Visions of the Wild, a four-day festival of outdoor activities, the arts and speakers, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of passage of the Wilderness Act, the 1964 legislation that created the National Wilderness Preservation System, in Vallejo next month.
Not even an earthquake will stop the celebration, Katy Miessner, Vallejo City Councilmember, said. Speaking about her city as well as the festival on Thursday, she said, “We’re open for business!”
The Wildlife Act initially protected 9.1 million acres of federal land. That area has grown to more than 106 million acres — 5 percent of the land in the United States. It is administered by the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act on Sept. 3, 1964, it was the culmination of eight years of work that had produced more than 60 drafts of the legislation.
The act defined wilderness for the first time: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.”
The Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service manages forests throughout California, said Steve Dunsky, producer-director for the U.S. Forest Service, who acompanied Meissner Thursday.
While some regions are larger, the Pacific Southwest Region has the most employees, he said.
“It’s a pretty grand area,” he said, explaining that 20 percent of California is national forest, and a quarter of that — 5 million acres — is considered wilderness.
For about 15 years, its headquarters has been 1325 Club Drive, Vallejo, a building that was damaged by the magnitude 6.0 earthquake that shook the Bay Area early Aug. 24.
Visions of the Wild has been organized by the U.S. Forest Service, the Vallejo Community Arts Foundation and other organizations. The venue is multiple sites throughout Vallejo, including the Empress Theatre, the Hub, Artiszen Gallery, Temple Arts and Mare Island.
The reason? While the Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service has called Vallejo its headquarters for some time, “it hasn’t connected with the community,” Dunsky said. “We view this as an opportunity to become involved with the community. Vallejo has great venues.”
The event begins at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, with a free Walk for Wilderness that starts at the Vallejo Ferry Terminal, 289 Mare Island Way, Vallejo.
A music concert starts at Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St., Vallejo, at 7 that night.
an art exhibit, “Celebrating Western Wilderness,” will open to the public Thursday, Sept. 4, and will remain on display at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin St., until Oct. 11.
Wildlife history and politics are the themes of Sept. 4 events. The film “Forever Wild,” with a question-and-answer session afterward, will be shown at 1:30 p.m. that day in the Empress Theatre.
Also showing there at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 4 is the film “Rebels with a Cause.” Filmmakers Nancy Kelly and Kenji Yamamoto will be among those present.
An event welcome, with opening remarks, will take place at the Empress Theatre at 7 p.m. that day, after which authors will describe the past, present and future of the wilderness.
Sept. 5 programming focuses on culture and values. Family and youth activities will be available free to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day as well as Sept. 6 at Pocket Park, 200 Georgia St.
Other free exhibits and demonstrations will be on display the same hours Sept. 5 and 6 at The Hub Vallejo, an arts center at 350 Georgia St.
Another exhibit, on the Pacific Crest Trail, will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 5 and 6 at Riverbank, 332 Georgia St.
A panel specializing in wilderness and culture will speak at the Empress Theatre at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 5.
A gallery walk starting at 5 p.m. Sept. 5 will let visitors view at no charge such venues as the Temple Art Lofts, the Artiszen Cultural Art Center, the McCree-Goudeau Gallery and Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.
“Standing on Sacred Ground: Pilgrims and Tourists,” a film by Christopher McLeod and Chief Caleen Sisk of the Winnemem Wintu tribe, will be shown at the Empress Theatre, along with several other short films, at 8 p.m. Sept. 5. The two filmmakers also will be present at this viewing.
Multiple all-day field trips are scheduled Sept. 6, and those interested may register through the website www.visionsofthewild.org/field-trips-sign-up/.
Those field trips will let visitors experience Bay Area wild areas, such as Skaggs Island in San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, bird habitats in American Canyon, the beavers of Martinez, the wild areas of Sonoma, Benicia State Recreation Area and Lynch Canyon.
The film “Mile, Mile & a Half” will be shown at the Empress Theatre at 11 a.m. Sept. 6, and at 1 p.m. ecological poetry will be read and environmental hip-hop will be performed at John F. Kennedy Library, 505 Santa Clara St.
“Walking the Camino: Six Ways to Santiago,” will be shown at the Empress Theatre at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 6, after which a panel will talk about wilderness and spirituality, starting at 4 p.m. The Empress also will be the site of Wilderness Jam, a variety show that starts at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6.
Visions of the Wild’s finale is a 10 p.m.-to-midnight celebration Sept. 6 at the USA World Classics Event Center, 1525 Sonoma Blvd.
Festival passes are $40 for individuals until Monday, when the price increases to $50; $60 for a family pass for two adults and two children 18 and younger; and $20 for students. Single-day passes are available for $15.
Events at the Empress, the field trips and Napa River cruises require a festival pass. Other activities are free. Passes may be bought at www.visionsofthewild.org.
Those interested in volunteering may visit the event website, www.visionsofthewild.org, or email info@visionsofthewild.org.