaningful.
“It’s a wonderful thing,” he said.
“You know, I wrote that song (Hasn’t Hit Me Yet) a long time ago. So, it’s always been a popular song and people love singing it.”
The day ended with Caolaidhe Keelor thanking the volunteers and everyone who came to celebrate the birds.
“I really have to thank the volunteers. I could not have done this without them,” she said.
“So, thank you very much everybody for coming.”
Then came the line that perhaps best captured the spirit of the day.
“I hope we can do this again next year.”
“Keep calm and carrion.”
And judging by the thousands who descended on Port Hope for the first Turkey Vulture Festival, the once-overlooked birds may have found themselves a whole lot of new fans.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
