Celebrate Community With Us at ThrivingFest, August 13–15
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Iconic Bridge over Deception Pass, Whidbey Island. Samish Indian Nation called this pass: Xwchsónges, which translates to "place where you go inland."
Photo credit: Makayla Asuncion
“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”
— Jimmy Neil Smith, founder of the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee
Dear friends,
We’re delighted to invite you to ThrivingFest 2026, a joyful three-day celebration of film, conversation, connection, and community taking place August 13–15 across Langley, Whidbey Island, WA.
ThrivingFest is a heartfelt gathering created to honor the people, organizations, and stories that help Whidbey thrive. Over three days, we’ll come together for screenings, panels, shared reflection, and meaningful conversation about what it means to build a resilient, connected, and flourishing…THRIVING community.
This year’s festival will feature films highlighting local nonprofits and initiatives working in health, housing, community care, nourishment, and more, including Good Cheer, Whidbey Island Nourishes, Organic Farm School, Healing Circles Langley, and others. We’ll also honor the legacies of Lynn Willeford and Nancy Nordhoff, whose vision and generosity have helped shape so much of what continues to grow here.
We hope you’ll join us for this special celebration of place, purpose, and possibility. If you love this community — or are curious about the many ways it continues to evolve and care through thriving — we would be so glad to have you with us.
If you feel called to be in the room with neighbors, leaders, volunteers, and community builders who care deeply about what grows next here, we’d love for you to join us. It promises to be a memorable few days of connection, inspiration, and shared purpose.
And because community is often built around the table, we’ll be sharing meals together throughout the event.
Reserve your spot here: ThrivingFest 2026
Inspired to volunteer? Respond to this email and let us know! We’re still seeking help, especially with meals, photography, and social media.
With appreciation and excitement,
Jerry & the Thriving Communities Team
P.S. ThrivingFest is free to attend, and if you feel moved to give when you register, donations are warmly welcomed to cover costs of food, supplies, and staff. Contributions made during the event will go directly back to the participating nonprofit organizations, helping extend the impact of this gathering beyond the festival itself.
More inspiration on THRIVINGFEST 2026…
As we look from where we stand now, at the apex of summer, to what’s on the horizon for Thriving Communities, we are eager to welcome you to join us in the community-driven celebration of South Whidbey that is ThrivingFest 2026. As a way of expressing our love and awe at what the community of South Whidbey has grown into, a devoted group of TC team members and local volunteers have been working tirelessly to bring together this free event August 13-15. If you haven’t rsvp’d yet, now is the time!
One of the ways this community is already showing its love and generosity is through space - we are delighted and honored to be partnering with four different venues throughout Langley that have opened their arms to host a part of the ThrivingFest program: the Clyde Theater, Langley United Methodist Church, WICA, and Healing Circles Langley. The Clyde is our home for ThrivingFest’s opening night and has been a beloved gathering place in Langley for years and years. LUMC, which has been the site of many a south Whidbey scheme and dream over the years, is our host for Thursday’s dinner and celebration of the life of Lynn Willeford. WICA is our home for Friday and Saturday’s films, panels, and conversations and has been the beating heart of arts in south Whidbey. Healing Circles Langley, a space that has provided nourishment and support for the spirit for years, is, very appropriately, hosting our nourishment breaks for lunch and reflection on Friday and Saturday. Thank you all! We literally could not do this without them. It’s the people behind these places, as well as all the heartfelt stories, laughter, tears, gasps of astonishment, and applause that these venues have held over the years, that make South Whidbey magic. We’ll see you there!
We’d love to have you join us for this special celebration of community, connection, and possibility.
Read more & RSVP here: ThrivingFest 2026
Again, with warmth and gratitude,
The Thriving Communities Community
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”
— Margaret J. Wheatley
