On a misty Saturday in Seattle, with the Space Needle peeking through the clouds and music pulsing from KEXP radio’s iconic stage, hundreds gathered for Orca Fest 2025, a high-energy, heart-filled celebration to close out Orca Month. From face painting and live music to hands-on learning and community action, the event brought people together in joyful support of a serious mission: protect the endangered Southern Resident orcas of the Salish Sea.
A powerful partnership for orca conservation
Orca Fest was made possible through an incredible collaboration between environmental organizations and the generous event host, Seattle’s legendary KEXP radio station. Our partners included:
- Endangered Species Coalition
- Orca Network
- Oceana
- Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
- Washington Conservation Action
- Whale Scout
Together, we raised awareness about the urgent threats facing Southern Resident orcas and water quality across Puget Sound—including toxic pollution, declining salmon populations, and vessel noise—and inspired attendees to take action.
Live music, face paint, and meaningful conversations
While local musical artists took to the KEXP stage, our outreach table buzzed with activity. Visitors stopped by to:
- Pick up educational materials on how toxic chemicals in products affect orca health and water quality.
- Learn how toxic pollution threatens salmon and orcas by contaminating waterways with harmful chemicals and plastics from everyday products and packaging.
- Share personal stories, from conversations with health researchers and environmental advocates to new parents, engaged community members, and families concerned about toxic exposures in their homes.
- Take home Safer Choice-certified product samples.
- Explore our advocacy work to hold polluters accountable and push for stronger protections.
To our surprise, one of the biggest hits of the day? Face painting! Kids and adults alike loved showing off their orca-themed designs. And for the record, lookin’ good, Seattle!
Orca Month is over—but the work continues
Orca Fest was the perfect way to close out a month of advocacy, education, and community-building for the Southern Resident orcas—a critically endangered population that depends on the health of the Salish Sea. Being able to talk with people who care about this work and keeping toxic chemicals out of our environment and our communities is what inspires me to do this work.
Thank you to Orca Network for spearheading Orca Month, to KEXP for the unbeatable venue and music, and to everyone who stopped by our table to learn, laugh, and raise their voice. How you can keep the momentum going:
- Sign our petition urging the Washington Department of Ecology to ban PFAS in all products.
- Get on our email list to stay in the loop on orca advocacy, toxic legislation, and ways to take action year-round.
- Share this post with a friend who loves orcas—every new advocate makes a difference.
Photo credit: Puget Soundkeeper
Organizing Manager
Daniel Parkhurst serves as Toxic-Free Future’s Organizing Manager, bringing more than a decade of passion for advocacy through collective action.
